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Re: [RFI] Rheem AC RFI

To: Karin Johnson <karinann@tampabay.rr.com>
Subject: Re: [RFI] Rheem AC RFI
From: David Eckhardt <davearea51a@gmail.com>
Date: Sat, 5 Sep 2020 19:56:49 +0000
List-post: <mailto:rfi@contesting.com>
You don't look at the 6.5 kHz, specifically!  Look for the noise on
40-meters or wherever the problem is occurring.  Once you find that noise,
look for tyne spacing of 6.5 kHz which should be characteristic of the
advertised switching frequency.  This is typical of switchers.  From
experience as an EMC/RFI engineer, when a common mode choke is left out of
the AC line input (a common practice from China and other CM's), I usually
see a large hump of broadband noise between 40 and 70 MHz.  Looking at that
closer, I usually am able to pick out the switching frequency by observing
the tyne spacing.  Do the same for your interference.  First find the
broadband noise at the same frequency you are receiving it on the spectrum
analyzer.  Then look closer-in where the noise is strongest to observe the
tyne spacing.  You will likely need narrower RBW and span to view the tynes
once you find the noise at frequency.

Dave - WØLEV

On Sat, Sep 5, 2020 at 6:41 PM Karin Johnson <karinann@tampabay.rr.com>
wrote:

> David:
>
> Thank you for the reply.
>
> My spectrum analyzer is a Tektronix 7L12.  Although the lower
>
> Frequency limit is DC, it is difficult to resolve meaningful signals
>
> At very low frequencies due to the Zero marker leak thru masking
>
> Any signals.
>
> I will say that at HF frequencies above 3 MHz below 8 MHz is where most
>
> Of the RFI is showing up.  Using the spectrum analyzer in  zero span mode
>
> There is a very complex switching waveform which is hard to separate out
>
> any 6500 Hz components.  Viewing the spectrum it occupies the above
> frequency
>
> range.  Below about 3 MHz there is very little energy showing.  The AM
> broadcast
>
> Band is not affected at all.
>
> Using some basic DF techniques I am pretty sure that the source is the
> inverter
>
> driving the compressor motor.
>
> Just to clarify.  The COMPRESSOR motor is a three phase motor as shown in
> the
>
> Rheem documentation.  It is not self contained ECM motor, nor is it a
> capacitor
>
> Start type motor.  It is truly a three phase motor.  I have not had the
> external
>
> Metal surrounding all of the outside electronics off just yet, as I don't
> want to
>
> Go too far down the rabbit hole with regard to voiding any warranty.
>
> I thought posting to this list might show another user with similar issues
> with a
>
> similar unit.  I suspect there will be several solutions applied in the
> final accounting
>
> to solve this issue.
>
> Right now the installers used the original un-shielded control wiring from
> the inside
>
> Thermostat to the outside electronics.  One part of the solution may be
> having to
>
> Replace the un-shielded control wiring with shielded control wiring.
>
> This system is sort of a state of the art control system, as it uses what
> Rheem calls
>
> ECONET.  The thermostat does not send a solid control signal generated by a
> closed
>
> Or open relay in the thermostat.  It uses a binary data stream coming from
> the Thermostat
>
> to the outside compressor unit and also the Air handler in the attic.  Sort
> of like a CAN bus
>
> communication system.  I'm not sure what the protocol and physical layer
> component are.
>
>
>
> I am speculating at this point, but this may be as simple as re-routing
> some
> of the internal
>
> Wiring in the outside unit to prevent coupling of the high power switching
> components from
>
> being coupled on to low voltage wiring.  One cannot simply put a low pass
> filter on the data
>
> Lines coming from the thermostat as it would kill the waveform logic high
> and low.
>
> Common mode choke would be good here.   When they installed the new unit
> they
>
> Took off a common mode choke I had installed on the old thermostat control
> wiring at the
>
> outside unit.  The installers did not leave enough slack in the control
> cable to install another
>
> Choke.
>
> Plus one other horrible thought.  If the high voltage inverter switching
> signals are coupling to
>
> The actual high side and low side Freon copper piping that presents a
> difficult problem to solve.
>
> Right now I'm just familiarizing myself with the system components.  So
> that
> I can drag
>
> The scope and current probes outside and do some more measurements.
>
>
>
> Karin Anne Johnson  P.E. K3UU
>
> Palm Harbor, FL
>
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>


-- 
*Dave - WØLEV*
*Just Let Darwin Work*
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