LED FEEDBACK

[mlkmn89]

I have a 1996 GL1500SE, A while back I installed the Pathfinder LED headlights. These headlights caused static through my radio so I took them out and am using halogen bulbs again. Just recently I installed a pair of 4 inch pod lights for auxiliary lighting mounted on my vertical crash bar. Also wired in a 10 amp fuse which seems to handle the load quite nicely. Last night it rained and when I came outside I saw that my pod lights had a low voltage glow to them. I turned on the switch which brought them to full brightness then turned it off and they went out. I should mention these pod lights also cause radio interference. 1. What can I do to get rid of the radio interference? 2. What could be causing the lights to back feed and turn on even though the switch is off? I do believe this is a water problem even though I triple checked to make sure there are no exposed wires. I used liquid electrical tape to cover all my wire connections. Or is this a case of being an older bike it just does not like LED lights?

[Rambozo]

Probably a little water in the switch. LEDs are so efficient, that they will have a dim glow at just a couple of volts and a few milliamps. You can get noise filters for the radio that might help. Or look for different lights. You need some with linear regulators, or a dropping resistors, not a switchmode supply. You can also add a cap and inductor to the lights. The first thing is to figure out if the noise is through the air or over the power wires. If through the air, good luck getting rid of it. Change the lights or the radio. If it's through the wiring you have a much better chance to filter it out.

[WingAdmin]

My LED headlights made a lot of interference as well. This is normally caused by poorly designed and/or unshielded DC-DC converters that blast RF and audio noise out, including onto the incoming power wires. The best way to get rid of it (and what I did) was to put a ferrite choke, as close to the headlight as possible, on the wires going to it. Wrap as many turns of wire through the choke as you can. I ended up cutting and extending the power wire for my LEDs so that I could put more loops through the choke.

[elad8152]

Could you please post a picture of the ferrite ring that you put on your bike. I want to put leds on my wife’s ‘89GW trike, my ‘02 GW and my ‘86 Honda Helix

[Ramnight]

I have been using the Electric Connection led Headlight bulbs in two of my wings. And have never had any electrical noise interference in the radio, intercom, or on the ham radio on the bike.

[Rwasser]

The Goldwing audio system incorporates in-line filters that is made of an rf choke made up of wire wound around a ferrite rod and a capacitor. Obviously, this was designed to filter out mostly alternator and, CB, and some ambient rf noise. The original passive components don't have much capacity to handle extra electrical line noise created by heaver load demands on the alternator nor all of the wider range of microprocessors and digital power supply frequencies that the fun accessories can add to the system. Unfortunately, the new RFI (Radio Frequency Interference) sources use the wiring system as antennas. The use of RF chokes or ferrite beads are often suggested and can be partially effective. The questions I keep hearing include "What kind, size, type, value, do I need to order?" Let me make a few suggestions to simplify the issues.

BEFORE you take a trip down this path, WHEN did the noise first appear? Will it go away if you disconnect the last change, you made or added to your electrical system?
Start there with good connections and grounding. Check the quality of the wires and any changes you made in routing. Bring all ground wires to a common grounding point instead of using the closest convenient ground opportunity.

If it's a problem that has been slowly developing for a while, grounding, wire conditions, and connections should be your first checkpoints. Meter everything for resistance and also voltage leakage that should be zero.

Now, about ferrites ~ Don't worry about asking for values that would require some engineering skills to measure the target frequencies and then calculate choke values for a variety of filter configurations. Don't bother.
I suggest shopping Amazon for "Snap-on ferrite chokes." You'll see several assortment kits. Your only concern is the sizes that match the wires in our bikes. Usually nothing larger than 5mm is needed, but most assortments include much larger sizes and that's OK. The rules for where to apply ferrite beads include:
Place them as close to the noise source as possible. This shortens the length of a noise radiator or antenna.
The fit should be tight against the wire. While this prevents the bead from sliding, the real reason is that RF energy travels along the surface of the wire, so get close to it.
If your choice of the beads available seems too big for the wire, you can loop the wire through the bead as many times as you have excess wire to do so. A cheap filter multiplier.

In most cases, there will be some noise reduction. Yes, it's a gamble, but it saved complex guess work that has the same chances of success. To increase the level of noise reduction you are hoping for, you can swap the bead for one of a different size or from a different source. When in doubt, add more beads.

You may need to consider ground loop isolation devices or DC powerline or alternator noise filters. This turned out to be the best solution for me, but not on the first try. You want to watch a lot of YouTube videos to learn what they do and where to use them.

Talk to your more experienced motorcycle DIY guys you ride with and keep reading Goldwing Docs.

[ALCATRAZ51]

I have recently purchased the LED Headlight kit for my 07 1800. I have to say that they work great an I have not experienced any interference on my radio..i will say that i also installed the bluetooth adapter for the AUX channel and needed to purchase the resistor as noise was crazy stupid. It now is puurrfect..

[WingAdmin]

I actually covered this question on this week's video:



   Never miss a video: Subscribe to the GoldwingDocs YouTube channel today!

[mlkmn89]

I actually covered this question on this week's video:



   Never miss a video: Subscribe to the GoldwingDocs YouTube channel today!

Yes I saw this video and am waiting for the rings to come in.

[Chaplainbob]

My LED headlights made a lot of interference as well. This is normally caused by poorly designed and/or unshielded DC-DC converters that blast RF and audio noise out, including onto the incoming power wires. The best way to get rid of it (and what I did) was to put a ferrite choke, as close to the headlight as possible, on the wires going to it. Wrap as many turns of wire through the choke as you can. I ended up cutting and extending the power wire for my LEDs so that I could put more loops through the choke.

When you say the noise is coming "over the air" what exactly does that mean?
My 2008 gl1800 makes a vibration type noise (kinda sounds like it's coming out of the speakers but it's not or like a kazoo) most but not all of the time after 40 mph. It gets worse when an oncoming big truck blasts past or a strong gusting left quartering headwind hits. Is this what you're referring to as "over the air".
Very irritating, is there help out there?
Chaplain Bob DeSantis 386-249-0464 rbrtdesantis@gmail.com

[ALCATRAZ51]

Your description sounds (no pun) like you need a ferrite choke to eliminate the interference. When I installed a Bluetooth device to allow me to play music from my iPhone, it needed this device. Very cheap to make or purchase. Good Luck

[Ramnight]

Your description of noise sounds more like mic noise especially when you say when a truck goes by you.
A fault with the Goldwing audio system is they have a open microphone system which keeps them on all the time. So wind noise is alway there.
I fixed mine by installing a momenrary push button switch on the handlebar by the horn button, and one under the left rear speaker box to turn the microphones off until you push
the switch. This fixed the wind noise permently. A ferrite choke, or isolator will not fix this mic wind noise issue.

[Chaplainbob]

Thanks Guy
I don't have or use a mike. Will it still do that?
Chaplain Bob DeSantis

[Ramnight]

So you only have speakers in your helmet with no mic's,
Or you not using the audio system on the bike?

[Chaplainbob]

My helmet has no speakers and the radio & CB are off/muted. I rarely use the radio and I've never used the CB.
Thanks again,
Chap Bob DeSantis

[Ramnight]

Then you must be hearing engine noise then if the radio and intercom are not in use.
Good luck

[Chaplainbob]

Thanks much and keep the rubber side down,
Chap Bob DeSantis