RF Emissions

[monsignor]

Recently built a pc (first time). I'm using an Antec 1030 case and it came with a Turbolink Switching Power Supply rated at 420w. The problem is that the computer is putting out emissions in the lower AM band upto around 900khz. I wouldn't be concerned but I have an older neighbor who is complaining that it's interfering with his AM radio stations.

Any ideas on how to build a shunt/choke for this problem.... don't get too technical it's been 20years since I did electronics and I was still messing around with tubes back then.

 

[tm37]

I take it you live in an Apartment?

Does this affect battery powered radios or only Wall Powered Units?

 

[ScottMac]

Without question, it is your power supply.

You will not be able to supress the noise.

You need another power supply.

I went through this (on a system of my own). It stepped on WLS (890AM). Iam an Amateur radio kinda guy, and have delt with RF noise problems before (successfully). I tried filters, grounding, ferrite beads....the works. Nothing killed the noise. This is a radiated noise, so power filtering doesn't do anything (specific to the noise problem).

Swap for another supply. The Antec supplies have been pretty "quiet," a supply from CompUSA has also been pretty quiet.

Good Luck

Scott

 

[Souka]

<< .....This is a radiated noise, so power filtering doesn't do anything (specific to the noise problem)...... >>




But couldn't the neighbor move his AM radio away from the computer case's location?

I find it hard to believe that the RF output is really that great.....

Also, if it is an apartment, they could be sharing the power feed (or ground) and the signal is traveling up the power wire (yes I read ScottMac's post above). If you have a UPS, switch to that and see if his problem goes away.

My $.02

 

[ScottMac]

When they're bad, they're usually REALLY bad. My power supply was killing radio up to two units away (I live in a Townhouse), and I could still hear it in my car radio ~100-150 feet away.

It's a credit to their good design that most of 'em aren't this bad. BEtween the high frequency oscillators and pulse-width modulation..these things should be all over the spectrum.

FWIW

Scott