[RFI] Low Noise LED Recessed Lights - Again

[Thomas Hoyer]

 Hi Ed, 
Thank you for the detailed response Ed, I appreciate it and I understand the reasoning.............
Maybe someone on the list has experience with a specific brand / manufacturer. I'm looking for 6" fixtures. Any suggestions from the group?
TomW3TA 
    On Wednesday, September 11, 2024 at 02:48:08 PM EDT, Hare, Ed, W1RFI via RFI <rfi at contesting.com> wrote:   

 Unfortunately, that data doesn't exist, for a lot of good reasons.

First, the Lab gets few reports that say, "The Shootzu model 123 does not interfere with my amateur operation. "

A few years back, when LED bulbs first came out, I went out and bought a number of them, from the local box stores to specialty lighting centers to eBay.  I found that the vast majority of them met FCC regulations.  Some, including one of the Chinese imports, had essentially zero emissions.  One or two exceeded the limits, sometimes by a lot.

The reason the ARRL doesn't keep up with this sort of testing are multifold.  There is, of course, the cost issue, both in terms of buying bulbs, but also testing them.  More important, from what we have seen, all testing done one year is only 50% valid the next, as new models come out and old ones retire.  In a few instances I know of, I have seen Walmart substitute an entirely different bulb under the same model number and brand, so any testing done could be obsolete before it was even complete.

Imagine if ARRL were to publish a "good guy list" and when a neighbor bought bulbs causing interference, then went out at the ham's insistence and bought "good" bulbs, only to have them be different from the ones we tested, there would be a "personal diplomacy" problem of monumental proportions.

It's a tough problem, because hams do want to know what to buy.  I am suggesting to the Lab guys that they create a "good guy" report page, where hams can report products that are noise free.  Even that has its risks, because hams often report RFI only on frequencies they use regularly, so a bulb might be quiet on 14.300 MHz, but noisy on 14.010 in the DX window. Still, that might give us the justification to buy the bulb in question and do some testing.  When I get done with a product-review testing issue I am working on for the Lab, Steve might be able to make me do the testing. 🙂

Ed, W1RFI
ARRL Lab Volunteer


________________________________
From: RFI <rfi-bounces+w1rfi=arrl.org at contesting.com> on behalf of Thomas Hoyer via RFI <rfi at contesting.com>
Sent: Wednesday, September 11, 2024 2:40 PM
To: Rfi List <rfi at contesting.com>; Gene Smar <ersmar at verizon.net>
Subject: Re: [RFI] Low Noise LED Recessed Lights - Again

Thanks Gene!
    On Wednesday, September 11, 2024 at 02:17:28 PM EDT, Gene Smar via RFI <rfi at contesting.com> wrote:

  Check with Steve Anderson W1EMI at League HQ ( w1emi at arrl.org ).  He might have such a list.

73 deGene Smar  AD3F

    On Wednesday, September 11, 2024 at 02:01:52 PM EDT, Thomas Hoyer via RFI <rfi at contesting.com> wrote:

 Doing an addition to the house and want to use some recessed LED lights in the vaulted ceiling. I spent a while last night searching the archives and I found a lot of threads about folks having issues with them but didn't see any recommendation for fixtures that are actually low noise.
I bought a couple Halo lamps from Home Depot and "sniffed" them with the spectrum analyzer - lots of switching noise so they are out.
I operate 160m through 2m 98% CW, looking for folks that have had success with this type of lighting and suggestions for manufacturer / models that would fit the bill.
Thanks,
TomW3TA
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