HID Lights and Radio Noise
 

I have the CreativAir HID landing lights in my wing tips and have noticed a small amount of white noise on both radios (GNS 430W and SL-40) when the lights are on. The white noise remains even after the HIDs have warmed up. Any thoughts on how I can stop the white noise? Bill from CreativAir had no suggestions.

RFI to ant or pwr inputs
 

Usually, RFI gets into a radio either via the antenna or the power input. Wiring to other attached peripherals is a possibility, but far less likely. Could try unplug antenna and see if noise still there (I assume you hear it on receive). If so, the usual remedy would be to better isolate the source, or protect the affected device, reroute wiring, check shield grounds, etc.. If gone with antenna disconnected, then obviously it's the antenna location, connections, and/or the noise source must be lessened. I know there's different kinds of HID lights and some are supposedly far worse with RFI generation than others. One debate on shielded line, i.e. to strobes, etc., is do you ground at the likely source end of RFI or at the other end only, i.e. the power supply. Get into the same debate re field line to an alternator. Staying away from that discussion.

Where are your antennas Jason? I have a wingtip antenna for my #2 Comm, with HID lights from Duckworks in the tips and if the lights are on, the #2 Comm is completely trashed. it's just something I manage operationally. If you have fuselage antennas, well, then you're on an RFI hunt as Link talked about...

Paul

Does your Duckworks system use a D1S bulb or some other automotive kit bulb and have shielded cables from Ballast to bulb. It should be easy to tell if shielded or not by looking at both ends of the cable and how it interfaces to the ballast and bulb. Is it a Philips brand Ballast, or other brand ballast? What brand of ballast and bulb? Duckworks used a Philips brand ballast for a few years.

If using high quality components with proper shielding and installed optimally, these issues should not be unless installed very close to an antenna.

After I get some clarifications (details) I can make some suggestions. We must first determine if it is radiated or conducted "noise." You can power the ballasts off of an independent battery to isolate the problem. This will help determine if the noise is coming through your wires (conducted) or transmitted (radiated).

HID noise
 

Steve here from Planelights

Sorry for not being very active on VAF, I have a hard time participating in a forum if we are not a paying advertiser on the site. Now we have the ad a set up, so let me try to answer your questions:






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Paul,

It sounds like you have our MR16 set purchased from Duckworks. You shouldn't be getting that much(if any) interference. The MR16's are just about the "cleanest" system we sell. Check out this page:

http://www.planelights.com/index.php?id=702

How are your lights wired? How close is the ballast to the antenna? Is it on both sides or is the comm 2 antenna on one side(wing) only? We have had many sets of the MR16's installed next to "tape" antenna's(comm and nav) in wingtips with no problems. You will always have a little bit of noise with any HID light, doesn't matter if it's a D2S or D1S bulb. An HID bulb is a big spark gap generator, but it is very controllable. I am leaning toward something broke or loose causing that much noise. Let me know and we'll get this figured out. Feel free to call, #'s on the website, I am more than happy to send you a replacement to try.

Thanks
Steve
www.planelights.com

Have to clarify the facts on these 2 statement. I have 3 of our 50 watt (higher power) HID units on my airplane and with all three on steady or pulsing, I get no sound anywhere, anytime, not even with the squelch way down. I never hear noise from the HID's in any mode of operation. I have no special line filters etc. in place either, std install.

HID generates a DC "spark" for a fraction of a second during the ignition cycle, after that a Metal Halide plasma is formed to carry the current, no more spark(s), just a constant flow of ~ 400Hz AC at ~85 VAC once warmed up.

D1S (igniter integrated to the bulb) is a superior system. NO HID system without shielded cables from ballast to bulb and Using an integrated bulb/igniter (D1S) will be as quiet.

Only D1S with shielded cables will pass the GM (General Motors) CISPR noise standards to prevent problems with RFI, EMI for the ECU and other computer controlled systems. This is also true for DO160E noise stds. which we have exceeded.

Paul--

Both my Com antennas are on the belly of my plane (right under the seat pans). I do have a marker beacon antenna in one wingtip and a Archer VOR in the other.



Jason

Duckworks or Creativair lights?
 

Did you say you have the Duckworks HID's or the HID's from Creativair? I thought you said in the original post they were from Creativair, but the other posts say Duckworks. Just curious in case there is a difference.

Those are 2 different posters with similar problems purchased from 2 different sources.

Steve - thanks for takign the time to comment!

Yes, it appears that my lights from Duckworks are your system. The bulbs themselves are mounted about the only way they can be done in a Creativair tip (I used to have their Halogens - pretty low light output), you can see in the picture how I mounted the power supplies.



They are grounded locally, and I have an Archer Comm antenna mounted in the tip, and grounded to the outboard rib as well. I have the identical setup in the other tip, except that the antenna is for Nav, and I have noticed no degradation in Nav reception with the lights on or of.

This hasn't been a high priority, so I haven't pursued it, but I am happy to see you posting here!

Paul