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Author Topic: For the Electrical Experts. Do the newer electric meters emit QRM?  (Read 380 times)

KG4LAC

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I'm asking about the house electric meters where one is able to remotely read the settings.

I'm dealing with terrible QRM beginning around 660 kHz thru around 730 kHz making the portion of the MW totally useless. Same results on 2 different outside antennas.

Hmm... 660 kHz is a multiple of 60 Hz.

We lost power during a storm on Monday evening. Used a portable receiver. I'm hearing WFAN New York on 660 kHz. No QRM heard! Therefore, I conclude the QRM is via the power source in our house. We've had nothing new in the house, no new light bulbs, electric equipment, etc. Only new variable is the new outside electric meter.

Is the new outside electric meter a valid source of QRM on the MW band?
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KB7TT

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Re: For the Electrical Experts. Do the newer electric meters emit QRM?
« Reply #1 on: September 16, 2022, 01:32:29 PM »

Not here.  No problem, no noise.
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WA9AFM

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Re: For the Electrical Experts. Do the newer electric meters emit QRM?
« Reply #2 on: September 16, 2022, 01:35:51 PM »

Had the remote electric meters on current and previous homes.  Not a problem.
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KG4LAC

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Re: For the Electrical Experts. Do the newer electric meters emit QRM?
« Reply #3 on: September 16, 2022, 01:44:39 PM »

Thanks for the replies. OK, then I am stumped as to the cause of the QRM on MW.

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AB6RF

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Re: For the Electrical Experts. Do the newer electric meters emit QRM?
« Reply #4 on: September 16, 2022, 05:45:00 PM »

Perfect opportunity to apply the basic debugging steps

1) turn the main breaker off. Is the noise gone?
2) If yes, then turn things back on but just one circuit at a time
3) if the noise did not disappear when main breaker was off, start walking around the neighborhood with the receiver to figure out the approximate are where the noise source is.

Simple steps, and at the end you know a lot more.
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GRUMPY2021

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Re: For the Electrical Experts. Do the newer electric meters emit QRM?
« Reply #5 on: September 17, 2022, 05:18:26 AM »

Yes.
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AI5BC

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Re: For the Electrical Experts. Do the newer electric meters emit QRM?
« Reply #6 on: September 17, 2022, 09:33:25 AM »

Smart meters use cell phone frequencies for the data link. Not a problem look elsewhere like you power and grounding. Very few hams get that right.
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KG4LAC

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Re: For the Electrical Experts. Do the newer electric meters emit QRM?
« Reply #7 on: September 17, 2022, 01:55:32 PM »

Since nothing has changed in regard to power or grounding on my end this is why it is confusing as to what is causing the QRM. Neighborhood has buried cables. We do have a few street lights in the neighborhood. Is it possible a street light is emitting QRM? Is it possible power connections in the ground have deteriorated? (Similar to deterioration on a pole and causing QRM).
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AI5BC

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Re: For the Electrical Experts. Do the newer electric meters emit QRM?
« Reply #8 on: September 17, 2022, 06:02:55 PM »

I hessitate to sugges tthis, because if you do not understand and know what you are doing can get you seriously hurt or property damage. One very common problem that can cause equipment damage, malfunction, and noise if a poor service neutral to transformer connection or Main Bonding Jumper inside your service disconnect device. Real easy to detect with a voltmeter. Measure the voltage at the service entrance between L1-N, L2-N, and N-G

Proper reading is L1-N = L2-N, and N-G = 0.

Example if L1 and L2 measure 125 volts and N-G measure 0-volts life is good. If L1-N measures say 100 volts and L2-N = 150 volts you have an extremely dangerous situation that requires immediate attention.

I suggest you start by disconnecting your DC power supply. replace it with a battery, turn the main breaker off, and see if the noise stays or remains. 

 
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WA3SKN

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Re: For the Electrical Experts. Do the newer electric meters emit QRM?
« Reply #9 on: September 18, 2022, 09:53:25 AM »

Some electric meters have had RFI issues, so don't write it off yet.  It does sound like its time for battery operated radios to be brought out and breakers operated.

-Mike.

 
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KD0REQ

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Re: For the Electrical Experts. Do the newer electric meters emit QRM?
« Reply #10 on: September 19, 2022, 08:53:41 AM »

one thing you can try is switch the rig to an outlet that is on the other phase of incoming power. we have some issues with newfangled DSL service equipment and the occasional smart meter dumping customers on one phase, where we don't if they are all run on the same phase.

that said, some initial designs used power over powerline to call home, it's all cell based now. if the occasional power pole in your area has a little Yagi on top, you have the industry standard meters. which should not be your cause.

creepy switching wall warts or undercounter LED light setups might be. an ungrounded or failing power transformer from the utility might be. junk LED bulbs in your house might be. lots of might be out there. as the others have said, isolate any cause in your house first, then take a portable AM radio jammed between stations and go bug hunting.
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SWMAN

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Re: For the Electrical Experts. Do the newer electric meters emit QRM?
« Reply #11 on: September 22, 2022, 11:42:23 AM »

 I remember a few years ago I started having a weird noise on my cordless landline phone at home, it was sort of like a bleep sound. I happened about every 15 minutes all of the time. I finally got so tired of hearing it I went out and bought a new cordless phone, the noise all stopped. Upon further investigation I noticed the old phone was on the 900 MHz band and the new one was around 2 GHz. I read all of the fine print on the smart meter that was actually written on it, and yes it said operating range 900 MHz. I googled my meter make and model and found out that it sends a signal every 15 minutes to the control module where ever that may be. So yes the new smart meters do actually cause RFI to some frequencies.
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KG4LAC

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