LCD TV - RFI issue SOLVED!

[FatHam]

Well the issue I had with my LCD TV switching on-off when I talked on 10 meters (as described in this post http://www.worldwidedx.com/general-ham-radio-discussion/129279-rfi-somebody-please-choke-me.html ) has finally been solved.

The first step was two ground rods under the station connected to a ground bus for all of my gear. No change.

Next was replacing the G5RV and ladder line with a simple coax fed dipole (http://www.worldwidedx.com/general-ham-radio-discussion/131761-1000-mfj-balun.html). This was a huge improvement, however I could still "remotely control" the TV power when transmitting between 28.380-28.385. Obviously a circuit in the TV was unshielded as Mole had suggested in my earlier post. Probably something that wasn't going to be cured with a ferite choke on the TV's cord.

Next I looked at the power to my radio bench. It was powered by a 12ga. extension cord and several power strips. This was one of those "temporary" set-ups that i just never got around to cleaning up. I ditched all of that, tied in to a near-by circuit with nothing on it but my garage fridge. After a fair amount of conduit bending and foul language (I hate pulling 12ga), I had cleaned up my previous Rube Goldberg wiring, but I still had the problem.

The final step was tying the ground wire in the circuit to the new ground rods under the bench. Viola! Problem solved...

I still don't fully understand the effects of a ground loop, or how it caused this RFI, but it's obviously an issue worth paying attention to.

 

[Moleculo]

This is a perfect example of why proper station RF grounding is so important. Older houses also just don't have anything close to what is considered proper ground by the National Electric Code. I didn't realize this until recently, but many older houses don't use any type of ground rod, but instead rely on a the ground rod at the power pole! If this is the case in your house, you were probably getting all kinds of stray RF on the neutral wire throughout your house. By adding the ground rods at the radio location and then tying into the house electrical system, you've improved things quite a bit.

Oh, and moving the feed point to the antenna farther up away from the house didn't hurt, either.

 

[K9GAS]

Only problem you may run into, not sure if state has different regs, when you tied the circuit to the new ground rods you're in code violation. No big deal, probably until you may sell the house.
All circuits usually have to be on one ground, common, if I'm reading your post right. Here in Indiana I've seen several houses with multiple grounds and even the home inspectors look past it, only until I went to sell since I left it, was I called on to fix it before I could sell it. Maybe I just get all the bad stuff.

 

[Moleculo]

Only problem you may run into, not sure if state has different regs, when you tied the circuit to the new ground rods you're in code violation. No big deal, probably until you may sell the house.
All circuits usually have to be on one ground, common, if I'm reading your post right. Here in Indiana I've seen several houses with multiple grounds and even the home inspectors look past it, only until I went to sell since I left it, was I called on to fix it before I could sell it. Maybe I just get all the bad stuff.

The NEC allows for multiple ground rods, but the need to be tied together by 6ga wire (I believe that's the correct size). My house is old enough that it didn't have any ground rod!

 

[K9GAS]

Tim, I knew you could have more than one, but I thought it had to close proximity of the
meter or sub panel. According to NEC it just needs to be at least 6' apart. The house we sold had three in a triangle, bonded, where the meter and sub panels were. But on the other side of the house was another one off the basement. That one was the culprit for me. I was told it had to hooked to the main ground system.
Wow, no grounds at all, and California no less...
When I hire a inspector I find things I usually fix any way that was missed. When I sell, the other persons realtor always gets someone that finds something I have to fix as well.
When my son bought a house here in Indiana, his inspector hired by his realtor agent, missed a big one. I wasn't there. But a couple years down the road, I've been helping him do some remodel. When I asked him where is sub panels were, he pointed, picture me banging my head on wall, they were in the master bathroom 3 foot from shower, in a closet, not separated, just a small utility closet. So we're going to move them before we put the bathroom back together.
Of course as long as you own the home, everything is fine! Until you try to sell, at least for me.