From: knesbitt
Sent: Wednesday, March 03, 2004 6:15 PM
Subject: RE: [RFI] Interference from Halogen Track Lights - Builder's
Junque
Good advise. I have been considering trying to get inside the case and try
installing rf bypass caps across both the 115v and low voltage side of the
power supply. The trbl is, these power supplies are contained within small
enclosures (about the size of a small electronic project box), integrated
into each light fixture. They are not stand-alone devices such as you
describe.
Each light snaps into an energized rail (115v) which then drives
the individual power units on the base of each light. I suspect as you
say, the supply is to blame. I am going to contact our Federal gov't dept
responsible
for this matter (Indusrty Canada) to determine what if any
guidlines these units have to meet.
Kirb, VE6IV
> -----Original Message-----
> From: N6KJ
> Sent: Wednesday, March 03, 2004 6:09 PM
> To: knesbitt@nucleus.com
> Subject: Re: [RFI] Interference from Halogen Track Lights - Builder's
> Junque
>
>
> I don't have experience with this, but I DO have experience with
> something similar.
>
> Last summer I purchased walkway lights. They are the 12V "low-voltage"
> kind. There is a power supply/transformer for them that plugs into
> 115VAC. The power supply for these was incredibly noisy. I sent it to
> the ARRL and they concluded that it was in violation of Part 15 rules
> in the AM broadcast band, but not in the ham bands. This power supply
> was causing wideband hash at about S7 on 20 meters with my antenna
> located
> about 100 feet away. It was intolerable. I replaced the power supply
> with
> one that I KNEW wouldn't cause problems and sure enough, the noise went
> away.
>
> I think you need to either filter the power supplies OR replace them.
> Try
> to use power supplies with ferrite cores in them (ie. transformers)
> instead
> of switching supplies. Most of these "low-voltage" systems use crappy
> switching power supplies that are incredibly noisy.
>
> How to filter? Try mix 77 toroids and wrap the AC cable through the
> toroid as many times as possible. Use multiple toroids if possible.
> Most importantly, use mix 77.
>
> I would replace the power supplies if possible.
>
>
> On Wed, 3 Mar 2004 17:56:23 -0700, "knesbitt" wrote:
>
>
> Greetings all,
> am looking for some advise in dealing with a nasty interference source
I've
> come across. Recently we moved into a new development in which many of
the
> homes (including ours) employ no-name halogen track lighting in the
kitchen
> and various other spots in the houses. I have found that the 115/12v
> integrated power supply on each of these lights produce a wide band
hash
> which virtually wipes out the 40m band on my vertical. Unfortunately
both
my
> neighbours on either side have identical lighting arrangements which
produce
> hellacious noise for me on 80 and 40m when energized. Has anyone had
> experience dealing with these noise generators? I am assuming the
unshielded
> PS's are the cause (possibly radiating back into the AC mains, however
there
> is always the possibility its the filament in the halogen light
radiating.
I
> am curious if anyone has had success filtering or by-passing these
units,
> and if so by what means.
> Appreciate all the help, believe me!
>
> Kirb, VE6IV
> Calgary, AB
---
Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free.
Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com).
Version: 6.0.598 / Virus Database: 380 - Release Date: 2/28/2004
_______________________________________________
RFI mailing list
RFI@contesting.com
http://lists.contesting.com/mailman/listinfo/rfi
|