Static on radio when certain lights are ON

[TheBIGVP.]

I'm hoping someone can advise me.
I bought my wife a Bose Wave radio that she listens to in the kitchen. When either the master bedroom closet light (LED) or the garage light (8' T12 fluorescent) are on there is heavy static on the AM stations.
The kitchen recepts are on different circuits than either the master bedroom closet lighting or the garage lighting (i.e. 3 different circuits). I'm guessing there is something going on with the neutral but the only common spot is the 200 amp panel in the garage. House is 20 years old.
She wants the static to stop, and I want to keep mama happy!

Thanks,
Vince

 

[gar]

170530-0923 EDT

TheBIGVP.:

Why would you think that being on a different circuit (different breaker) from the same main panel, or some other panel from the same power company transformer, or even off of the primary to the transformer would make a difference? Breakers in a panel are low impedance devices, not filters. Transformers will provide some or a lot of filtering.

The difference in RFI (radio frequency interference) will be a function of distance, and filtering between the source of the interference and the device encountering the RFI.

I have found some LEDs that produce a lot of RFI right in the middle of the AM band. This noise propagates throughout my home and about 100 to 200 ft from the last street light connected to the secondary of my pole transformer. Car radio is the detector.

There is a near by, 2 blocks away, neighbor that I detect RFI as I drive by their home. Probably from junk LEDs.

In the past I have always put an appropriate Corcom filter inside any fluorescent fixture to reduce propagated RFI from the fixture.

.

 

[K8MHZ]

Electronic ballasts, especially LED, are RFI generators. Lot's of stuff is, and AM is very sensitive to it. That's why FM became so popular so quick. If you want static free AM, you will likely have to shut off the lights that generate the noise. The world is a noisy place, AM wise. Try driving around town while listening to an AM station, there is 'static' everywhere.

 

[ActionDave]

Electronic ballasts, especially LED, are RFI generators. Lot's of stuff is, and AM is very sensitive to it. That's why FM became so popular so quick. If you want static free AM, you will likely have to shut off the lights that generate the noise. The world is a noisy place, AM wise. Try driving around town while listening to an AM station, there is 'static' everywhere.

I've seen LEDs and electronic ballasts muck up FM as well.

 

[junkhound]

I'm hoping someone can advise me.
I bought my wife a Bose Wave radio that she listens to in the kitchen. When either the master bedroom closet light (LED) or the garage light (8' T12 fluorescent) are on there is heavy static on the AM stations.
The kitchen recepts are on different circuits than either the master bedroom closet lighting or the garage lighting (i.e. 3 different circuits). I'm guessing there is something going on with the neutral but the only common spot is the 200 amp panel in the garage. House is 20 years old.
She wants the static to stop, and I want to keep mama happy!

Thanks,
Vince

Others have already explained the susceptibility of AM to many types of noise.

Your wiring and panel have near zero to do with the AM noise.

Having shelled out the big bucks for 'Bose anything'* means you have the $$ to replace the ballasts in the garage light and also the bulbs (can be due to just old T12 bulbs). A good electronic ballast will have filtering to prevent AM interference.

What others have said on LEDs, also applies to CFL.

I had an ultraviolet excimer lamp in the home lab for experimentation. Anytime I turned that thing on the AM stations were pretty much drowned out, even some FM interference.


*years ago, DW sucked into Paul Harvey commercials touting Bose wave radio and wanted to buy one (big bucks then, near 2 days union electrician's wages). Finally convinced here that spending big buck for a radio to listen to AM was a waste - she is perfectly happy with the $35 ebay radio I got her.

 

[mtfallsmikey]

Wall warts are notorious for generating RFI. I have a 9v. cordless drill battery charger that wreaks havoc with my amateur radio gear.