[RFI] ebay line filters

[Doug Powell]

Line filters are primarily constructed of components that are simple inductors and capacitors. The main difference in the inductors ‎is the core material is a low Q or lossy ferrite at certain frequencies.  It is possible to resonate RF signals to higher levels or setup standing waves. If you happen to have a fairly long cable, it is possible you can identify certain nodes and nulls along its length based of the 1/4 wavelength of the emission. If it is broadband RF however, you may not be able to diagnose this.  

Best, Doug


  Original Message  
From: KD7JYK DM09
Sent: Monday, August 15, 2016 10:21 PM
To: rfi at contesting.com
Subject: Re: [RFI] ebay line filters

"One thing you should realize about line filters is they are optimized for 
conducted line emissions coming from the product where they are built in."

That could explain some things. A few months ago I posted details of tests 
using various common filters such as we find online and in scrapped 
electronics with rating from around one amp to around 15.

The test was simple, a 100W "equivalent" LED light bulb that generated X 
amount of RFI on HF. Using a portable radio, I swept the light bulb and the 
6' cord feeding it listening for noise. RFI was found at the bulb, as 
expected and a smaller amount, I think around 6 to 12 inches from the bulb 
with little to none along the rest of the cord.

I added various filters at the base of the bulb to see how they would 
prevent RFI from traveling down and radiating from the line cord.

The results were disastrous! Massive amounts of RFI blasted from every inch 
of the cord and most of the wiring in the shop where none had existed before 
regardless of the filters used. I asked on this list how this could be. No 
response.

Kurt 

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