Progress in this area is slow but I'm pleased to see solutions like this.
Over the weekend, I replaced my home office's under-counter halogen lighting
with a variant that does not use a switched "electronic transformer." Other
reports here on the RFI list have mentioned these devices as severe RFI
generators.
After the installation, RFI is now 100% silent. I use an Elecraft K3 with
SDR-IQ for panoramic noise measurements and I was delighted to see a flat
base-line noise level after the installation. The halogen fixtures are
exactly the same -- only the bulbs are now rated for 120V, rather than +12V.
What caught my attention at the hardware store was the packing that claimed
"completely free from radio and TV interference." In effect, they've simply
changed the lamp structure to allow direct connection to 120V.
Paul, W9AC
----- Original Message -----
From: "Gary K9GS" <garyk9gs@wi.rr.com>
To: <rfi@contesting.com>
Sent: Sunday, December 06, 2009 10:54 AM
Subject: Re: [RFI] RFI alert
> If you're looking for a better solution in terms of energy savings,
> environmental/disposal concerns, maintenance costs and RFI, LEDs are the
> way to go:
>
> http://www.betaled.com/
>
>
> 73,
>
> Gary K9GS
> ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
> K9GS
> Gary Schwartz email: k9gs (at) arrl.net
> Check out K9NS on the web: http://www.k9ns.com
> Society of Midwest Contesters (SMC) http://www.w9smc.com/
> GMDXA http://www.eng.mu.edu/gmdxa/
> ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Jack Shirley" <jcshirle@gmail.com>
> To: "R March" <n7ua@embarqmail.com>
> Cc: <rfi@contesting.com>
> Sent: Sunday, December 06, 2009 6:34 AM
> Subject: Re: [RFI] RFI alert
>
>
>> http://www.oriones.com/
>>
>> 6 bulb fixture
>>
>> Companies are replacing their mercury vapor, high pressure sodium and
>> metal
>> halide fixtures with these for energy savings. You can see a picture of
>> it
>> in the brochure.
>>
>> On Sat, Dec 5, 2009 at 10:01 PM, R March <n7ua@embarqmail.com> wrote:
>>
>>> What type of system is it Rick? What's it called? Maybe I missed part
>>> of
>>> the threat, but would like to be able to tell people near me what not to
>>> use. Thanks, Bob N7UA
>>>
>>>
>>> Jack Shirley wrote:
>>>
>>>> YES!
>>>> I suspect they are using a very high freq. switching. In this
>>>> particular
>>>> plant there were boxes of these fixtures and they were installing
>>>> hundreds
>>>> of them. If anyone lives near an industrial area where these seem to
>>>> be
>>>> targeted, lots of luck. Something the ARRL should jump on. I am
>>>> guessing
>>>> there is some type of tax credit for such fixtures.
>>>>
>>>> On Sat, Dec 5, 2009 at 1:15 PM, Rick Saeger <rsaeger@ptd.net> wrote:
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>> I have firsthand experience with these lights. There is a horse farm
>>>>> barn
>>>>> 2000' from my qth. They installed 8 of these devices to replace the
>>>>> existing
>>>>> fluorescent lighting. It was an RF disaster! They created s9+20 noise
>>>>> from
>>>>> 20m and up(and that is 2000' away). My operating is primarily
>>>>> contesting.
>>>>> As
>>>>> a result of these lights it made that virtually impossible.
>>>>>
>>>>> After a three year battle with the help of the ARRL and the FCC the
>>>>> owner
>>>>> eventually replaced them all with a halogen lighting system which is
>>>>> dead
>>>>> RF
>>>>> quiet.
>>>>>
>>>>> This type of battle can take a lot out of you and is not a fun
>>>>> experience
>>>>> for anyone involved.
>>>>>
>>>>> If you happen to have any one install this type of system near you. GL
>>>>>
>>>>> 73,
>>>>> Rick K3OO
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> -----Original Message-----
>>>>> From: rfi-bounces@contesting.com [mailto:rfi-bounces@contesting.com]
>>>>> On
>>>>> Behalf Of Jack Shirley
>>>>> Sent: Saturday, December 05, 2009 6:01 AM
>>>>> To: Roger (K8RI)
>>>>> Cc: rfi@contesting.com
>>>>> Subject: Re: [RFI] RFI alert
>>>>>
>>>>> I'm guessing that its ultra efficient electronic ballast design, eg,
>>>>> transformer-less: most likely considered and incidental radiator. I
>>>>> have
>>>>> not
>>>>> check the USPTO for patent info.
>>>>>
>>>>> The transformers in my fluorescent lights get very hot, so that would
>>>>> be
>>>>> the
>>>>> first target for improved.efficiency.
>>>>>
>>>>> 73 N8DX
>>>>>
>>>>> On Sat, Dec 5, 2009 at 4:08 AM, Roger (K8RI) <k8ri@rogerhalstead.com>
>>>>> wrote:
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>> Jack Shirley wrote:
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>>> http://www.oriones.com/
>>>>>>> Fluorescent lighting with electronic ballasts.
>>>>>>> I was just at a large company and they are replacing all their HID
>>>>>>> lamps
>>>>>>> with these fixtures. Apparently the RFI was so bad it interfered
>>>>>>> with
>>>>>>> their
>>>>>>> radio controlled cranes.
>>>>>>> I believe there is some tax incentive for companies to make the
>>>>>>> change.
>>>>>>> Heads up.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>> I wonder what they are doing. I looked at the web page, but all I
>>>>>> found
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>> was
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>> they are using a high intensity system. All of the lights in my shop
>>>>>> are
>>>>>> fluorescents (22 8', 75 watt tubes), or 1650 watts. If they were
>>>>>> incandescents I could heat the place with them, but I'd need one
>>>>>> whale
>>>>>> of
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>> an
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>> airconditioner in the summer.
>>>>>> With the conventional fluorescents I have no RF hash, but they are
>>>>>> sometimes noisy as in an audible noise.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> 73
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Roger (K8RI)
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>>> 73 N8DX
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> _______________________________________________
>>>>>>> RFI mailing list
>>>>>>> RFI@contesting.com
>>>>>>> http://lists.contesting.com/mailman/listinfo/rfi
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>> _______________________________________________
>>>>> RFI mailing list
>>>>> RFI@contesting.com
>>>>> http://lists.contesting.com/mailman/listinfo/rfi
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>> _______________________________________________
>>>> RFI mailing list
>>>> RFI@contesting.com
>>>> http://lists.contesting.com/mailman/listinfo/rfi
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>
>> _______________________________________________
>> RFI mailing list
>> RFI@contesting.com
>> http://lists.contesting.com/mailman/listinfo/rfi
>
> _______________________________________________
> RFI mailing list
> RFI@contesting.com
> http://lists.contesting.com/mailman/listinfo/rfi
>
_______________________________________________
RFI mailing list
RFI@contesting.com
http://lists.contesting.com/mailman/listinfo/rfi
|