When our battery charger (NEWMAR ABC 12-35) is on, AM radio reception has a lot of static, particularly at the low end of the band. I've rerouted the antenna cable away from all other wiring. The reception is fine if I turn off the battery charger. Has been this way since we bought the boat in 2000. Am looking to replace the AM/FM/CD radio and thought now would be a good time to see if this problem can be fixed. Does anyone know of some sort of suppressor or whatever that can be used to improve the AM reception? Thanks in advance for any advice. Mike s/v Charisma 82 H36 Ch
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AM Radio Reception Static
Sounds like what used to happen to our car radios in the way long ago days from the distributor if I recall. We used to put a capacitor to ground to cure it...the capacitor was an off-the-shelf item. I suggest you go to Radio Shack or your local friendly Auto Parts store and explain the problem. Battery chargers are electrically noisy due to the relays opening and closing. You can often hear them buzzing.
Sounds like what used to happen to our car radios in the way long ago days from the distributor if I recall. We used to put a capacitor to ground to cure it...the capacitor was an off-the-shelf item. I suggest you go to Radio Shack or your local friendly Auto Parts store and explain the problem. Battery chargers are electrically noisy due to the relays opening and closing. You can often hear them buzzing.
a filter will help, but on ly minimally
The newmar charger is a pulse width modulated charger and generates RF interferance. You won't be able to totally filter it out of the AM Band. If you isolate the power supply for the radio from the charger that will help significantly, but then you won't be charging your batteries. One solution may be to use a portable AM radio that has it's own batteries when using your Newmar charger. You shouldn't have much interferance on the AM band when charging from your engine alternator.
The newmar charger is a pulse width modulated charger and generates RF interferance. You won't be able to totally filter it out of the AM Band. If you isolate the power supply for the radio from the charger that will help significantly, but then you won't be charging your batteries. One solution may be to use a portable AM radio that has it's own batteries when using your Newmar charger. You shouldn't have much interferance on the AM band when charging from your engine alternator.
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Thanks for the responses. I emailed NEWMAR with the question, they say they have a suppressor that may help but wanted a few answers to questions about our dc distribution on the boat. I'll pass along what I find out. BTW, went to the local radio shack with this problem. Funny, about 40 years ago, I went to them with my radio interference problem in my MG and got the spark plug suppressors that solved the problem. This time, all I got was the deer-in-the-head-light stare, but at least it was free. Think a lot of the radio has gone out of the shack these days. Or, maybe I just need to upgrade to a modern battery charge (but it has been oh so reliable). Mike
Thanks for the responses. I emailed NEWMAR with the question, they say they have a suppressor that may help but wanted a few answers to questions about our dc distribution on the boat. I'll pass along what I find out. BTW, went to the local radio shack with this problem. Funny, about 40 years ago, I went to them with my radio interference problem in my MG and got the spark plug suppressors that solved the problem. This time, all I got was the deer-in-the-head-light stare, but at least it was free. Think a lot of the radio has gone out of the shack these days. Or, maybe I just need to upgrade to a modern battery charge (but it has been oh so reliable). Mike
This is normal...
Most battery charges will cause AM radio interference if the antenna or radio are located to close to the charger. This is due to the transformers in the charger. There are a few filters available but, I doubt that they will do much. Good luck.
Most battery charges will cause AM radio interference if the antenna or radio are located to close to the charger. This is due to the transformers in the charger. There are a few filters available but, I doubt that they will do much. Good luck.
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