How to Use Ferrite Rings to Cure Power Line Interference

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It's amazing how much interference is carried over the power lines in our houses and offices.

Sometimes it doesn't matter, but other times it can give rise to interference on radios, televisions and the like.

The ferrite rings consist of a ferrite core split in two which can be clipped over a wire the two halves on the ring fit tightly together to form a complete magnetic ring.

The two halves of the ring fit tightly together so that the magnetic field sees the ferrite as a complete ring and thereby increases the inductance.

Clipping the ring over the wire adds inductance to the wire and which will attenuate the unwanted interference, often reducing it to an acceptable level.

When using the rings, it's best to remove the interference at source if possible, and in this way it is less likely to be radiated.

However it can also often help to add a ferrite ring to the power lead of the item experiencing the interference.

This is not an exact art, so it may be necessary to experiment a little to get the best results.

So if you have an area where there is interference, these clip on ferrite rings may just help solve your problem.

  Written by Ian Poole .
  Experienced electronics engineer and author.

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