LED Number Plate Lights

[chopper]

Not sure what's up with your lot but mine works fine. AM radio is clear as.

Strange?! If you don't mind, can you try turning the lights on and off with the AM on? Today I found the AM still works nearer a stronger signal... but becomes more "Static" affected with the lights on and much better with the lights off. Last night... I couldn't receive any signal at all (and I was further away from the transmitter). I wonder if it is a factor of signal strength AND atmospheric (at night, the ionosphere lowers and "bends" the AM signal.

The other thing maybe the "batch" of lights... I noticed my set don't have the "1028" batch that the eBay ad said was the latest batch (having said that... there are no batch numbers on the lights anywhere!). It seems those of us who are having problems are the ones who have just received our lights.

[markwid]

Strange?! If you don't mind, can you try turning the lights on and off with the AM on?

Yep, tried that, no problem. Daytime, nightime, on, off, while AM on, switch between AM, FM. All good. Clear as.

Batch number 1028 is for BMW lights. No batch number for VW lights.

[chopper]

Yep, tried that, no problem. Daytime, nightime, on, off, while AM on, switch between AM, FM. All good. Clear as.

Batch number 1028 is for BMW lights. No batch number for VW lights.

Right... well, where's that installation guide and video you promised me! I wonder what you did different that we didn't do?

I've had no problem with FM... only AM! I guess I won't be listening to "The best of Alan Jones and Ray Hadley" at night anymore...

[shakespeare]

Was out tonight driving with am radio and lights on (obviously) and no issues. Not sure what's going on here?

[chopper]

Was out tonight driving with am radio and lights on (obviously) and no issues. Not sure what's going on here?

Thanks for letting us know! Did you do anything special with your Resistor Boxes?

If the Radio Ant. isn't in the Shark Fin... where is it?

[Corey_R]

If the Radio Ant. isn't in the Shark Fin... where is it?

The rear window

[Corey_R]

So I had a little play around with the R Dash LED lights.

The actual LEDs can be plugged in either way - by that I mean the plug which goes into the LEDs isn't "keyed", and so it can go in both ways. It's only a 2 pin so it's not overly important. But I did the following:
- Disconnect both, AM fine
- Connect left light plug pins "up", AM fine
- Switch left light plug pins "down", AM fine
- Connect right light plug pins "down", AM interfered.
- Switch right light plug pins "up", AM interfered.
- Switch left light plug pins "up", AM interfered.
- Switch right light plug pins "down", AM interfered.
- Unconnect left light, AM fine.

So effectively, it doesn't matter what way the cables are plugged in, nor which side light is plugged in... as soon as you have both lights plugged in, the AM is interferred with.

[chopper]

So I had a little play around with the R Dash LED lights.

The actual LEDs can be plugged in either way - by that I mean the plug which goes into the LEDs isn't "keyed", and so it can go in both ways. It's only a 2 pin so it's not overly important. But I did the following:
- Disconnect both, AM fine
- Connect left light plug pins "up", AM fine
- Switch left light plug pins "down", AM fine
- Connect right light plug pins "down", AM interfered.
- Switch right light plug pins "up", AM interfered.
- Switch left light plug pins "up", AM interfered.
- Switch right light plug pins "down", AM interfered.
- Unconnect left light, AM fine.

So effectively, it doesn't matter what way the cables are plugged in, nor which side light is plugged in... as soon as you have both lights plugged in, the AM is interferred with.

Thanks Corey! You've just saved me doing a "Troubleshooting" session this afternoon (after the Carbon Tax announcement, of course!).

Hmmm... it must have something to do with the Resistor Boxes reacting with each other! I wonder why some of the other guys are not getting the same problem? I wonder if there is anything we can to to stop the interaction?

The rear window

Which rear window? Is it in the rear hatch?

[Corey_R]

It's in (or on) the glass of the rear hatch window. A lot of cars these days have their radio antennas on their rear window.

[Rob_R]

So I had a little play around with the R Dash LED lights.

The actual LEDs can be plugged in either way - by that I mean the plug which goes into the LEDs isn't "keyed", and so it can go in both ways. It's only a 2 pin so it's not overly important. But I did the following:
- Disconnect both, AM fine
- Connect left light plug pins "up", AM fine
- Switch left light plug pins "down", AM fine
- Connect right light plug pins "down", AM interfered.
- Switch right light plug pins "up", AM interfered.
- Switch left light plug pins "up", AM interfered.
- Switch right light plug pins "down", AM interfered.
- Unconnect left light, AM fine.

So effectively, it doesn't matter what way the cables are plugged in, nor which side light is plugged in... as soon as you have both lights plugged in, the AM is interferred with.

Not knowing much about electrics, do you think there may be a work around? Love to fit them but want to be able to listen to AM radio during Bushfire season mainly. Rest of the seasons I don't give a toss about AM.

[Corey_R]

It could be that the resistors or the LED housings are not properly shielded, or badly designed so they give off too much EMI, or even that they're sending interference back up the power/signal lines.

[Rob_R]

It could be that the resistors or the LED housings are not properly shielded, or badly designed so they give off too much EMI, or even that they're sending interference back up the power/signal lines.

It's a pity cause would love to get them, they look pretty good from the pics posted.

[Corey_R]

Yeah... I'm happy with them except for this AM issue. I guess it's hard to expect perfection for $45

[Rob_R]

Yeah... I'm happy with them except for this AM issue. I guess it's hard to expect perfection for $45

Yes very true!

[chopper]

Yeah... I'm happy with them except for this AM issue. I guess it's hard to expect perfection for $45

They are a fantastic bargain... I think they look great, especially for the price! I'm sure we can get down to the issue of why they are affecting the AM reception... after all, not everyone's sets are doing it!