[TowerTalk] Green Power Lightbulb QRN

[Roger (K8RI)]

> If you've been considering replacement of your current traditional light
> bulbs in the house with the new whiz bang "Green Power" curly jobs before
> your next favorite contest, DON'T DO IT (at least without some
> testing-testing-testing).

We've replaced nearly every light in the house with them that wasn't 
fluorescent to begin. End table, ceiling, bedroom, living room, ...there are 
very few incandescents left.

The basement has something like 18, two tube (4') fixtures on 4 circuits. No 
incandescents down there.
My computer/radio room has a ceiling light/fan with a 120 watt equivelant, 
the kitchen has 5 of the Green replacements, and the garage has 6 of the 150 
watt equivelants. I operate 160 through 440 and have not noticed any noise 
from them yet. As for the shop it has 11 two tube (8') 75 Watts per tube 
fixtures. I currently operate 40 through 440 out there with no electrical 
noise. OTOH when it's cold the mechanical noise from them is miserable. 
However when working out there the shop is heated in the winter and air 
conditioned in the summer.

BTW in both the house and shop have two computers within a foot or two of 
the rigs and the network cables actually run a short ways with the coax. 
Most of the way the gigabit CAT5e network cables are seperated from the 
station cables.

73

Roger (K8RI)
>
>
>
> The 40 watt bulb in the lamp near my rig bit the dust a few minutes ago
> while I was listening on 160m.  Interestingly, the band noise tonight was
> minimal here.
>
>
>
> I went to the cupboard and decided to finally open the packaged for a new
> "curly-widget" GE soft white 40 watt bulb that claims to only use the 
> energy
> of a 10 watter.  But wait.there's more. the package says it's a "5 Year 
> Bulb
> - Long Life * 8000 Hours (lightning bolt) Energy Saver."  With info like
> that, it's gotta be good, right?
>
>
>
> IMHO, somebody QLF'd in production and forgot to add "QRN MAKER" to the
> package!!!
>
>
>
> The RX was on in the background, and when I screwed in the new bulb and
> turned it on, WHAMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM. a BIG QRN level appeared that 
> sounded
> kinda like power line noise.
>
>
>
> I turned off the lamp and the noise disappeared.  Hmmm.  Coincidence? 
> Nope.
> 5 more on/off tests and each time BIG QRN.  I checked other bands.  It was
> worse on 60m, and 15m was a disaster.  Interestingly, several times when I
> left the new bulb on for a while, the QRN disappeared.  But not always.
> Hmmm.
>
>
>
> Maybe this is a single "Lemon-bulb" incident, maybe not.  The package says
> "Made In China" and it has GE's name on it, so it's gotta be a good, 
> right?
>
>
>
> Has anyone else experienced similar QRN problems with the new "Green 
> Power"
> curly bulbs?
>
>
>
> FYI & 73.
>
>
>
> Rick, K6VVA
>
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