Glad you bring that up Scott.  Is it possible a false sense of security has
been created by having "auto shut-off" features on appliances - coffee makers,
flat irons, etc.???  "Perception" has always been on the Risk Assessment radar.

Doug - whatever your findings, please pass that learning on.

John Allen
President
Product Safety Consulting, Inc.
605 Country Club Drive, Suites I&J
Bensenville, IL  60106
P - 630 238-0188 / F - 630 238-0269
1-877-804-3066
[email protected]
http://www.productsafetyinc.com


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-----Original Message-----
From: Scott Douglas [mailto:[email protected]] 
Sent: Monday, March 21, 2011 8:49 AM
To: [email protected]
Subject: Re: [PSES] Lamp dimmer interference

Gentlemen,

Besides the curiosity factor of an engineer trying to understand some 
phenomena, why would anyone leave a clothing iron plugged in to the 
mains when it is not actually in use? Simplest fix would be to unplug it.

Regards,
Scott

On 3/21/2011 9:08 AM, Scott B. Lacey wrote:
> Doug,
>
> I think there are several issues:
>
> 1) The iron is obviously affected by interference.
>
> 2) The old dimmer is probably generating interference.
>
> 3) The track lighting may be contributing by acting as an antenna,
aggravated possibly by
> oxides on the contact surfaces.
>
> I would first suggest trying a clamp-on ferrite on the iron cord and try to
repeat your
> observations re. the dimmer switch affecting the iron, with and without the
ferrite. If the ferrite
> works try it again right at the iron's plug to see if the interference is
conducted or radiated.
>
> A newer dimmer should generate less interference. If the ferrite works why
not leave it on as
> additional insurance. If all else fails a ferrite added right at the dimmer
switch wires should
> attenuate the interference. I once cured a similar issue where a dishwasher
was generating
> severe interference to an analog tv. I removed two clamp-on ferrites from
the plastic
> housings and wrapped them tightly with electrical tape after placing them
around the wires. I
> put one at the offending solenoid and another one around the romex where it
connected to
> the dishwasher. The tv disturbance went from severe to barely noticeable.
>
> If you do it make sure to thoroughly tape every exposed bit of the ferrite.
>
> Good luck.
>
> Scott B. Lacey
>
> On 20 Mar 2011 at 22:10, Powell, Doug wrote:
>
>> I have a situation where a modern clothing iron with digital controls turns
on automatically if left plugged into an outlet.  Obviously I am concerned
about this.
>>
>> This is not very repeatable, but I recently observed this again when
operating a dimmer switch that feeds track lighting nearby.  While am not
certain of the brand of the dimmer switch, am certain of its age.  Also, the
mains circuit for the lighting is possibly on the same circuit as the clothing
iron.  My background is mainly in EMC for industrial equipment and I have very
little background with household appliances.  My thought is to simply replace
the old dimmer, but replacing the dimmer may not be conclusive.
>>
>> I am hoping for a quick answer to this question.  Does North America have
limits for conducted emissions (lighting dimmer) and for conducted immunity
(clothing iron) in residential?
>>
>>
>> Thanks, -doug
>>
>>
>>
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>> -
>> ----------------------------------------------------------------
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>>
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> -
> ----------------------------------------------------------------
> This message is from the IEEE Product Safety Engineering Society emc-pstc
discussion list. To post a message to the list, send your e-mail
to<[email protected]>
>
> All emc-pstc postings are archived and searchable on the web at:
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-
----------------------------------------------------------------
This message is from the IEEE Product Safety Engineering Society emc-pstc
discussion list. To post a message to the list, send your e-mail to
<[email protected]>

All emc-pstc postings are archived and searchable on the web at:
http://product-compliance.oc.ieee.org/
Graphics (in well-used formats), large files, etc. can be posted to that URL.

Website:  http://www.ieee-pses.org/
Instructions:  http://listserv.ieee.org/request/user-guide.html
List rules: http://www.ieee-pses.org/listrules.html

For help, send mail to the list administrators:
Scott Douglas <[email protected]>
Mike Cantwell <[email protected]>

For policy questions, send mail to:
Jim Bacher:  <[email protected]>
David Heald: <[email protected]>

-
----------------------------------------------------------------
This message is from the IEEE Product Safety Engineering Society emc-pstc
discussion list. To post a message to the list, send your e-mail to
<[email protected]>

All emc-pstc postings are archived and searchable on the web at:
http://product-compliance.oc.ieee.org/
Graphics (in well-used formats), large files, etc. can be posted to that URL.

Website:  http://www.ieee-pses.org/
Instructions:  http://listserv.ieee.org/request/user-guide.html
List rules: http://www.ieee-pses.org/listrules.html

For help, send mail to the list administrators:
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For policy questions, send mail to:
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David Heald: <[email protected]>

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