halogen rf?
 

just wondering i bought a 120vac halogen lamp(no transformer) do these
bulbs typically put out 'rf' that would interfere w/either my hf rig or
my hf/uhf??


tnx

just wondering i bought a 120vac halogen lamp(no transformer) do these
bulbs typically put out 'rf' that would interfere w/either my hf rig or
my hf/uhf??

If it's a dimmable lamp (triac-type dimmer) it could quite easily put
out RF hash which might interfere with HF operations.

If it's non-dimmable, I think it's no more likely than an ordinary
incandescent fixture to emit RFI.

Dimming a halogen bulb is a bad idea, really - it can greatly shorten
the life, because the tungsten/halogen scavenging cycle doesn't work
well (or at all) at lower filament temperatures.

--
Dave Platt AE6EO
Hosting the Jade Warrior home page: http://www.radagast.org/jade-warrior
I do _not_ wish to receive unsolicited commercial email, and I will
boycott any company which has the gall to send me such ads!

"ml" wrote in message
...
just wondering i bought a 120vac halogen lamp(no transformer) do these
bulbs typically put out 'rf' that would interfere w/either my hf rig or
my hf/uhf??


No RF problems. Halogen lamps have tungsten filaments (like normal
incandescent lamps).
The difference is that they are filled with halogen gas, which allows them
to last longer and glow a bit brighter than their normal incandescent
cousins.
The tungsten in regular lamps slowly condenses over time into a darkish
coating inside the bulb which cuts down on lumens output. The halogen gas
prevents this, and results in a little brighter lamp for a little longer
time.

The 'HID' High Intensity Discharge lamps may be the ones you're thinking
about that may give some RFI.
Mercury Vapor, Metal Halide, and 'HPS' (High Pressure Sodium) lamps fall in
this category. They all use ballasts.

I just put in a set of under cabinet halogen 20 watters ..... boy what a
bunch of crap RF wise. There is a 12 V supply that virtually eliminates the
AM band and somewhat less on HF. This is at distance of 20 plus feet. Of
course they were made in Hang Chow ... no doubt somewhere east of Ft.Wayne.

God Bless 73 KI3R Tom Popovic Belle Vernon Pa.

"garigue" wrote
I just put in a set of under cabinet halogen 20 watters ..... boy what a
bunch of crap RF wise. There is a 12 V supply that virtually eliminates
the
AM band and somewhat less on HF. This is at distance of 20 plus feet. Of
course they were made in Hang Chow ... no doubt somewhere east of
Ft.Wayne.

God Bless 73 KI3R Tom Popovic Belle Vernon Pa.

Tom, I have the same awful interference from new under-cabinet halogens.
Similar to your report, mine create terrible interference only through MF,
and limited hash on HF also. Mine are at least 40' away, and the station
power has its own load center/branch panel. The lamps are the switchable
2-level (not variable) and interference is present both settings.

I noticed a brand of halogens at Home Depot (now, of course) that state "No
Radio interference". Figures.

Jack
Virginia Beach

On Sun, 3 Apr 2005 11:35:15 -0400, "Jack Painter"
wrote:


"garigue" wrote
I just put in a set of under cabinet halogen 20 watters ..... boy what a
bunch of crap RF wise. There is a 12 V supply that virtually eliminates
the
AM band and somewhat less on HF. This is at distance of 20 plus feet. Of
course they were made in Hang Chow ... no doubt somewhere east of
Ft.Wayne.

God Bless 73 KI3R Tom Popovic Belle Vernon Pa.

Tom, I have the same awful interference from new under-cabinet halogens.
Similar to your report, mine create terrible interference only through MF,
and limited hash on HF also. Mine are at least 40' away, and the station
power has its own load center/branch panel. The lamps are the switchable
2-level (not variable) and interference is present both settings.

I noticed a brand of halogens at Home Depot (now, of course) that state "No
Radio interference". Figures.

Jack
Virginia Beach

You have the same disorder I do - the stuff you need comes on the
market after you need it 8-} As to the interference, I'll go out on a
limb and say it's the power supply not the lamp - I've hooked up
halogen lamps directly to 12VDC and had no interference. Wall warts
are, as has been mentioned here many times, notorious for RF
interference.
Howard

I have dozens of 120V halogens in my home. There is no interference of any
kind. The low voltage units are powered by switching power supplies and
that's what generates the interference. Take a portable AM radio along when
buying such lights and check for interference from the power supply before
buying.

K8AC


"ml" wrote in message
...
just wondering i bought a 120vac halogen lamp(no transformer) do these
bulbs typically put out 'rf' that would interfere w/either my hf rig or
my hf/uhf??


tnx

Halogen lamps are nothing but incandescent lamps, in a Halogen
(florene/chlorene/other halogenic gas), rather than in a vacuum.
(at least to my understanding)-- NOT to be confused with the R.F.
excited (and they excite the hams!) lamps that have been disgussed.
Just HOW many articles have you seen in ham publications about
removeing Halogen Headlamps in cars to reduce interference?
I rest my case! Jim NN7K


Floyd Sense wrote:
I have dozens of 120V halogens in my home. There is no interference of any
kind. The low voltage units are powered by switching power supplies and
that's what generates the interference. Take a portable AM radio along when
buying such lights and check for interference from the power supply before
buying.

K8AC


"ml" wrote in message
...

just wondering i bought a 120vac halogen lamp(no transformer) do these
bulbs typically put out 'rf' that would interfere w/either my hf rig or
my hf/uhf??


tnx

"Howard" wrote in message
...
On Sun, 3 Apr 2005 11:35:15 -0400, "Jack Painter"
wrote:


"garigue" wrote
I just put in a set of under cabinet halogen 20 watters ..... boy what
a
bunch of crap RF wise. There is a 12 V supply that virtually eliminates
the
AM band and somewhat less on HF. This is at distance of 20 plus feet.
Of
course they were made in Hang Chow ... no doubt somewhere east of
Ft.Wayne.

God Bless 73 KI3R Tom Popovic Belle Vernon Pa.

Tom, I have the same awful interference from new under-cabinet halogens.
Similar to your report, mine create terrible interference only through MF,
and limited hash on HF also. Mine are at least 40' away, and the station
power has its own load center/branch panel. The lamps are the switchable
2-level (not variable) and interference is present both settings.

I noticed a brand of halogens at Home Depot (now, of course) that state
"No
Radio interference". Figures.

Jack
Virginia Beach

You have the same disorder I do - the stuff you need comes on the
market after you need it 8-} As to the interference, I'll go out on a
limb and say it's the power supply not the lamp - I've hooked up
halogen lamps directly to 12VDC and had no interference. Wall warts
are, as has been mentioned here many times, notorious for RF
interference.


There are two classes of warts. A simple transformer will convert 120 VAC to
maybe 12 VAC. As long as the transformer core does not go into saturation,
then this wart produces zero EMI. OTOH, a wart that rectifies the AC to DC
has the potential to create considerable EMI. Hams should always consider
the possibility of RF pollution from anything they install in or around
their shack. Variable speed fans, adjustable lighting devices, arc-discharge
lighting, battery chargers, wireless network modems and other personal
electronics all need to be evaluated for their EMI potential. As a ham, you
shouldn't be surprised to find that fluorescent or HID lighting causes RF
noise!!

You can partially protect your shack by always looking for an FCC or CE
compliance marking. Assuming that the devices are legally marked, FCC & CE
marking is a bit of evidence that the product will be limited in RF
emissions. But remember, the standards are based on "average consumer"
conditions, NOT on a special consumer sticking the product in proximity to a
sensitive receiver. As a ham, you place yourself in the position of an
"expert user" of consumer electronic devices; you are no longer a clueless
appliance buyer, but someone who understands RF energy and the vagaries of
its creation and propagation.

You can either accept the responsibility to control EMI in your hobby, or go
back to 11 meters and cable TV.


Ed
WB6WSN

"Floyd Sense" wrote in message
...
I have dozens of 120V halogens in my home. There is no interference of any
kind. The low voltage units are powered by switching power supplies and
that's what generates the interference. Take a portable AM radio along
when buying such lights and check for interference from the power supply
before buying.

K8AC


Very practical and good advice!


Ed
WB6WSN