Another RFI Problem... (Solved!)

[SCPD]

So after my pet fence issues, my RFI issues were very close to being resolved. The last two weeks however have been frustrating, but I have been a little busy... so I didn't have time to run around looking for the source.

The good thing is that I found the sources, but the bad thing, is I have only myself to blame. (Okay, so I'm kicking myself now.)

I just thought I'd share the quick details:

A couple of weeks ago, I was listening on AM and heard really bad AC hum. This is very common noise while in AM but it was never this bad. It seemed worse from 2-10 Mhz...

A simple check - I flipped a circuit breaker. Noise was nearly gone. Okay, so it was something IN the house. Great. After some initial trial and error, I couldn't locate it.

Finally, I had a light day today. I grabbed the Sony 7600GR and set it for 2000 Khz. I extended the whip and walked toward the other side of the basement.

Low and behold. The FAX machine! It was plugged in to the AC outlet but the phone wire was disconnected (so it wouldn't auto answer.) Disconnecting the AC plug revealed an immediate drop in the signal strength. (PS. I just picked this up a few weeks ago from a friend. He was getting rid of it, so I took it off his hands.)

I still had some AC hum. Hmm. I swept the downstairs - nothing else. I went upstairs and found the culprit. A touch lamp! It was one of those small ones and it had been unplugged. If memory serves, I probably plugged it back in to do some reading. (It's next to the chair.)

GRRR!

Okay, so I'm taking these devices and throwing them in the garbage. :twisted:

What gets me is how these things generate RFI w/o even being on! BTW, switching on the lamp to its highest setting was like cranking up a the RFI generator!

On a positive note, now that I have a known source of RFI, I am going to buy one of those cheap RFI plugs and see how well it works. If it works well and cuts the RFI, then I'll probably get a few of them for around the house.

PS. The AC hum was S9+20 and now there's ZERO hum. The noise floor is around S2-S3 but nice and clean white noise.

 

[raisindot]

Cool! I'd love to be able to get rid of all the RFI-generating stuff in my house but then there'd be nothing left.

Question though: Are you saying the touch lamp was generating RFI even when it wasn't plugged in? How is this possible unless it has a built in battery that keeps it powered? I can see how things plugged in but turned off generate RFI, since nearly every device is really consuming power when it's off to enable it to turn on fast. That's why whenever I can, I attach things to power strips and turn the strip off when I'm not using a bunch of devices.

Jeff

 

[SCPD]

Question though: Are you saying the touch lamp was generating RFI even when it wasn't plugged in?

Negative. I said it *had* been unplugged but I plugged it in to do some reading. The touch lamps are 'on' if they're plugged into the outlet.

Also, I found another lamp that is used only at night. It's one of those vertical standing lamps. It has the dial which adjusts the brightness. Man, that was terrible as well.

Despite these devices, I think the problem could be the AC wiring. The house was built in the late 60s and updated several years later. After this recent experience, I've developed a feeling that some of the outlets are not grounded despite having 3-hole plugs.

I am going to stop by Lowes and pick up a GF tester to verify each plug.

I may have to do some re-wiring in the near future. :roll:

 

[E-Man]

I found another lamp that is used only at night. It's one of those vertical standing lamps. It has the dial which adjusts the brightness. Man, that was terrible as well.

If it is a halogen torch light, I would recommend that you destroy it, then place in garbage. These are known to catch fire.

Action to Improve Safety of Halogen Torchiere Floor Lamps

 

[SCPD]

Thanks E-Man. I'll check. I don't think it uses the halogen bulbs, but I'll double-check.

 

[SCPD]

If it is a halogen torch light, I would recommend that you destroy it, then place in garbage. These are known to catch fire.

Action to Improve Safety of Halogen Torchiere Floor Lamps

Thanks for this... turns out it was one of these older Halogen lamps. It's no longer in the house.

 

[E-Man]

Good deal.