radio static
- Thread starter bwyllie
- Start date
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plate
Senior Member
- Location
- South East PA
My experience is that higher priced dimmers ($30+) are better in terms of reducing static on the AM radio. The static is a result of the solid state switching and more expensive dimmers incorporate a filter.
Last edited:
77401
Banned
I think it has more to do with location of the dimmer & radio. Get rid of, or move the dimmer or radio.
My house, I have a Lutron DVLV600P Dimmer directly behind a 2 line wall mounted phone. The phone has static with the lights are on.
My house, I have a Lutron DVLV600P Dimmer directly behind a 2 line wall mounted phone. The phone has static with the lights are on.
plate
Senior Member
- Location
- South East PA
77401, In the case of the dimmer and the phone in close proximity, do you think a metal box and faceplate could/would help?
Dimmers work with a solid state triac. When the triac turns on, it puts a pretty large spike from the sudden turn on, and this in turns rings the wiring radiating through all the wiring in the house. Unfortumately commercial AM radio is very low frequency and the nature of impulse noise is detected in the radios causing the static.
Short answer, use a quality dimmer with a good RF filter that uses a fairly large coil aka choke.
Short answer, use a quality dimmer with a good RF filter that uses a fairly large coil aka choke.
77401
Banned
plate said:
Dimmer is in a metal box, Phone has a LV plaster ring.
I cant see why it would matter, metal is not a shield,
- Location
- Massachusetts
77401 said:
No?
I believe it is.
77401
Banned
IWIRE
You sure its not an {antenna} Where my spell check! WTF? LOL
You sure its not an {antenna} Where my spell check! WTF? LOL
al hildenbrand
Senior Member
- Location
- Minnesota
- Occupation
- Electrical Contractor, Electrical Consultant, Electrical Engineer
The dimmer electronics are only the creator of the high frequency components in the short rise time of the "turn on" each half cycle.
The antenna that broadcasts the RFI/EMI is all the rest of the branch circuit.
It doesn't matter whether the box is metal or not. . .now, if the circuit is in steel conduit, that's another matter.
The antenna that broadcasts the RFI/EMI is all the rest of the branch circuit.
It doesn't matter whether the box is metal or not. . .now, if the circuit is in steel conduit, that's another matter.
Lance de Cesare
New member
Sub Woofer "Pop"
Sub Woofer "Pop"
Occaisionally we receive a service call on one of the houses we wired indicating that when a regular wall switch, or fan speed control is switched on, or between speeds, there is a very loud "POP"! This happens on motor-loads, and some flourescent lights. We check all connections, and grounds, and find all is good. It appears that some sub-woofers are prone to this. We've tested a neighbors different brand in the same house with no effect. We changed the fan, the switch, (even to a very high priced product) with no success. It's hard to convince a homeowner that his new product is at fault. Is there a filter or something that we are missing?
Lance
Sub Woofer "Pop"
Occaisionally we receive a service call on one of the houses we wired indicating that when a regular wall switch, or fan speed control is switched on, or between speeds, there is a very loud "POP"! This happens on motor-loads, and some flourescent lights. We check all connections, and grounds, and find all is good. It appears that some sub-woofers are prone to this. We've tested a neighbors different brand in the same house with no effect. We changed the fan, the switch, (even to a very high priced product) with no success. It's hard to convince a homeowner that his new product is at fault. Is there a filter or something that we are missing?
Lance
karl riley
Senior Member
If the dimmer is on a circuit which is producing net current due to a misconnection of a neutral, the frequencies will be transferred to the entire circuit. The remedy in that case would be to find the wiring error and fix it. Neutral may be connected to a ground somewhere in the circuit or to another neutral from a separate circuit.
In the case of a three-way switch circuit, if you are using 2-conductor travelers you will have a net current. (Net current means the hot and neutral are not carrying the same amperage). You cannot shield a net current magnetic field with metal. No effect.
Karl
In the case of a three-way switch circuit, if you are using 2-conductor travelers you will have a net current. (Net current means the hot and neutral are not carrying the same amperage). You cannot shield a net current magnetic field with metal. No effect.
Karl
ptonsparky
Tom
- Occupation
- EC - retired
Look at the back of your radio for the AM radio antenna connection. One of those indicate ground. Bond it to your water line if it is properly bonded to the electrical service. Has done wonders for me in the past.
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