LED Light Fixtures & Garage Door Interference

[ArcticGabe]

I know there have been reports of LED bulbs interfering with garage door remotes, especially when using the LED bulbs directly in the garage door opener.

However, I'm trying to find out if LED fixtures (you know, wrap lights, troffers, LED panels, or any of the various fixtures discussed in the lighting threads) have the same interference issues. I'm currently studying all of the lighting threads (thank you, #Platonic Solid), but I do not see any discussion about interference. I assume this is a good thing, since no one is complaining.

But is there a way to tell ahead of time which fixtures are better than others? I see several fixtures carry a DLC designation, but by reading their testing criteria (found here) it does not appear that they consider RFI as part of their specifications.

I'm considering several of these LumeGen panels. Price seems too good to be true (DLC certified, free shipping, etc) so I wonder what's wrong with them... I'd like to not do this by trial and error.

Thanks for the help GJ friends!

 

[Hot shot]

My garage door opener has an incandescent bulb
Owners manual says not to use led bulb
Don’t give a reason why


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[cybrdyke]

But is there a way to tell ahead of time which fixtures are better than others?
No, there isn't. I see several fixtures carry a DLC designation, but by reading their testing criteria (found here) it does not appear that they consider RFI as part of their specifications. Correct, it's not part of their criteria.

I'm considering several of these LumeGen panels. Price seems too good to be true (DLC certified, free shipping, etc) so I wonder what's wrong with them... I'd like to not do this by trial and error.Probably nothing wrong with them. They are an odd size that doesn't sell well and a no-name brand.

Thanks for the help GJ friends!

How do you intend to mount these panels?
CD

 

[66HertzClone]

I installed LED bulbs in the Craftsman openers that were in my last house. I found the range of the remote dropped dramatically, when backing out and the lights were on I would have to have the car positioned very close to the door opening in order for it to close. When returning home the opener would activate from the street, the only thing I could figure out was that there was an interference created by the bulb that decreased the effective range.

When I moved into my current home I did some research and purchased these bulbs, there was no change in range, I can open the door from near the street and have had zero issues with closing the door as I drive down the driveway heading to the street.

 

[exranger06]

Genie makes an LED bulb specifically for garage door openers. It's supposed to not cause any interference with the remotes. I installed one in my opener and I've never had a problem with the remotes working. I've never tried a regular LED bulb in it though, so I don't know if I would've had the same results, or if the Genie bulb is better.
https://www.homedepot.com/p/Genie-Genie-Universal-Garage-Door-Opener-LED-Light-Bulb-LEDB1R/300980556

 

[ArcticGabe]

How do you intend to mount these panels?
CD

My plan is to frame out the correct size opening between my trusses and flush mount them parallel to the trusses. Because the trusses are 24" on center, I can't fit a 2x4 panel and make them flush.

Thanks, CD.

 

[Platonic Solid]

Unfortunately the best the average consumer can do is buy UL Listed products as they comply with FCC interference regulations and be mindful that some manufacturers lie about their Listing or practice bait and switch - advertising a Listed product, but supply a different unlisted product. Anyone buying an unlisted lamp or light fixture from a Chinese Amazon reseller should expect the worst.

I manufacture specialty reduced EMI fixtures, but the cost of the driver alone exceeds the price of a quality commercial light fixture. The gold standard is MIL-STD-461. Commercially, MIL-STD-461 compliant luminaires are typically used only in surgical rooms.

 

[Hot shot]

I was wrong
I was assuming it was incandescent because of the color and what the manual said but no interference problem


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[driftpin]

My Liftmaster 8500 side-mount lifts came with remote-mount double-bulb luminaires, and directions warning, "no LED's!" I tried one and had problems, I switched to a fluorescent and no-problems. Interestingly, I have LED shop lights, the FEIT 'double-tube' 4 ft ones from Costco, and they have not given me any issues with my remote controls working or the signal from the lift controller to activate the remote-controlled luminaires.

 

[Shiftless]

Correct me if I’m reading this thread incorrectly.

You are talking about interference only from the bulb or bulbs installed in the opener itself, right?

If so, why worry about it? Just install an incandescent bulb or 2 and move on. The energy savings between a 60 watt incandescent and an 8 watt LED bulb burning for 3 minutes at a time is, to me, not worth worrying about.

(I run rough service incandescent bulbs in mine)
.
.

 

[ArcticGabe]

Correct me if I’m reading this thread incorrectly.

You are talking about interference only from the bulb or bulbs installed in the opener itself, right?

If so, why worry about it? Just install an incandescent bulb or 2 and move on. The energy savings between a 60 watt incandescent and an 8 watt LED bulb burning for 3 minutes at a time is, to me, not worth worrying about.

(I run rough service incandescent bulbs in mine)
.
.

No, I'm not talking about any screw in LED bulbs. Rather, I'm looking to buy some permanently mounted LED fixtures for general garage lighting. I just don't want to spend several hundred dollars on fixtures only to find out I can't open the garage door from the truck.

For the door opener, I'll put in whatever bulb the manufacturer recommends (I don't even have a door opener yet).

Thanks

 

[Shiftless]

Thanks for the clarification.
So far nobody has said that LED lights mounted up on the ceiling interfere with garage door opener remotes. Maybe some do.

Like you, I would want to know that before spending $$$ and all that time installing.

Realistically, how often do you use your remote to open or close the garage door when all the lights are on? For me, when the lights are on I am in the garage and use the hard wired wall mounted button to operate the door. When I use the remote, I am coming home and the garage lights are off.

 

[jaygill]

I have 2 8’ LED strip lights and 4 feit double tube hanging LED and there is no issue. I did have an issue when I put the LED in the opener itself. The range of interference is small so generally I’ve only experienced and seen people report issues when an LED is screwed into the light socket on the opener itself where the bulb is a couple inches from the remote receiver.


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