Evaluation of radio influence voltages in fluorescent lighting installations

ANY electric device whose operation produces a very rapid build-up or interruption of electric energy can cause a disturbance that may adversely affect radio reception. The communicator of a d-c machine represents a mechanical means of producing radio-frequency (r-f) power from electrical transients. A fluorescent lamp represents an all-electric voltage breakdown type of transient that produces modulated r-f energy. If no effort is made to confine this energy, near-by radio sets may experience a poor signal-to-noise ratio. This paper primarily discusses the radio influence voltages associated with commercial and domestic fluorescent lighting systems. The principal subjects considered are 1. The mechanism of r-f energy coupling between the lighting system and t h e radio. 2. A test method that makes possible the assignment of an approximate numerical value to the probable radio influence voltage of a fluorescent lighting system. 3. A statistical means of critically evaluating the probable radio influence voltage of a fluorescent lighting system.