[RFI] Low Voltage Patio Lights

[Cortland Richmond]

Have you talked to the owner?   What does he think can be done?

Have you contacted the ARRL?  The League will no doubt have received many such complaints already.

There is an FCC page for reporting complaints; are AMBC stations you listen to interfered with by this lighting?  Call them; they have their own route to the FCC.

If you do contact the FCC they will want to know if you have talked to the owner and what resolution (or lack thereof) you reached.  For that matter, so will the ARRL.


Some manufacturer say they try to prevent interference (examples):

Toolstation Electronic Transformer 12v 105w 
Radio interference suppression with overload and thermal protection. Dimmable with standard dimmers. 60w only?
The Flick 3000is silent running, therefore has no interference noise commonly associated with low voltage dimmers. 
(Note: UK firm)
Omn60Lt Undercabinet By American Fluorescent 
Compact omn60lt electronic premium high-end transformer features integrated radio frequency interference suppressor, short circuit protection, overload protection, overheat...
Google(TM) can be your friend here.  
Comment:
The traditional recourse of replacing switchers with 120V/12V transformers may not be available to us much longer, as efficiency regulations are resulting in SMPS replacing even low-power transformers.  Unfortunately,  many manufacturers, importers and vendors don't care if these are either quiet or safe. One sometimes sees recalls for counterfeit UL marking but hardly ever for radio interference. That may be a subject for another thread.


Cortland
KA5S


> [Original Message]
> From: R March <n7ua at embarqmail.com>
> To: rfi at contesting.com <rfi at contesting.com>
> Date: 9/7/2008 10:00:17 AM
> Subject: [RFI] Low Voltage Patio Lights
>
> I now have a problem with a neighbors outside low voltage patio lights. 
>   It generates 20 over 9 noise on 160, caused by the power supply;  not 
> a transformer but a switcher.  So the question is: does anyone know of a 
> low voltage outdoor/patio lighting system with a built-in light sensor 
> that does not make noise? Maybe one that uses an actual transformer? 
> What an innovation.
>
>
> Another question.  Who does one contact at the FCC now that Riley 
> Hollingsworth has retired?    Thanks,  Bob  N7UA
>
> BTW, It sure would be great if there were a data base of systems that 
> don't make noise, say maintained by the ARRL, where hams could find 
> solutions to these problems.