Electrical interference

matti · 10-19-2010, 07:38 AM

Whenever I am using the roof vent fan on my 2004 264 SR it distorts the TV & radio to the point where you cannot listen. Is there any way I can install a filter to eliminate this issue. Also I experienced the radio coming on when the toaster popped up?????

henryj · 10-19-2010, 10:03 AM

RF can do some strange stuff for sure, but we've never had this discussion before, and personally, we've never had a problem. Are you talking about the OEM radio? What brand and how old is the TV? It's possible that the fan and toaster are creating interference, but equally likely that the radio and TV are too sensitive.

Henry

quaddriver · 10-19-2010, 10:14 AM

you have a brushed dc motor possibly near an antenna? there ya go. I have seen switching power supplies do the same....(and power inverters)

matti · 10-19-2010, 04:08 PM

The radio is factory installed however it is on the same wall as the bathroom where the roof vent fan is so i can understand the dc motor doing that but the TV is no where near that motor. Tv is a new unit using the amplified antenna. i am wondering if putting a inline filter will eliminate the interfeeance

pwb01 · 10-19-2010, 06:28 PM

If it's the bathroom fan you're talking about, I get some static on the TV too when it's running. It's used only for a short time and doesn't do a lot for ventilation. When I run the Maxx air fan in the other vent, no static. I'm sure it's just the quality of the motor.

matti · 10-20-2010, 07:02 AM

I know you are right Paul as my former trailer which burnt up I installed a Maxair in the bathroom & it did not affect anything. I am still wondering if i should install a circuit filter to eliminate all the interference

quaddriver · 10-20-2010, 07:10 AM

well find the rpm of the offending motor, the number of poles it has, multiply, and that is the base frequency you need to cover

bauker · 10-26-2010, 10:51 AM

If it is fed from the 12 VDC power, you can try putting a small capacitor across the power leads at the motor. Try around 0.1 uF and be sure the capacitor voltage rating is like 50 V or greater to reduce the chance that it will be damaged by voltage spikes. Naturally you want to follow common sense electrical safety rules for moisture proofing, securing and insulating such connections so they don't short, burn up, or get caught in the fan! Radio Shaft or a car audio type place should have such parts, or maybe even a vehicle EMI kit small enough to take care of it.

If it is 120 VAC instead of DC, that is a different story; you may not want to mess with it.