Headlights/radio
#1
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Thread Starter
Headlights/radio
Hey guys, sorry for not being active lately, work was picking up until all of this Coronavirus stuff (hope you all are doing well). I’m kind of stuck on this one.
When the headlights are off, radio is crisp and clear. Running lights on, same thing, crisp and clear. When I turn on the low beams, the radio becomes staticky. (This had me thinking it was a bad ground somewhere with the headlights). But when I turn on High beams, the radio becomes crisp again.
I don’t know if this would have anything to do with it, but the previous owner installed LED headlights into the truck. It’s a whole new fixture, not just bulbs.
any ideas what this could be?
thanks in advance
When the headlights are off, radio is crisp and clear. Running lights on, same thing, crisp and clear. When I turn on the low beams, the radio becomes staticky. (This had me thinking it was a bad ground somewhere with the headlights). But when I turn on High beams, the radio becomes crisp again.
I don’t know if this would have anything to do with it, but the previous owner installed LED headlights into the truck. It’s a whole new fixture, not just bulbs.
any ideas what this could be?
thanks in advance
#2
Registered User
Thread Starter
That’s the best picture I have of the aftermarket headlights. They are plug n play, so I don’t think that would be it since there isn’t any cut and spliced wires, but that still might be the problem, I don’t know
#3
Registered User
Do you have the old head lights you could install as a test and see if you still have the same issue?
#4
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#5
Registered User
Is the static a random noise or a regular raspy buzz or something like it. It could be from the Pulse Width Modulation of the duty cycle of the lights to dim them on low beam. I have seen this on LED tail lights that use PWM to dim the bulbs when tail and not brake light is applied. It's evident if you film the light with a digital camera such as that in your phone. Try filming your low beams with your phone and see if they pulsate.
Edwin
Edwin
#6
Registered User
Another good thing to check would be the ground strap on the radio.
#7
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#9
Registered User
Thread Starter
Is the static a random noise or a regular raspy buzz or something like it. It could be from the Pulse Width Modulation of the duty cycle of the lights to dim them on low beam. I have seen this on LED tail lights that use PWM to dim the bulbs when tail and not brake light is applied. It's evident if you film the light with a digital camera such as that in your phone. Try filming your low beams with your phone and see if they pulsate.
Edwin
Edwin
I will have to try the video recording idea
#10
LED lights frequently cause this static, when we first converted our tow trucks to LED emergency light bars insteada the old Hologen bubble gum machine lights not only did it interfere with the stereos but ya couldn't use the FM transiever on 3 of our 4 frequencies we are licensed for.. had to put Ferrite chokes on all the power leads, CB radio was really bad and if ya have an amplifier on your stereo it will really e effected...
these are the ones we used
ya gotta put em on the power leads for the stereo do a search on google for LED light interference ya'll get a couple million hits as its a common problem
these are the ones we used
ya gotta put em on the power leads for the stereo do a search on google for LED light interference ya'll get a couple million hits as its a common problem
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edwinsmith (03-25-2020)
#11
Registered User
LED lights frequently cause this static, when we first converted our tow trucks to LED emergency light bars insteada the old Hologen bubble gum machine lights not only did it interfere with the stereos but ya couldn't use the FM transiever on 3 of our 4 frequencies we are licensed for.. had to put Ferrite chokes on all the power leads, CB radio was really bad and if ya have an amplifier on your stereo it will really e effected...
these are the ones we used
https://www.amazon.com/stardrift-10-...ls?ie=UTF8&me=
ya gotta put em on the power leads for the stereo do a search on google for LED light interference ya'll get a couple million hits as its a common problem
these are the ones we used
https://www.amazon.com/stardrift-10-...ls?ie=UTF8&me=
ya gotta put em on the power leads for the stereo do a search on google for LED light interference ya'll get a couple million hits as its a common problem
Makes me like my Hella incandescent lights even more.
Edwin
#12
Registered User
I have noticed no radio noise from my high end Truck-Lites LEDs head lights that I installed on my '91.0 W-250.
#14
Registered User