Videokarma.org

Go Back   Videokarma.org TV - Video - Vintage Television & Radio Forums > Antique Radio

Notices

We appreciate your help

in keeping this site going.
Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
  #1  
Old 02-20-2016, 07:54 PM
wa2ise's Avatar
wa2ise wa2ise is offline
VideoKarma Member
 
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: USA
Posts: 3,147
Reducing RFI off the powerline into radio set

Too another angle in getting better reception of weak AM radio stations. This one is to restrict RFI riding on the powerline from getting into the radio. Took an EMI filter network from an old computer monitor, like this below:

and placed it between the radio's power cord and the powerline input of the radio circuits. You can tell if this is a reasonable thing to do by this test: While listening to a weak station with powerline RFI buzzs, disconnect the power plug and quickly listen to see if the buzz goes away before the station and the radio dies. We're talking about 1/4 second, before the mail filter caps in the radio's power supply looses charge. You can repeat this test after installing this filter and see if any buzz left over still stays on the station after pulling the plug. Idea is that you effectively pulled the plug on the path the RFI was taking. That your plug in radio acts like a portable on batteries.
Attached Images
File Type: gif rfifilter.gif (2.4 KB, 121 views)
__________________
Reply With Quote
  #2  
Old 02-22-2016, 06:30 PM
Dave A's Avatar
Dave A Dave A is offline
VideoKarma Member
 
Join Date: Aug 2003
Location: SE Pennsylvania
Posts: 1,567
Would this work to reduced lamp dimmer interference? This is outside of my wheelhouse of knowledge. This sounds like a nice little wall-wart sized module project.
__________________
“Once you eliminate the impossible...whatever remains, no matter how improbable, must be the truth." Sherlock Holmes.
Reply With Quote
  #3  
Old 02-22-2016, 06:58 PM
Reece's Avatar
Reece Reece is offline
VideoKarma Member
 
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: Cleona, PA
Posts: 2,178
Would be advisable to use type X2 "across the line interference suppression caps" for the capacitors in this circuit. They stand up better and are less likely to fail than standard caps.
__________________
Reece

Perfection is hard to reach with a screwdriver.
Reply With Quote
  #4  
Old 02-23-2016, 12:22 AM
Electronic M's Avatar
Electronic M Electronic M is offline
M is for Memory
 
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: Pewaukee/Delafield Wi
Posts: 15,446
Many newer TV's/monitors (80's and newer) have this or a similar network...It's easier to just cut off the section of a junk set's PCB that contains this network add some power connectors and throw it in a box than make one from scratch....I have a couple such networks laying around if needed.

I'm surprised collectors keep sources of RFI like CFLs and certain types of dimmer switches around. There is not one CFL in use here, and if we used dimmers I'd see to it that they are not RFI sources.
__________________
Tom C.

Zenith: The quality stays in EVEN after the name falls off!
What I want. --> http://www.videokarma.org/showpost.p...62&postcount=4
Reply With Quote
  #5  
Old 02-23-2016, 12:55 PM
wa2ise's Avatar
wa2ise wa2ise is offline
VideoKarma Member
 
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: USA
Posts: 3,147
Quote:
Originally Posted by Electronic M View Post
Many newer TV's/monitors (80's and newer) have this or a similar network...It's easier to just cut off the section of a junk set's PCB that contains this network add some power connectors and throw it in a box than make one from scratch....
That's essentially what I did, though I tucked mine inside the radio cabinet behind the speaker.

These pictures don't show this addition, but if you look closely enough, there is room for a board behind the speaker. I also moved the power cord cheater cord socket away from the AM ferrite rod antenna. There's a masonite back cover you don't see here as well.

Better pictures:
Caps in the filter are X2's.



This mod almost makes it seem like the early 70's on the AM band, before switching power supplies existed.
Attached Images
File Type: jpg frifilterboard.jpg (109.1 KB, 104 views)
File Type: jpg hbradioback.jpg (122.2 KB, 102 views)
File Type: jpg hbradio.jpg (110.1 KB, 92 views)
__________________

Last edited by wa2ise; 02-23-2016 at 02:55 PM.
Reply With Quote
Audiokarma
  #6  
Old 03-01-2016, 11:23 AM
dieseljeep dieseljeep is offline
VideoKarma Member
 
Join Date: Jul 2010
Posts: 7,562
Is the large WW resistor, a voltage drop for the radio? If so, what value is it.
My older GE Superadio picks up a lot of interference from the neighbors, even when I'm using it on batteries, but much worse on AC.
It seems like The building next to me has some kind of a motion detector alarm system, that emits an RF pulse. I don't think, I can clean that up.
Reply With Quote
  #7  
Old 03-01-2016, 12:18 PM
maxhifi's Avatar
maxhifi maxhifi is offline
VideoKarma Member
 
Join Date: Dec 2010
Posts: 1,869
"From an old computer monitor"

What else has this network built in, would a PC power supply? Don't have any PC monitors sitting around to cannibilize but plenty of other junk. I definitely have noticed that line powered radios have much worse buzz than transformer operated radios. Some of my AA5s are almost
Unusable these days.

EDIT

To answer my own question, I looked at things like this http://www.smpspowersupply.com/ATX_p..._schematic.pdf
If the junk atx supply I have has such an input filter there's a Crosley which will be receiving some surgery tonight.

Last edited by maxhifi; 03-01-2016 at 12:30 PM.
Reply With Quote
  #8  
Old 03-01-2016, 01:48 PM
wa2ise's Avatar
wa2ise wa2ise is offline
VideoKarma Member
 
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: USA
Posts: 3,147
Quote:
Originally Posted by maxhifi View Post

To answer my own question, I looked at things like this http://www.smpspowersupply.com/ATX_p..._schematic.pdf
If the junk atx supply I have has such an input filter there's a Crosley which will be receiving some surgery tonight.
That should work, I'd use everything from the powerline input to the bridge rectifier. I'd also leave the ground not connected. We want to keep RFI from riding in via any ground or power wire.

The power resistor is 300 ohms, but this set runs the output transistor with a B+ of about 90V. So it's not the same as a battery portable.

__________________
Reply With Quote
  #9  
Old 03-01-2016, 03:19 PM
Electronic M's Avatar
Electronic M Electronic M is offline
M is for Memory
 
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: Pewaukee/Delafield Wi
Posts: 15,446
Most modern devices with switch mode supplies (most computer and video equipment) have such networks (heck even Tivo boxes have them + a usable hard drive). It is easy to tell if you open up some junk and trace the line input wiring.

Wa2ise: I think I'd shorten the red harness to the safety interlock...That loop will help provide inductive coupling of line noise to surrounding circuits.
__________________
Tom C.

Zenith: The quality stays in EVEN after the name falls off!
What I want. --> http://www.videokarma.org/showpost.p...62&postcount=4
Reply With Quote
  #10  
Old 03-01-2016, 08:27 PM
dieseljeep dieseljeep is offline
VideoKarma Member
 
Join Date: Jul 2010
Posts: 7,562
Quote:
Originally Posted by wa2ise View Post
That should work, I'd use everything from the powerline input to the bridge rectifier. I'd also leave the ground not connected. We want to keep RFI from riding in via any ground or power wire.

The power resistor is 300 ohms, but this set runs the output transistor with a B+ of about 90V. So it's not the same as a battery portable.

I was just inquiring about the resistor for another radio, I'm working on.
I know that it has nothing to do with the line noise issue.
Reply With Quote
Audiokarma
  #11  
Old 03-01-2016, 08:56 PM
maxhifi's Avatar
maxhifi maxhifi is offline
VideoKarma Member
 
Join Date: Dec 2010
Posts: 1,869
Here's my network from an old computer power supply - only one choke section but it is a big one! I will see later how the radio likes it.
Attached Images
File Type: jpg image.jpg (80.3 KB, 25 views)
Reply With Quote
  #12  
Old 03-01-2016, 09:53 PM
maxhifi's Avatar
maxhifi maxhifi is offline
VideoKarma Member
 
Join Date: Dec 2010
Posts: 1,869
Wow this works! This Crosley has always been terrible for picking up line buzz and now works amazing - the method of
mounting is temporary just to give it a try.
Attached Images
File Type: jpg image.jpg (66.1 KB, 27 views)
Reply With Quote
  #13  
Old 03-01-2016, 09:58 PM
wa2ise's Avatar
wa2ise wa2ise is offline
VideoKarma Member
 
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: USA
Posts: 3,147
That's great! I have some coils like that, around 8 to 30mH. You may want to place the board down in the area near the volume control shaft. To be further away from the tubes. And maybe position the coil so it's 90 degrees turned in relation to the antenna coil.
__________________

Last edited by wa2ise; 03-01-2016 at 10:02 PM.
Reply With Quote
  #14  
Old 03-01-2016, 10:03 PM
maxhifi's Avatar
maxhifi maxhifi is offline
VideoKarma Member
 
Join Date: Dec 2010
Posts: 1,869
It seems to have cured the buzz provlem entirely except
At the extreme low end of the dial. It's definitely in the can be lived with category now. I thought the interference was in the air and not the line until I recently tried my 1937 silvertone which has an autotransformer, and it is DEAD silent buzz and noise wise , I can't believe how much better it performs than any other AA5 I own.

I am going to stay on the look out for old power supplies now, besides big capacitors I have something new to rob them of

Last edited by maxhifi; 03-01-2016 at 10:06 PM.
Reply With Quote
  #15  
Old 03-02-2016, 09:57 AM
dieseljeep dieseljeep is offline
VideoKarma Member
 
Join Date: Jul 2010
Posts: 7,562
Quote:
Originally Posted by dieseljeep View Post
My older GE Superadio picks up a lot of interference from the neighbors, even when I'm using it on batteries, but much worse on AC.
It seems like The building next to me has some kind of a motion detector alarm system, that emits an RF pulse. I don't think, I can clean that up.
Regarding the interference from the neighbor building, I ran an antenna to the outside of the building and the noise got a lot worse.
Reply With Quote
Audiokarma
Reply



Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump


All times are GMT -5. The time now is 02:09 PM.



Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.4
Copyright ©2000 - 2026, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.
©Copyright 2012 VideoKarma.org, All rights reserved.