If there are two essential things required for a modern home, it would be Wi-Fi and lighting!
However, if you’ve noticed your connection dipping a little recently, you might be wondering what the cause is.
You may even question whether LED lights are to blame for your Wi-Fi interruptions. The answer is a bit more complex than you’d think!
Today, I’m going to go through everything you need to know about LED lights interfering with Wi-Fi, including:
- Why LED lights can interfere with Wi-Fi and other appliances
- Whether other appliances also impact your Wi-Fi
- How you can fix these problems yourself.
Let’s get into it!
Contents
Do LED Lights Interfere With Wi-Fi & Other Appliances?
Yes, LED lights can potentially interfere with Wi-Fi and other appliances. LED lights emit an electromagnetic signal that can interfere with your Wi-Fi connection, sometimes causing outages.
However, this is mostly caused by older lightbulbs, and you’re more likely to have your Wi-Fi interrupted by your microwave!
How LED Lights Can Interfere with Wi-Fi and Other Appliances
You may be wondering how exactly LED lights can interfere with Wi-Fi signals. After all, aren’t they just lights? Well, it involves a lot of factors that can’t be picked up by the human eye.
Signal emitted by LED bulbs
First of all, LED light bulbs emit electromagnetic radiation when they’re used. While you’ll find that most household appliances do this as well, LED light bulbs do it at a higher frequency than most.
This means that in general, interference with other signals won’t be a big issue. However, if you have bulbs that use an older halogen ballast, you may experience interference with the signal.
A large number of bulbs in one area can also cause greater disruption because it creates more electromagnetic radiation.
Interaction between LED lights and Wi-Fi
Your Wi-Fi router, like most other appliances, emits electromagnetic radiation. Interference between these signals occurs when the appliances operate on the same frequency. When it comes to Wi-Fi, this means you’ll get a patchy connection.
Luckily, LED lights work on a much higher frequency than most household appliances. In fact, your microwave’s frequency is much closer to your Wi-Fi’s!
The important thing to note here is that LED lights typically won’t interact with Wi-Fi unless you’re using older bulbs.
Radio interference
Another important factor to consider is the impact of radio interference. Now that we’ve discussed the kinds of signals emitted by LED lights, you may be wondering if they’ll affect radio waves.
The chances of LED lights interfering with radio signals are very low, and there isn’t a lot of evidence to support it. There could be a problem, but it’s likely it won’t be the lights!
TV interference
You may also be wondering if your LED lights will impact your TV signal. Thankfully, the likelihood is pretty slim!
People who apply LED strip lights to the back of their TVs may discover a bit of interference due to the proximity of the lights. With general uses, however, you won’t find much disruption.
Interference with computers
Another potential interference is with computers. Some people have reported their displays flickering, although this appears more likely for laptops or other portable devices.
This is because your computer screen is sensitive to electromagnetic interference. However, you shouldn’t worry too much about this, as it’s even rarer than TV interference!
Christmas Trees and Wi-Fi
As I’ve mentioned previously, having more lightbulbs increases the amount of electromagnetic interference, causing outages with Wi-Fi. If you have a lot of LEDs concentrated in one area, such as for a Christmas tree, you may find your connection to be patchy around that area.
Fixing LED Light Interference
Now that I’ve discussed all the signals LED lights can impact, let’s go ahead and talk about some solutions.
But before you go ahead and try these tips, check to see if the LED lights are the main root of the problem. You can do this by turning off your LEDs when you encounter interference. If this doesn’t fix the problem, try one of these:
Use high-quality LED light bulbs
Generally, the higher the quality of the bulb, the less interference. You’ll find that lower-quality bulbs tend to be manufactured to a lower standard, meaning reducing the electromagnetic signal is less important.
An easy solution to this is to upgrade the quality of your bulbs. Buying bulbs of a higher quality will mean less interference and more time to enjoy your Wi-Fi!
Alternatively, you could try to use a different type of lightbulb altogether. Fluorescent light bulbs tend to not cause any interference, but chat with an electrician or a hardware store worker for advice.
Check for transformer issues
A transformer is what turns energy into light within your bulb. This can sometimes cause problems either in a ballast in the light, or within the power supply.
Checking the transformer can be a good step in reducing the electromagnetic output. Investing in a good quality transformer will also typically mean less interference.
Reduce length of wiring
By either shortening your cables or using shielded ones, you can lower the size of the electromagnetic field caused by the bulbs. This is because the shorter the cable, the less electricity you’re using to power your lights.
Sounds simple, right? Unfortunately, this solution might not work well if your cables are located inside walls. If you’re not electricity-savvy, it’s best to call an electrician.
Try moving your Wi-Fi router
If it’s your Wi-Fi that’s being impacted, try moving the location of the router itself to a different area of your home – even if it’s just a room over! This is often the most overlooked solution, even as it’s one of the easiest.
Conclusion
There are a lot of factors that can cause your Wi-Fi signal to cut out, including LED lights. By understanding the reasons why this can occur, you can now take steps to fix and prevent the issue!
