HID kit interferring with radio reception
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 3,365
Likes: 0
From: Farmers Branch TX
Cruise-In VI Veteran
St. Jude Donor '09
HID kit interferring with radio reception
Hi everyone, I just recently installed my HID bulb kit, and of course with every modification I have done to this car, it affects something else. Now my radio reception goes to almost nothing with the lights on. Is anyone else having this problem, and if so, is there an electronics filter, or antenna amp to help with this. I love the lights so if need be I could give two craps about the radio, but I would rather it all work properly.
Thanks for any suggestions,
Chris
Thanks for any suggestions,
Chris
Instructor
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 222
Likes: 8
From: A little place called Macungie PA
I first read about the HID kits yesterday and I would be very interested to hear if others have had problems with the radio also as I was thinking about one of these kits also.
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 3,365
Likes: 0
From: Farmers Branch TX
Cruise-In VI Veteran
St. Jude Donor '09
Racer
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 491
Likes: 5
From: Tampa Bay Area, U.S.A. (Zombie Nation)
I've been watching these HID installs for several months and this case of RFI is the first I've seen. There may be considerable interest in the cause and cure in your situation. If is is an isolated case and yet your ballasts, etc. are typical then I would think there may be a correctable fault that exists within your particular installation. Other than possibly being caused by a defective ballast about all you can do is check your wiring very carefully, especially the ground connections. Generally, interference-causing wiring is typically treated by shielding it. If any of your ballast wires appear to incorporate shielding be sure the shields are intact and grounded on both ends. What does the seller have to say about this?
Racer
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 447
Likes: 0
From: San Jose Ca
I've been watching these HID installs for several months and this case of RFI is the first I've seen. There may be considerable interest in the cause and cure in your situation. If is is an isolated case and yet your ballasts, etc. are typical then I would think there may be a correctable fault that exists within your particular installation. Other than possibly being caused by a defective ballast about all you can do is check your wiring very carefully, especially the ground connections. Generally, interference-causing wiring is typically treated by shielding it. If any of your ballast wires appear to incorporate shielding be sure the shields are intact and grounded on both ends. What does the seller have to say about this?
UNplug 1 ballast at a time, and see if you can confirm it is just 1 of them, not both causing the issue. If so, great. You've got a defective ballast that is causing noise, that can be replaced.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 2,340
Likes: 35
From: Folsom Lake CA
I have 6 HID ballasts in my car. I noticed that for stations that come in clear, there is no issue. However, stations that are problematic to begin with have slightly more static than usual with the lights on. But, since I don't like to listen to stations that have marginal reception (read: static) to begin with, it has not posed a problem for me.
FWIW, my ballasts are the nice German-made ballasts, which might be of a different quality than others I've seen on E-Bay.
FWIW, my ballasts are the nice German-made ballasts, which might be of a different quality than others I've seen on E-Bay.
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Michael S. Palmer
Instructor
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 210
Likes: 2
From: Elkins Park PA
Curious to see if you ever found a solution to this (and hoping I have no such problems with my upcoming HID installation).
If you can narrow this down to one bad ballast, your best bet would be to replace the ballast.
If replacment is not an option, you might try installing a "ferrite core" on the offending wiring.... Try to locate the source (left vs. right side) by unplugging each one at a time. Then try installing the ferrite core around the 12V wiring, or around the high-voltage side (feeding the bulb), or putting two cores in, one on each side of the ballast.
But the core would just mask the problem -- which could well be a bad (failing?) ballast....
If you can narrow this down to one bad ballast, your best bet would be to replace the ballast.
If replacment is not an option, you might try installing a "ferrite core" on the offending wiring.... Try to locate the source (left vs. right side) by unplugging each one at a time. Then try installing the ferrite core around the 12V wiring, or around the high-voltage side (feeding the bulb), or putting two cores in, one on each side of the ballast.
But the core would just mask the problem -- which could well be a bad (failing?) ballast....
Le Mans Master
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 8,466
Likes: 51
St. Jude Donor '17
Maybe you can locate the guy that had the same issue.
Pro
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 619
Likes: 2
From: Destin FL
Could you please tell us where you bought your HID's? What color temp rating? I also have been reading lots of posts about HIDs and have not heard of this being a problem yet. I suggest you contact jdmvette for advice. He seems to be very knowlegable about these things.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 2,340
Likes: 35
From: Folsom Lake CA
IMHO, it's no big deal, because like I posted above, it only affects stations that are already not coming in clearly, which you probably don't listen to anyway. For stations that are coming in clearly, it doesn't affect them at all. It's alot like other electrical interference that the car puts out already. In fact, it's so minor, I didn't even notice it until the Original Poster brought it up.
So, let me put it another way: the little bit of interference is well worth the HID kit. Now, if the ballasts interfered with the clear stations, too, that would be another story, but they don't, so I, for one, would do HIDs again in the future in a heartbeat.
FWIW, I have 6 HID ballasts.
So, let me put it another way: the little bit of interference is well worth the HID kit. Now, if the ballasts interfered with the clear stations, too, that would be another story, but they don't, so I, for one, would do HIDs again in the future in a heartbeat.
FWIW, I have 6 HID ballasts.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 8,466
Likes: 51
St. Jude Donor '17
IMHO, it's no big deal, because like I posted above, it only affects stations that are already not coming in clearly, which you probably don't listen to anyway. For stations that are coming in clearly, it doesn't affect them at all. It's alot like other electrical interference that the car puts out already. In fact, it's so minor, I didn't even notice it until the Original Poster brought it up.
So, let me put it another way: the little bit of interference is well worth the HID kit. Now, if the ballasts interfered with the clear stations, too, that would be another story, but they don't, so I, for one, would do HIDs again in the future in a heartbeat.
FWIW, I have 6 HID ballasts.
So, let me put it another way: the little bit of interference is well worth the HID kit. Now, if the ballasts interfered with the clear stations, too, that would be another story, but they don't, so I, for one, would do HIDs again in the future in a heartbeat.
FWIW, I have 6 HID ballasts.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Feb 1999
Posts: 7,121
Likes: 0
From: Vilano Beach FL
I'm running the ACA kit (which is the complete projectors/housing/HID system) and don't have any radio interference as far as I can tell (I only listen to 2 stations and they're both strong signals).
I mainly listen to CD's and there is definitely not any noise during CD playback.
My ballasts are on the inside of the frame with the tops facing the airfilter.
I mainly listen to CD's and there is definitely not any noise during CD playback.
My ballasts are on the inside of the frame with the tops facing the airfilter.
