Radio Interference with LED tail lights?
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 1,502
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From: Toronto
Radio Interference with LED tail lights?
I installed some LED tail lights the other day and I noticed when I have my radio on and I hit the brakes/signal my radio cuts out. It's definitely some sort of interference going on. Anyone experience this/have a fix for it?
Thanks!
Thanks!
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I've run LED halo tail lights on my last two C5s and never had a problem like that. Only problem I've had was with hyperflashing - but a hyperflash harness solved that. I'd suggest you contact the vendor you bought the lights from and see what advice they can give you.
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 1,502
Likes: 61
From: Toronto
They're the ebay depo tail lights. They likely won't have any sort of an answer for me.
I bought them because I plan on doing my own mods to them. Put them on in the mean time with the acrylic tint covers over top so you can't see the chrome (the part most people don't like)
Anyways, I've found a few other threads where guys with the depo lights complained about the same thing... but couldn't find if anyone has a solution...
I bought them because I plan on doing my own mods to them. Put them on in the mean time with the acrylic tint covers over top so you can't see the chrome (the part most people don't like)
Anyways, I've found a few other threads where guys with the depo lights complained about the same thing... but couldn't find if anyone has a solution...
Intermediate
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 39
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From: Redlands Southern California
I have the same LED problem with my Depot lights
I have a 2004 C5 Z06 and when I put my brakes on, the FM station gets interference/static. Has anyone found a way to 
fix this problem?
fix this problem?
Instructor
Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 159
Likes: 32
From: FL
Radio Interference with LED tail lights?
Yup, LED's will do that. It's not just your lights. I installed overhead LED light fixtures on our boat and a few of them sound like up and down sirens through the AM radio when on. No problem with FM. Haven't found any fix yet, sorry. You might want to try a bit of dielectric grease on the contacts to see if that helps the contact.
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Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 1,502
Likes: 61
From: Toronto
I was surprised to see this thread bumped.
I never did fully correct the problem, but I did read into it and it seems like this is a common problem with LEDs or the boards that power them. I believe it is conducted electromagnetic interference.
What I tried as a fix, was to use ferrite cores on the leads going into each LED tail light. If you're not familiar with ferrite cores, you've probably seen them on the power cords of many of your electronic devices like computer monitors. They are those bulging cylinders on the cord usually located close to the device itself.
You can buy ferrite cores at electronics stores. They are hollow cylinders and they snap open and shut so you can put your wires through. Ideally you want to wrap the wires through several times to reduce the EMI of the LEDs. When buying the ferrite cores, consider the thickness of the wires you're wrapping through so that you can get them to pass through several times. Unfortunately, I bought ones that were too small and I was only able to pass them through once... I noticed a small change and my radio comes in a little clearer. I'm convinced if I can pass the wires through 3 or 4 times I would have much better results. I just haven't gotten around to buying bigger cores.
Give it a try! Might help!
I never did fully correct the problem, but I did read into it and it seems like this is a common problem with LEDs or the boards that power them. I believe it is conducted electromagnetic interference.
What I tried as a fix, was to use ferrite cores on the leads going into each LED tail light. If you're not familiar with ferrite cores, you've probably seen them on the power cords of many of your electronic devices like computer monitors. They are those bulging cylinders on the cord usually located close to the device itself.
You can buy ferrite cores at electronics stores. They are hollow cylinders and they snap open and shut so you can put your wires through. Ideally you want to wrap the wires through several times to reduce the EMI of the LEDs. When buying the ferrite cores, consider the thickness of the wires you're wrapping through so that you can get them to pass through several times. Unfortunately, I bought ones that were too small and I was only able to pass them through once... I noticed a small change and my radio comes in a little clearer. I'm convinced if I can pass the wires through 3 or 4 times I would have much better results. I just haven't gotten around to buying bigger cores.
Give it a try! Might help!
Safety Car
Joined: Sep 2005
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From: Southeast, Tennessee
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I've run LED halo tail lights on my last two C5s and never had a problem like that. Only problem I've had was with hyperflashing - but a hyperflash harness solved that. I'd suggest you contact the vendor you bought the lights from and see what advice they can give you.
me too. never had that problem. didn't even have hyperflash, but when i decided to add other led lights i also installed the hyperflash harness and it worked flawlessly. assuming nothing else was touched during the install, you have a product problem that the vendor should be able to help you with.