Low volt lighting PSU and DAB interference

[Andyroid5]

Hi everyone..
Looking for some feedback with regard to low voltage lighting power supplies and problems with RFI ..
I have tried various makes and models and they all seem to have the same issue. I realise that inherently switch mode psu's give off some airborne interference and my cabin like everyone else's is full of them but none bar the lighting transformers I use totally wipe out the kitchen DAB radio.
It's definitely airborne as the radio has been tried on battery power with the same problem.
All units I have tried carry the CE mark which to me means that should comply with domestic RFI legislation.
I really don't want to and don't think that I should have to install the psu in an earthed metal enclosure.
So anyone else having this issue? or had customer complaints?
Personally I wouldn't have thought that it would be a hard job for manufacturers to foil the inside of their units and provide an earth in the supply lead as the PoU has to have an earth present which is redundant with the double insulated psu's.

 

[Andyroid5]

I'll take that as a No then ??

 

[Richard]

It's probibly not going to help you, but the site radio we use used is a DAB one. It's great until someone uses a fein tool. While the tools on, there is no hope of getting a signal!! It's normally on the batterys so theirs no electrical connection atall. We've failed to cure it to date.

Sorry i can't be more help, Rich

 

[cjp1]

when ever we plug in a charger be it bosch or makita it always kills the dab radio every time.

 

[MarkieSparkie]

Hi everyone..
Looking for some feedback with regard to low voltage lighting power supplies and problems with RFI ..
I have tried various makes and models and they all seem to have the same issue. I realise that inherently switch mode psu's give off some airborne interference and my cabin like everyone else's is full of them but none bar the lighting transformers I use totally wipe out the kitchen DAB radio.
It's definitely airborne as the radio has been tried on battery power with the same problem.
All units I have tried carry the CE mark which to me means that should comply with domestic RFI legislation.
I really don't want to and don't think that I should have to install the psu in an earthed metal enclosure.
So anyone else having this issue? or had customer complaints?
Personally I wouldn't have thought that it would be a hard job for manufacturers to foil the inside of their units and provide an earth in the supply lead as the PoU has to have an earth present which is redundant with the double insulated psu's.

Hi Andy, I am confident that screening the LV transformer will not solve your problem, as I believe the cables to and from the transformer are acting as the interference radiating antenna. Your best chance of reducing the effectiveness of the cables to radiate RFI is to increase the inductance of cables by adding clip on ferrite rings or in severe case winding 3 or 4 turns of the cable on to a ferrite toroid.
Ferrite Core - Parts from Magnetics | RS Online

 

[Andyroid5]

Hi Andy, I am confident that screening the LV transformer will not solve your problem, as I believe the cables to and from the transformer are acting as the interference radiating antenna. Your best chance of reducing the effectiveness of the cables to radiate RFI is to increase the inductance of cables by adding clip on ferrite rings or in severe case winding 3 or 4 turns of the cable on to a ferrite toroid.
Ferrite Core - Parts from Magnetics | RS Online

Thanks will have a play..I have various Fe rings in my grave yard..had to do the same with my Fm radio I use for work..wrapped the mains cable a couple of times through an old battery drill stator once for a quick cure
Suppose I'm just having a rant really as this domestic interference business is getting a pain..can imagine the future fall outs of neighbours in terraces or flats will have...bit like the old radio hams having to go round fitting filters to every ones tv's..