Understanding the need/desire to fix the issue, I highly recommend you report the issue with the manufacturer so they can actually do something about the other units that are out in the field, before something happens!! This should also be reported to the CPSC so they can track it. If there is a trend, industry (and the public) need to know.
Does anyone know if there is any efforts to make EMC testing mandatory for all devices in the USA? For anyone in the Chicago area, this would be a great topic for the Chicago Chapter!! 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 Although PSC maintains the highest level of virus protection, this e-mail and any attachments should be scanned by your virus protection software. It is the responsibility of the recipient to check that it is virus free. PSC does not accept any responsibility for data loss or systems damage arising in any way from its use. This message is confidential and intended only for the individual to whom or entity to which it is addressed. If you are not the intended recipient or addressee, or an employee or agent responsible for delivering this message to the addressee, you are hereby notified that any dissemination, distribution, or copying, in whole or part, of this message is strictly prohibited. If you believe that you have been sent this message in error, please do not read it. Please immediately reply to sender that you have received this message in error. Then permanently delete all copies of the message. Thank you. -----Original Message----- From: Scott B. Lacey [mailto:[email protected]] Sent: Monday, March 21, 2011 8:08 AM To: [email protected] Subject: Re: [PSES] Lamp dimmer interference 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 > > > > This message, including any attachments, may contain > information that is confidential and proprietary information > of Advanced Energy Industries, Inc. The dissemination, > distribution, use or copying of this message or any of its > attachments is strictly prohibited without the express > written consent of Advanced Energy Industries, Inc. > > - > ---------------------------------------------------------------- > 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: 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: Scott Douglas <[email protected]> Mike Cantwell <[email protected]> For policy questions, send mail to: Jim Bacher: <[email protected]> David Heald: <[email protected]>
