Static from radio when plugged in

[Dick in Wisconsin]

Today I bought one of the new Craftsman C3 radios:

http://www.sears.com/craftsman-c3-1...p-00945192000P?prdNo=1&blockNo=1&blockType=G1

Works off 110volts or a C3 19.2 volt battery. Will also charge C3 19.2 volt batteries.

When I plug it into 110 volts and listened to an AM station, there was quite a bit of static. When I unplugged it from the wall and powered it with a C3 19.2 volt (Ni-Cad) battery, the static was gone.

What causes the static when plugged into 110?

 

[stage20]

Do you have fluoescent lights? My makita does the same thing

 

[Dick in Wisconsin]

Do you have fluoescent lights? My makita does the same thing

In new a detached garage/shop. No fluorescent lights in there, yet. The circuit is attached to the motorhome which has battery chargers running. Maybe that is it. Tomorrow I'll unplug and see what happens.

 

[stage20]

In new a detached garage/shop. No fluorescent lights in there, yet. The circuit is attached to the motorhome which has battery chargers running. Maybe that is it. Tomorrow I'll unplug and see what happens.

I have an old radio alarm clock and when my cell phone is plugged in next to it the radio buzzes. Electronics some strange stuff

 

[redmondjp]

It's the el-cheapo switching power supply in the radio/charger which is producing radio frequency interference (RFI) that your AM radio is picking up. They saved a dollar or two and left out filtering (probably a few ferrite beads would have done the trick) which would have reduced or eliminated this problem.

Sadly, the manufacturers don't care about this as they feel that nobody listens to AM radio any longer. Fifty years ago somebody would have lost their job if that unit made it to the market with that problem.

I don't know that you will be able to do much about it, unfortunately.

 

[Dick in Wisconsin]

It's the el-cheapo switching power supply in the radio/charger which is producing radio frequency interference (RFI) that your AM radio is picking up. They saved a dollar or two and left out filtering (probably a few ferrite beads would have done the trick) which would have reduced or eliminated this problem.

That is what I was afraid of.

$129.99 list price at Sears.
$119.99 on sale.

Paid a premium for second rate merchandise. I noticed that a few of reviews lamented the fact that while the two new Craftsman C3 radios are better than the original radio ... the new ones don't receive the National Weather Service frequencies and alert. Another feature they could have put into the radio for a few cents or a dollar or two more. The radio has nice features (charges any C3 battery, 2amp USB charging port, good storage for the cord, etc.). Too bad Sears/Craftsman didn't go the entire 100 yards and hit a home run!