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RF chokes

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  • Member since
    March 2017
  • 129 posts
Posted by Canalligators on Saturday, February 1, 2020 8:32 PM

The inductors don't hurt anything and might prevent conducted RF from impacting your other electronics.  For example, that annoying buzz in my wireless headphones when I turn on my LED overhead lights...  Digital signals are largely immune to RFI, so it shouldn't bother your WiFi or TV, but I'm no expert, just speculating.

Now if it messes with my ham radio, that would be a non-starter.

Genesee Terminal, freelanced HO in Upstate NY
  ...hosting Loon Bay Transit Authority and CSX Intermodal.  Interchange with CSX (CR)(NYC).

CP/D&H, N scale, somewhere on the Canadian Shield

  • Member since
    October 2006
  • From: Western, MA
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Posted by richg1998 on Tuesday, January 28, 2020 5:13 PM

To my knoledge, Bachmann is the only company that does this. They sell models over there with about the same electronics but diffreent type locos, rolling stock over there. I have seen the catalogs.

Rich

If you ever fall over in public, pick yourself up and say “sorry it’s been a while since I inhabited a body.” And just walk away.

  • Member since
    July 2006
  • From: west coast
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Posted by rrebell on Tuesday, January 28, 2020 12:19 PM

betamax

 

 
rrebell

Are these really neccisary to stop interferance or is this overkill regs from europe.

 

 

 
On another forum someone pointed out that the EU regulations apply to toys designed for children under eight years of age.
 
Model trains are classified as "toys".
 
This class of manufactures must have the RFI circuits installed if they are to be sold in the EU.  Unfortuately they also see model locomotives equipped with a DCC decoder as a toy, where their price alone demonstrates they are not toys meant for children. So the OEMs have to comply with that regulation.
 

Thanks, that answers the question.

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Posted by betamax on Sunday, January 26, 2020 10:51 AM

rrebell

Are these really neccisary to stop interferance or is this overkill regs from europe.

 

 
On another forum someone pointed out that the EU regulations apply to toys designed for children under eight years of age.
 
Model trains are classified as "toys".
 
This class of manufactures must have the RFI circuits installed if they are to be sold in the EU.  Unfortuately they also see model locomotives equipped with a DCC decoder as a toy, where their price alone demonstrates they are not toys meant for children. So the OEMs have to comply with that regulation.
  • Member since
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  • From: Western, MA
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Posted by richg1998 on Saturday, January 25, 2020 9:26 PM

They are required by the UK and EU. 4.7 micro Henry inductance. I have an LRC meter. I measured them some years ago. I did a lot of work with tuned circuits. They become a piece of wire, no resistance or inductance with the caps removed. You can see the stripes. The wire wound on a couple of mine are not marked.

Soime think the green ones are resistors.

Rich

If you ever fall over in public, pick yourself up and say “sorry it’s been a while since I inhabited a body.” And just walk away.

  • Member since
    February 2002
  • From: Reading, PA
  • 30,002 posts
Posted by rrinker on Saturday, January 25, 2020 5:42 PM

The chokes don't really hurt anything - it's the capacitors, which in combination with the chokes form an LC filter. Removing the capacitors is easy, because they are in parallel with the motor leads, so they can be clipped off and you're done. The chokes are in series with the motor leads and if you remove them, you need to put jumper wires in their place to keep the circuit complete.

 I haven't found a need to remove the chokes, without the capacitors they are just some extra length of wire.

                                          --Randy

 


Modeling the Reading Railroad in the 1950's

 

Visit my web site at www.readingeastpenn.com for construction updates, DCC Info, and more.

  • Member since
    August 2003
  • From: Collinwood, Ohio, USA
  • 16,367 posts
Posted by gmpullman on Saturday, January 25, 2020 5:33 PM

I've disabled the ones directly wired to the Bachmann motors I have (only about six-or-eight locos). They do not play well with DCC back EMF current sensing.

Even Bachmann says it is OK to remove them, I seem to remember reading in their "Ask Mr. Bach Mann" tech support.

Good Luck, Ed

  • Member since
    January 2009
  • From: Bakersfield, CA 93308
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Posted by RR_Mel on Saturday, January 25, 2020 5:25 PM

To what do you reference?  RF Chokes are used in many ways.
 
 
 
Mel
 
 
 
My Model Railroad   
 
Bakersfield, California
 
I'm beginning to realize that aging is not for wimps.
 
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RF chokes
Posted by rrebell on Saturday, January 25, 2020 5:14 PM

Are these really neccisary to stop interferance or is this overkill regs from europe.

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