All:

If this is the wrong group for this question, please excuse me.

I am going to have a kitchen rebuilt, and the contractor is suggesting six
overhead halogen lights. He also has suggested halogen under cabinet
lights. All of these lights would have dimmers installed.

My question..Has anyone ever had these put in, and do they generate much
interference. I know I have a halogen light near my rig and it generates
lots of hash, but the shack is on the third floor and the kitchen on the
first. Any ideas about the QRM?

thanks

Kevin
W1FWB

Most dimmers are very bad. They shut off the cycle so quickly that they
become radiators along the power line.

If you want a semi-dark kitchen, just put sun glasses on. Your radio will
appreciate it.

Some dimmers can be heard blocks away. I have chased down the noise for
friends.

It is possible to buy dimmers that do not emit significant radiation.
Usually, they are advertised as such and more expensive.

73, Colin K7FM


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"COLIN LAMB" ) writes:

It is possible to buy dimmers that do not emit significant radiation.
Usually, they are advertised as such and more expensive.


In Canada, many of the better dimmers sold have a "CE" label on them,
meaning that they meet a European specification which is less tolerant of
RFI than the specs in North America. If you can find them, buy them
instead.

.... Martin VE3OAT

Kevin Gunther wrote:

If this is the wrong group for this question, please excuse me.

I am going to have a kitchen rebuilt, and the contractor is suggesting six
overhead halogen lights. He also has suggested halogen under cabinet
lights. All of these lights would have dimmers installed.

My question..Has anyone ever had these put in, and do they generate much
interference. I know I have a halogen light near my rig and it generates
lots of hash, but the shack is on the third floor and the kitchen on the
first. Any ideas about the QRM?

The problem isn't the lights, the problem is the crappy switching supplies
used to get low voltage to run them.

Ask the contractor if they are using low voltage lights, and if so what
sort of transformer they are using. Make sure they use a standard
transformer and not a switching device.
--scott

--
"C'est un Nagra. C'est suisse, et tres, tres precis."

The dimmers can be a problem. THey used to be terrible, but some are
quieter now. With the HF noise floor varying with time of day, etc -
you could raise the noise floor somewhat, and might not notice it for a
while. Some of the screw-in flourescent converters have oscillators
near LF, VLF band. These can be bad too... How about under cabinet and
overhead florescents? They use considerably less power than halogen
too.. With anything you consider..i'd run some tests with the same
model he plans to install at close quarters to your rig. Wrap a wire
around the bulb or tube..and connect to the receiver antenna.. Turn the
light on and off... Hear anything??

Cheers


Kevin Gunther wrote:
All:

If this is the wrong group for this question, please excuse me.

I am going to have a kitchen rebuilt, and the contractor is suggesting six
overhead halogen lights. He also has suggested halogen under cabinet
lights. All of these lights would have dimmers installed.

My question..Has anyone ever had these put in, and do they generate much
interference. I know I have a halogen light near my rig and it generates
lots of hash, but the shack is on the third floor and the kitchen on the
first. Any ideas about the QRM?

thanks

Kevin
W1FWB