LED Lighting/Garage Opener Issue Fix?

[ssjones]

One of the first things I did in our new home garage (Louisiana) is install five, 4-tube (4') LED fixtures. One above my shop area, the other four parallel and daisy-chained. It provided the illumination I was seeing (kids joked it was like an Sheetz parking lot) The existing Chamberlain garage opener was old, and started not functioning correctly. I kept losing the programing to our three vehicles and the new key-pad. I assumed the old opener was bad so I bought a new Chamberlain opener. Same issue. Chamberlain has a pretty good and easy to reach tech-line and they asked if I had LED lights. I had no clue they caused interference. My Ridgeline manual even mentions it (had issues with our Silverado as well) I picked up the fixtures with bulbs for $20 each, which seemed like a bargain. Has anyone sourced these bulbs that don't interfere? Right now, we have to remember to turn the lights off (occasionally forget or one of us is home in the garage). Google showed that ferrite beads work? (I'm skeptical)

 

[BillK]

If you really want to hear the noise turn on an AM radio That being said you will have to find "consumer" grade lights. They need to meet a certain FCC standard for RFI emissions. If you do a search on "led bulbs low rfi" you will find more information than you want. Here is a link from one of the Amateur radio sites:

http://www.arrl.org/files/file/RFI/Light_Bulbs.pdf

 

[ssjones]

If you really want to hear the noise turn on an AM radio That being said you will have to find "consumer" grade lights. They need to meet a certain FCC standard for RFI emissions. If you do a search on "led bulbs low rfi" you will find more information than you want. Here is a link from one of the Amateur radio sites:

http://www.arrl.org/files/file/RFI/Light_Bulbs.pdf

Thanks! I have found plenty of low RFI household bulbs, but no T8/T12 48" tubes. Well, none of the specs list that detail.

 

[In The Doghouse]

I recently removed the ballasts in 8 overhead lights and installed LED T8 bulbs. They interfere with FM radio reception.
If I could figure out replacements that don't interfere I'd consider replacing them. Haven't noticed interference with garage door openers, as they don't frequently get opened.

 

[BillK]

Thanks! I have found plenty of low RFI household bulbs, but no T8/T12 48" tubes. Well, none of the specs list that detail.

Home Depot has them listed:

No Electromagnetic Interference - LED Tube Lights - The Home Depot

Get free shipping on qualified No Electromagnetic Interference LED Tube Lights products or Buy Online Pick Up in Store today in the Lighting Department.

www.homedepot.com

 

[WisJim]

When I built my shop/garage, I installed cheap LED fixtures from Amazon. Some are single tube size and some are the almost flat "recessed" style round ones. None of them cause noticeable interference. But the darn expensive garage door opener rated LED bulb in the openers itself causes problems and they don't last long at all.

 

[BrandonV]

I picked up the fixtures with bulbs for $20 each, which seemed like a bargain.

Link? $20 each might explain a lot.

 

[ssjones]

Link? $20 each might explain a lot.

Dealer on Facebook messenger, he had about 100 fixtures NIB.

@BillK, thanks, I had the same search results for HD, but in the specs, they didn't mention Interference. I'll give them a shot, easy to return if they don't work.

 

[BrandonV]

Dealer on Facebook messenger, he had about 100 fixtures NIB.

@BillK, thanks, I had the same search results for HD, but in the specs, they didn't mention Interference. I'll give them a shot, easy to return if they don't work.

You have specifications on the bulb? Model number or anything?

 

[ssjones]

You have specifications on the bulb? Model number or anything?

The ones currently in place? If so, see picture above.

Or the HD link BillK posted.

 

[BrandonV]

The ones currently in place? If so, see picture above.

Or the HD link BillK posted.

It looks like these are tubes from Super Bright LEDs.

The description from Super Bright LEDs suggests these are designed for commercial and industrial applications, which may mean higher RFI. In contrast, Toggled is primarily targeting the residential market, which should make a difference in theory.

Both the tubes in the existing fixture and Toggled should be compatible. The fixtures should be wired for single ended, Type B tubes per the documentation I could find.

 

[ssjones]

It looks like these are tubes from Super Bright LEDs.

The description from Super Bright LEDs suggests these are designed for commercial and industrial applications, which may mean higher RFI. In contrast, Toggled is primarily targeting the residential market, which should make a difference in theory.

Both the tubes in the existing fixture and Toggled should be compatible. The fixtures should be wired for single ended, Type B tubes per the documentation I could find.

Thanks, appreciate the reply/info. I'll have to check under cover. I installed these the first week we moved down here and it was bedlam. Another unintended consequence of bright lights down here in the summer, bugs.

 

[BrandonV]

Thanks, appreciate the reply/info. I'll have to check under cover. I installed these the first week we moved down here and it was bedlam. Another unintended consequence of bright lights down here in the summer, bugs.

I've installed a few of the Toggled bulbs for friends looking to retrofit old fixtures and I've been happy with them. Despite their marketing efforts, Toggled bulbs don't seem to be intended for commercial use, which is why I believe most of their sales are to residential customers thru Home Depot.

Not a lot of bulbs are going to be single ended off the shelf anymore (or so it seems) so they should work perfectly to avoid needing to rewire anything.