R29: VHF goes dead when LED dinette lights are on

[Mike & Heather]

This is very odd. When I put the dinette lights on both the shipboard VHF and a portable VHF goes completely dead. No static, nothing. Weather channels, CH 16, ... The radios come right back on when the lights are turned off. All the bulbs are LEDs. I thought it was a grounding problem but that would not be the case with the portable VHF. When the mid cabin lights are on a very small amount of static is heard, nothing bothersome.
Has anyone had this issue?

Thoughts?

Mike
Tug Time! R-29

 

[Levitation]

Change out your LED bulbs for the ones from MarineBeam... The ones you have are generating radio frequency interference...

 

[sportner]

If the problem doesn't stop after flushing the toilet try sleeping with your head pointed to the west, upon awakening spin around three times and spit toward the east. Have you considered an exorcism?

Of course I'm just kidding (stop flushing the toilet). I don't understand how any of this could effect a battery operated hand held devise. Please keep us informed of your solution.

 

[walldog]

If the problem doesn't stop after flushing the toilet try sleeping with your head pointed to the west, upon awakening spin around three times and spit toward the east. Have you considered an exorcism?

Of course I'm just kidding (stop flushing the toilet). I don't understand how any of this could effect a battery operated hand held devise. Please keep us informed of your solution.

My guess is that Denny nailed it. Mighty strong RF from LEDs if that is the case. Try putting the standard bulbs back in and see what happens. Then flush the toilet.

 

[abcandjrc]

You should be able to confirm an RF interference problem by walking away from the lamps with the hand-held on a channel with some traffic. At some point, if it is those little buggers, they should not be transmitting enough junk to affect the VHF signal.

 

[Mike & Heather]

I bought new LEDs from Marinebeam as suggested and replaced the bulbs on the entire circuit, worked perfectly. 😀

Thanks all

Mike & Heather