fridge noise over radio.
Submitted: Thursday, Jun 22, 2023 at 12:26
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145900
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Member - William B
Hello,
I have installed by Bushman fridge into my 120 series Prado.
It is on ( the fridge) the drivers side rear, the antennae for the radio is in the drivers side rear glass.
I am getting a lot of interference from the fridge over the radio when on am band. We are off to
Birdsville next week.
Does any one have a Idea how fix or minimise the noise.
William
Reply By: Allan B (Sunshine Coast) - Thursday, Jun 22, 2023 at 14:45
Thursday, Jun 22, 2023 at 14:45
Hi William,
There are all sorts of reasons for radio interference from appliances and all sorts of means required to correct this. But for a start you may try the following:
a) If the fridge has a metal housing then attach a wire from the housing to a good earth bon the vehicle's body.
b) Clip a ferrite noise suppressor over the fridge's 12v supply cable. Obtainable from Jaycar
(See here)
Beyond those easy fixes it can get complicated and require some trial-and-error work within the fridge. Consulting a car radio technician may be required.
AnswerID:
643929
Follow Up By: Member - William B - Thursday, Jun 22, 2023 at 15:07
Thursday, Jun 22, 2023 at 15:07
Thanks Allan,
I'll go out and earth the fridge today and source a ferrite noise suppressor tomorrow.
I'll report back when dine.
William
FollowupID:
923773
Follow Up By: Member - William B - Thursday, Jun 22, 2023 at 16:45
Thursday, Jun 22, 2023 at 16:45
Hi Allan,
I earthed the fridge and found a ferrite noise suppressor on an old lead and have fitted it.
I'll
test it out in the next few days and see how it goes,
once again thank you.
William
FollowupID:
923774
Follow Up By: Dean K3 - Wednesday, Jun 28, 2023 at 18:25
Wednesday, Jun 28, 2023 at 18:25
sounds like electrical interference i have similar issues especially when using AM freqs in country even around metro. I get interference from transformers as I drive past. - same vehicle Prado 120 d4d however antenna usually mounted on passenger rear side window and a very directional one as
well
Gets even worse when your out bush with
hazard light on brakes etc with LED hi mount lights plus the ABC radio - section between
meekatharra nd
newman is dead spot with nothing period better off using the ipod
so should it be the antenna for the AM/FM radio that needs a suppressor or the powered auxiliaries (fridge hi mount lights etc) in the vehicle
FollowupID:
923889
Reply By: Batt's - Thursday, Jun 22, 2023 at 16:59
Thursday, Jun 22, 2023 at 16:59
Is it a new set up with after market wiring or factory wiring and socket is it earthed to the body near the fridge or off the battery. Have you tried running something else out of the same socket to see if it does the same thing to the radio ?
AnswerID:
643930
Follow Up By: Member - William B - Thursday, Jun 22, 2023 at 18:27
Thursday, Jun 22, 2023 at 18:27
Hi Batt's.
It's a old fridge which I have put back in the car.
I have had the fridge in the same location before with the same noise.
I have the fridge earthed to the body through a separate wire now and a ferrite filled as per Allan's advise.
It is powered by a lithium battery using a Redarc bcdc dual input charger.
William
FollowupID:
923775
Reply By: qldcamper - Friday, Jun 23, 2023 at 09:02
Friday, Jun 23, 2023 at 09:02
There are only 2 ways radios pick up interferance, Allan has addressed both of them.
Shielding will minimise transmitted interference and a ferrite choke on the lead will help with line interferance.
My bet is your dealing with transmitted.
To be sure try disconnecting the 12 volt plug and running on 240, this should eliminate any line interferance but it could also alter the frequency of the source of the transmitted interference.
It is the most annoying time consuming problem radio people face.
If the problem persists after the basics you have tried just put up with it or buy a different fridge.
AnswerID:
643934
Follow Up By: Pepper - Friday, Jun 23, 2023 at 11:13
Friday, Jun 23, 2023 at 11:13
If you have an inverter could you try running the fridge on 240v when driving to see if there is a difference ??
FollowupID:
923784
Reply By: Member - mechpete - Tuesday, Jun 27, 2023 at 15:32
Tuesday, Jun 27, 2023 at 15:32
Why don t you move the antenna, to anther area away from. The fridge,
AnswerID:
643986
Follow Up By: Member - William B - Tuesday, Jun 27, 2023 at 17:40
Tuesday, Jun 27, 2023 at 17:40
Hi mechpete.
The antennae is in the glass.
William
FollowupID:
923871
Follow Up By: Member - mechpete - Tuesday, Jun 27, 2023 at 18:16
Tuesday, Jun 27, 2023 at 18:16
You can still fit another antenna
FollowupID:
923873
Reply By: Member - William B - Tuesday, Jun 27, 2023 at 17:45
Tuesday, Jun 27, 2023 at 17:45
Thank you every one for their input.
We are currently at
Nyngan and the interference I was concerned about is insignificant.
I am now convinced it was an external source of noise, probably the Big electrical transformer on the pole opposite my house. (Maybe).
William
AnswerID:
643990
Follow Up By: Allan B (Sunshine Coast) - Tuesday, Jun 27, 2023 at 17:50
Tuesday, Jun 27, 2023 at 17:50
.
William, was the interference like a 'hum' or more like static as when the radio is tuned off-station?
FollowupID:
923872
Reply By: Member - William B - Tuesday, Jun 27, 2023 at 18:24
Tuesday, Jun 27, 2023 at 18:24
Hi Allan,
It was more like a radio not quite on channel.
It appeared to be worse when the fridge cycled on.
William
AnswerID:
643991
Follow Up By: Allan B (Sunshine Coast) - Thursday, Jun 29, 2023 at 09:50
Thursday, Jun 29, 2023 at 09:50
.
Hi William,
Your expression "worse when the fridge cycled on" implies that there is some interference present even when the fridge is off. If so then you are receiving a weak signal from your antenna.
OEM antenna-on-glass are a compromise and deliver a signal that may be adequate in city zones but less so out in the country. Your fridge is generating some RF interference which competes with the signal from the antenna. If you are keen to get radio reception when away from
home you may need to consider installing a superior whip-type antenna which will deliver a stronger signal to the radio.
OEM radios are not high performers either, but you would need to be really keen to upgrade that as even though they can resolve weak radio signals they will also amplify the interference entering the antenna.
Having the antenna on the rear window also requires a longer coax cable to the radio which will incorporate more signal loss. It is even possible that there may be some fault in this cable or its connectors.
Sorry that I cannot offer better news!
FollowupID:
923904
Follow Up By: Allan B (Sunshine Coast) - Thursday, Jun 29, 2023 at 10:15
Thursday, Jun 29, 2023 at 10:15
.
Hopefully, PeterD (Nomadic Navara) may add comment to this.
FollowupID:
923906