Loss of radio signal when headlights turned on

Hello everyone.
I started up grading my truck lighting. I put a 50" 678 watt LED light bar on the roof and a 32" 485 watt LED light bar in the front lower bumper.. lover the look. Then I didn't like the headlights to yellow and dim. So I bought new 165 watt LED headlights. They work great but now when I turn on the headlights my radio dosent want to work. It's like the signal is lost and it's just static. But turn off the lights and the station comes right back. Didn't do this before I replaced the headlights even with the light bars the radio was fine. But now with the new headlights I get no radio only when lights are on.

How do I fix this problem. Here is a pic of the lights I bought.

 

I think you are over loading the alternator.

 

+1 ... my 400watt 2ch amp and 250watt mono amp make my headlights flicker justtttttt a little bit when they hit, but only when my 144watt LED bar is on.

Given that you are pushing way more power than my setup, I'd say you drawing more amps than your alternator can handle.

678 watts at 12v = 56.5 amps
485 watts at 12v = 40 amps
165 watts at 12v = 14 amps
Total = 110 amps in just your lights!!!

Someone can correct me but I believe the stock alternator puts out 80 amps. There's an upgraded tow package one but I'm not sure of the ampacity of that one.

You are overloading your electrical system with all of those lights running. It must look like daytime in front of your truck lol.

 

i thought it would be the alternator but i wasn't running any other lights. not even the stock fog lights. i do have the sport tow package if that means anything.. it doesn't do it with the light bar's on. just the head lights.. didn't do it with the stock bulbs so i switched them back and the radio is fine. put the led's back in and no radio signal.. weirdest thing ever.. i have heard of engine noise coming threw the radio but not head lights.. i wonder if a noise filter on the positive lead going to the radio would work. but i don't know its like someone took off the antenna..

 

any ideas on a good alternator brand? amps?

 

It doesn't do it with the light bars on because you aren't overloading you alternator until you turn on those headlights. With the tow package I think it puts out something like 120 amps so that would make sense. Once you start approaching that 120 amp threshold on your electrical system weird shit will start to happen, like losing radio reception.

I don't know that a noise filter would help, but I could be wrong. It just sounds to me like an overdrawn elec system causing weird problems as electrical systems can.

Even if the noise filter solves the radio reception issue, if you're constantly running all of those lights you're going to start eating batteries or alternators... I'd upgrade the alternator with those light mods you have.

Take a look at this...

http://www.ebay.com/itm/like/351823510758?lpid=82&chn=ps&ul_noapp=true

 

It's not the power.. you don`t need a new alternator.
LED sometimes have no shielding on their PWM (Pulse Width Modulation) circuits and interfere with radio waves.

 

So where does OP get a PWMS (Pulse Width Modulation Shield)??

 

This

Put a ferrite choke on the headlight wiring - they used to sell them at Radio Shack, might still. They snap over the wire and "absorb" the RFI

 

I have this same issue with my LED light bars. I had no issues with this with just the 30" behind the bumper. Once I added a set of ditch lights, I ran into this problem.

With the ditch lights on, I lose FM signal. It turns to static. The funny thing is the higher the elevation Im at, the less static there is. So if Im in a valley, its all static, but if Im on top of a hill, I can kinda hear the radio. The passenger side light shines right on the antenna. If you cover that light up so it doesnt shine on the antenna, the signal comes back.

I tried adding ferritte rings to the ditch light wiring and it made no difference. I plan on adding one to the antenna wiring when I get the chance.

 

try a ferrite choke like TaterHarry said, no guarantee but its not ur alternator, its a known issue with adding LED bulbs. inexpensive generic bulbs emits too much electromagnetic interference on the same band with your radio because they were designed for the purpose of lowest cost, and did not consider Electromagnetic Interference mitigation. I would go with some name brand bulbs if the choke doesn't do it. I'm not expert, I just did a little bit of googlefu.

 

You know how people say it's crazy to buy rigid or bajadesign gear when you can get 'the same' for $99 on eBay..

Maybe they aren't the same.

 

Hm, I was just adding up his amperage and assumed that was the issue. Glad smarter minds than mine are weighing in. Hope the filter solves your issue, OP.

 

haha don't even sweat it brother, I thought you were on the right track until I went on google and was blown away by all the people having similar issues haha I would have never guessed that. Learn something new every day

 

My Squadron Pros do the same thing, only affects my CB though (may be a CB ground issue). I do have a Verizon micro USB charger that makes my FM radio go fuzzy.

 

I too learned today. Good.

He is still pushing too hard if he runs all of those lights at the same time...

 

thank you everyone for the replies it has been helpful.. I tried the ferrite and it seemed to help a little not to much but it did help. my brother suggested that i try running a ground wire from the cooling fins to the body.. i'm hopping that does the trick.. if not going to go with HID lights.

 

I get the same problem with a pair of HID converted Hellas, but not retrofit HID headlights or LED light bar. I changed my signal wire source (the positive from switch to relay) and it helped a ton, but not totally eliminated the issue.

 

I'm just now getting this issue. Weird thing is, It never happened before, I have cougareye led headlights, and it just started happening. I have an aftermarket shorty antenna, that I never use FM. Only bluetooth, The only Lights I run on are my led running lights. Any ideas? It just started happening on the way home today.