Evening fellow Thrillseekers.
In mid Sept 03 I posted a thread re the aformentioned subject of RF noise output from 12 V fluros turning AM/SW etc radios into screeching 'mothers'; and the R&D I was undertaking in an attempt to cure same. I also said I would have an answer by the following Sunday.
Well work and domestic drain on my time has seen that blow out to yesterday. Yep! a Sunday of sorts.
Anyway, I have cured the RF noise problem by 98-99%. Still a tiny almost inaudible warble every now and again which I can live with and this is how I accomplished it.
(1) Purchased 3 x ST 3006 LIGHT COMPACT from JAYCAR (thats their model No.) for $40 each. They are the new generation type 11V fluro.
(2) Purchased a packet of 6 ferrite RF noise suppressors (RF Chokes) ($10)
(3) Extended the factory supplied wiring on each fluro
(4) Fitted two RF Chokes to each pair of wires, by passing them through, around and through again.
(5) Made a mounting block for each fluro - to take the RF Chokes.
(6) Connected and fixed same to mounts.
(7) Turned on the the whole three at once, - NOTHING - Pure Silence. Bliss compared to the crap those other suckers produced. Switched them in varying configurations and still silence. (yes 'doubting thomas's - the radio was on nice and loud on some bleep ABC/BBC station)
DON'T PANIC.
I have placed a link to some photographs that I took of how I did it.
To those of you who suggested the
Nelson ELV - great idea, however the profile of them were totally unsuitable to the application I wanted them for.
i.e. walking underneath them with minimal clearance for tall streaks.
These new generation ones have a fancy reflector underneath (just a piece of adhesive backed, silver relector material, but very effective and give out more light value than the originals.
They draw 11W as Opposed to 16W. Less than 1 amp.
They have a nice flat profile which can be enhanced if not using the mounting block. Only required to give clearance to RF Chokes if they can't be placed behind mounting medium.
I tried this practise and procedure on the original fluros without much success. I do believe I may have cured the problem if I had fitted an unknown quantity of RF Chokes to the lead wires of same . How many? who knows.
Hope this hleps any of you with this problem.
http://f1.pg.photos.yahoo.com/ken_3149
Regards
Ken Robinson