[RFI] Horrific Ugly Noise Found and stopped...

[Wes Attaway (N5WA)]

Eddy ... aside from the noise problem, you mention "expensive mini-bulbs".
Are you talking about the little 40W-50W halogen bulbs?  If so, the key to
preventing premature burnout is to carefully wipe each bulb with a paper
towel and then hold it it a piece of paper towel as you insert it into the
socket.  Body oils, in particular, can cause bulb failure as the bulb heats
up.  

I have some under-counter fixtures that use these bulbs and do not cause any
RFI.  Once I started wiping the bulbs I haven't had a bulb failure in the
past two or three years, and some of the bulbs have been burning every day
for over seven years. 

------------------- Wes Attaway (N5WA) ------------------ 
1138 Waters Edge Circle, Shreveport, LA 71106 
    318-797-4972 (Office) - 318-393-3289 (Cell) 
        Computer Consulting and Forensics 
-------------- EnCase Certified Examiner --------------- 


-----Original Message-----
From: rfi-bounces at contesting.com [mailto:rfi-bounces at contesting.com] On
Behalf Of Diane & Edward Swynar
Sent: Sunday, May 08, 2011 6:48 AM
To: Larry Parker; rfi at contesting.com
Subject: Re: [RFI] Horrific Ugly Noise Found and stopped...

Hi Larry,

Are those undercounter lamps the same type that have a master "touch-button"
that controls their intensity in three steps...?

If so, fear not: they are just as susceptible to the presence of RF, as they
are in generating RFI. Case in point: my son installed a system of
undercounter lights here of that type awhile back, & every time they were
on, I experienced the worst noise possible on all the HF bands. Conversely,
however, every time I keyed the rig, the lamps would sequentially go "on" &
commence their intensity steps in sync with each CW character I sent!

They are pure, unadulterated TRASH, bar none, and have absolutely no
business being on the market.

My solution here? Initiatally, I'd physically unplug the ^%%#$%^ things
whenever I'd go on the air. Finally the integral small power supply
crapped-out on the things, & I now simply plug the lights in manually to
make them work---no more two-way RFI that way.

But they go through those unique & EXPENSIVE mini-bulbs like there's no
to-morrow...as I said earlier, they may be nice-looking when installed &
working, but the bottom line is they're still TRASH, & should rightfully be
banned.

~73~ de Eddy VE3CUI - VE3XZ


****************************************************************************
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----- Original Message -----
From: "Larry Parker" <ve3edy at cogeco.ca>
To: <rfi at contesting.com>
Sent: Saturday, May 07, 2011 7:20 PM
Subject: [RFI] Horrific Ugly Noise Found and stopped...


I have taken out this style of undercounter lighting from the house I just
purchased.

The power supply converting the 120 vac to 12 vdc functions at 20 khz.

This generated HF pulse is being accentuated with the length of wire feeding
the
undercounter halogen  puck lamps.

In turn producing a 40 over S9 signal on all the HF bands from 160m through
80m and up past 40m where it finally starts to dimminish.

I replaced these offending lighting circuits with the newer low voltage DC
LED puck lights
which are so much more energy efficient.

Larry,VE3EDY




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