mikem
January 16th 04, 05:09 PM
Nathan Young wrote:
> On Tue, 13 Jan 2004 18:25:43 -0700, MikeM
> > wrote:
>
>
>>Nathan Young wrote:
>>
>>
>>>I checked this afternoon. It is mounted on the engine side of the
>>>firewall. The model is a Hisonic RFI 70. It's probably as old as the
>>>plane, so I wonder if it has any capacitance left, or is merely along
>>>for the ride.
>>>
>>>-Nathan
>>
>>If that Hisonic box is about 2" X 3" X 4", and has two terminals
>>(instead of one), it is actually a low pass filter containing series
>>rf chokes wound on ferrite as well as shunt capacitors. If it has just
>>one terminal, then it is likely just a shunt capacitor, where the
>>case is the other side...
>>
>>In either case, the case has to be well grounded for it to have any
>>effect. The capacitor(s) in these things are high quality, and usually
>>do not dry out.
>
>
> Thanks again Mike. The box is as you describe. A terminal on either
> side, and presumably ground on the case...
>
> -Nathan
btw- I dont think that this big LPF box is standard equipt. It was
probably added by somebody (probably without logging the work) in a
misguided attempt to cure "alternator whine" in the radios. The Hisonic
filters are RF lowpass; they are NOT effective at audio frequencies and
do NOT filter alternator ripple at audio frequencies.
Brush arcing in an alternator causes RF noise (hash), and the shunt
hypass (oil filled tub) capacitor was usually installed at the factory
to suppress this RF at its source. The RF noise out of an unsuppressed
alternator will clobber ADF and Loran frequencies (100-500Khz), but will
rarely effect a VHF (120MHz) radio, so even if there is no bypass
capacitor on your alternator; you are not likely to hear hash in a VHF
radio.
Alternator whine (& Strobe squeal) is not caused by radiated RFI
travelling from the alternator to a VHF antenna. Rather, they are
usually caused by alternator ripple currents flowing along the airframe
coupling into the audio system. Said coupling can be fixed by correctly
wiring the audio system so as to eliminate multiple grounding points
(single point ground). Naive avionics techs and owners install the big
Hisonic box filters on their alternator output lead as a bandaid which
rarely works to eliminate alternator whine; however, they will improve
ADF and/or Loran reception.
MikeM
Pacer '00Z
Skylane '1MM
> On Tue, 13 Jan 2004 18:25:43 -0700, MikeM
> > wrote:
>
>
>>Nathan Young wrote:
>>
>>
>>>I checked this afternoon. It is mounted on the engine side of the
>>>firewall. The model is a Hisonic RFI 70. It's probably as old as the
>>>plane, so I wonder if it has any capacitance left, or is merely along
>>>for the ride.
>>>
>>>-Nathan
>>
>>If that Hisonic box is about 2" X 3" X 4", and has two terminals
>>(instead of one), it is actually a low pass filter containing series
>>rf chokes wound on ferrite as well as shunt capacitors. If it has just
>>one terminal, then it is likely just a shunt capacitor, where the
>>case is the other side...
>>
>>In either case, the case has to be well grounded for it to have any
>>effect. The capacitor(s) in these things are high quality, and usually
>>do not dry out.
>
>
> Thanks again Mike. The box is as you describe. A terminal on either
> side, and presumably ground on the case...
>
> -Nathan
btw- I dont think that this big LPF box is standard equipt. It was
probably added by somebody (probably without logging the work) in a
misguided attempt to cure "alternator whine" in the radios. The Hisonic
filters are RF lowpass; they are NOT effective at audio frequencies and
do NOT filter alternator ripple at audio frequencies.
Brush arcing in an alternator causes RF noise (hash), and the shunt
hypass (oil filled tub) capacitor was usually installed at the factory
to suppress this RF at its source. The RF noise out of an unsuppressed
alternator will clobber ADF and Loran frequencies (100-500Khz), but will
rarely effect a VHF (120MHz) radio, so even if there is no bypass
capacitor on your alternator; you are not likely to hear hash in a VHF
radio.
Alternator whine (& Strobe squeal) is not caused by radiated RFI
travelling from the alternator to a VHF antenna. Rather, they are
usually caused by alternator ripple currents flowing along the airframe
coupling into the audio system. Said coupling can be fixed by correctly
wiring the audio system so as to eliminate multiple grounding points
(single point ground). Naive avionics techs and owners install the big
Hisonic box filters on their alternator output lead as a bandaid which
rarely works to eliminate alternator whine; however, they will improve
ADF and/or Loran reception.
MikeM
Pacer '00Z
Skylane '1MM