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Re: [RFI] Fw: Odd RFI case I'm working on...

To: rfi@contesting.com
Subject: Re: [RFI] Fw: Odd RFI case I'm working on...
From: Don <kb5kwv@gmail.com>
Date: Mon, 22 Dec 2025 07:22:12 -0500
List-post: <mailto:rfi@contesting.com>
Mine uses a sensor on the water pipe. When the water flows, it runs until the 
temperature rises, reducing the cold water before it's hot. It has an option 
for a touch panel to touch to activate it before you turn on the faucet. 
I think it's these sensors. 

On December 22, 2025 12:43:17 AM EST, "Dave (NK7Z)" <dave@nk7z.net> wrote:
>Hi,
>
>Thanks to all that replied...  I am creating a check sheet for this... I do 
>not want to miss a suggestion.
>
>
>73, and thanks,
>Dave (NK7Z)
>https://www.nk7z.net
>ARRL Volunteer Examiner
>ARRL Technical Specialist, RFI
>ARRL Asst. Director, NW Division, Technical Resources
>
>Random Quote of the day:
>Government is not reason; it is not eloquent; it is force. Like fire, it is a 
>dangerous servant and a fearful master.
>George Washington
>
>On 12/21/25 17:55, Michael Carter via RFI wrote:
>> 
>> Did reply directly to Dave NK7Z by mistake, omitting the reflector.
>> 
>> Sorry, and 73,
>> Mike, K8CN
>> ________________________________
>> From: Michael Carter <Mike.Carter@unh.edu>
>> Sent: Sunday, December 21, 2025 8:23 PM
>> To: Dave (NK7Z) <dave@nk7z.net>
>> Subject: Re: [RFI] Odd RFI case I'm working on...
>> 
>> Hi Dave,
>> 
>> Put large clamp-on ferrites on the flex tubing hoses at the hot water inlet 
>> and cold water outlet ports of the pump.  Even if those pipes are 
>> 'grounded', the impedance presented to any RF currents on the pipe exterior 
>> surface may be inductive and high, which negates the value of the 
>> 'grounding'.
>> 
>> Does the pump RFI occur on all HF bands or just a few?  That is another clue.
>> 
>> Does the house have PVC plumbing, copper plumbing, or a mix of the two?
>> 
>> You've done all the obvious electrical fixes, albeit temporary in some 
>> aspects, and the fact that RFI persists even at reduced power levels 
>> suggests to me the RF ingress is via the water lines.  If adding choking 
>> impedance on the AC supply cord (i.e. , multiple turns of the cord on a 
>> large toroid) doesn't fix the RF ingress, I would look at the cold and hot 
>> water feeds.
>> 
>> Before doing that work, I would set the clock timer (if this older unit has 
>> one) so that the pump controller is disabled.  Test for RFI in that state - 
>> if the pump is not kicked on by external RF, then I'll be more convinced the 
>> RF ingress is via the water lines themselves, specifically RF currents on 
>> the exterior surfaces of conductive pipes (or the metal braid sheathing on 
>> flex plastic hoses).
>> 
>> 73,
>> Mike, K8CN
>> ________________________________
>> From: RFI <rfi-bounces+mike.carter=unh.edu@contesting.com> on behalf of Dave 
>> (NK7Z) <dave@nk7z.net>
>> Sent: Sunday, December 21, 2025 7:09 PM
>> To: RFI Mail list at contesting.com <rfi@contesting.com>
>> Subject: [RFI] Odd RFI case I'm working on...
>> 
>> CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the University System. Do not 
>> click links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the 
>> content is safe.
>> 
>> 
>> Hello RFI group,
>> 
>> I have an RFI case I am working on right now, that has stumped me
>> completely...
>> 
>> A fellow Amateur has an Laing under sink recirculation pump model
>> ACT-303-BTW.  Every time he transmits, the pump kicks in.  The following
>> steps have been tried.
>> 
>> 1.  A Pile of clamp on ferrites have been added to the short power cord,
>> maybe 5 of them.  No room yet to wind on an FT250-31, but that may be next.
>> 
>> 2.  The water piles have been connected to ground, using a car jumper
>> cable.  The person who put this on tells me he used the ground on a
>> outlet...  Yes, we will test differently with a real ground at some
>> point soon.
>> 
>> 3.  He has reduced power to 50 watts and the pump still kicks in.
>> 
>> 4.  He has wrapped the pump in foil, and grounded the foil.  Again, I am
>> sure via the outlet ground.
>> 
>> 5.  His dipole, which is close to the home, has a quality Balun Design
>> choke on it at the feedpoint.
>> 
>> 6.  The coax has been rerouted to as far as possible from the device as
>> possible, running on the ground as a test.
>> 
>> The device is an older one, and sits under the sink.  The ham is not
>> sure if his cold water pipes are at actual ground.
>> 
>> I intend to do the following:
>> 
>> 1.  Use a real ground, if needed to ground the cold water pipes to the
>> service ground then bond to the pipes at the pump.
>> 
>> 2.  Replace the power cord with a longer version, and wrap 12 turns of
>> AC line cord in an FT240-31, and/or add an external RF filter to the AC
>> line.
>> 
>> 3.  Reduce power further to try and pin down where the RF is getting in,
>> pipes, or power line by isolation.
>> 
>> Purchase a good RF filter for the AC line.  Can someone suggest an OTS
>> one I can recommend?  He operates 80-10 Meters...
>> 
>> Any other ideas?????
>> 
>> 73, and thanks,
>> Dave (NK7Z)
>> https://nam12.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.nk7z.net%2F&data=05%7C02%7Cmike.carter%40unh.edu%7C36fb5e00cd924dbf49c408de40ee6485%7Cd6241893512d46dc8d2bbe47e25f5666%7C0%7C0%7C639019589934679414%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=YHQggWl%2BwFAgA3cVnroHr4EklzVEn08KL3ASOtlKBEo%3D&reserved=0<https://www.nk7z.net/>
>> ARRL Volunteer Examiner
>> ARRL Technical Specialist, RFI
>> ARRL Asst. Director, NW Division, Technical Resources
>> 
>> Random Quote of the day:
>> We are dominated by the relatively small number of persons who
>> understand the mental processes and social patterns of the masses. It is
>> they who pull the wires which control the public mind.
>> Edward Bernays
>> 
>> 
>> 
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