Tuesday, November 1, 2011

Navigation Insturment Interference


Navigation instrument interference may come from the lighting in your boat. The new LED lighting or the compact fluorescent bulb type may cause interference with your electronics. The new LED lights have a mini circuit board in them that controls the voltage through the LED component so it will not be overloaded and burn out. The more LED’s in the fixture the more little components in the light. Some of these lights may cause interference with radios, televisions, wireless telephones, remote controls and navigation equipment. Moving these products away from the light may get rid of the interference.
The Compact Fluorescent bulbs may also cause interference to the same components. Navigation or communication equipment operating between 0.45-30 MHz are most effected. Moving the light away may help. Incandescent lighting may have to be used to eliminate the problem.
More of these types of lighting fixtures are being used because of the low electric consumption they have. Just note they can possibly be a problem.
Even my dog's electric flea collar messes up my magnetic compass slightly if he rests his head on the compass. I do not know if it would mess with the digital compass. I need to check that out since the dog is the Navigation officer.

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