How to troubleshoot electrical interference (noise)
Table of Contents
Overview
This article explains how to identify and eliminate electrical interference (noise).
The cause of electrical interference can vary.
Electrical interference may be caused by, but not limited to:
- Electromagnetic interferences (EMI) or radio frequency interferences (RFI) caused by power leads or other machines (e.g., the drum rotor motor)
- Voltage issues
- Ground loops: caused by wattage issues within the electrical circuit
- Grounded probes
- Broken probes
- Broken port
- Poorly isolated cables
Instructions/Troubleshooting steps
- If you are roasting on a laptop, please turn off the electricity and see if the signal improves when roasting in battery mode only. This way, ground loops as potential issues are getting ruled out.
- Follow the probe cable and check if there are touch points with other signal wires. Isolate the probe cable from other cables to rule out EMI or RFI.
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In some cases, the roaster (where the wall touches the probe) itself can introduce these interferences.
Learn how to isolate the probe. - If you connect through a Phidget, try attaching the Phidget to a different USB port. You can also add a USB isolator. We recommend the Phidget 3060 device, but any other device with similar specs can be used. It is a small device you can put between your Phidget and your computer. In most cases, this also eliminates interference caused by ground loops.
IMPORTANT: When to call a Professional
If the steps above do not resolve the issue, stop troubleshooting and consult your roast machine manufacturer or a certified electrician immediately.