RF Interference

[Joel]

Hey Guys so I recently went to digital ballasts and am having a hell of a time with RFI.

I am not in legal trouble because I am a carded user and their is nothing the local authorities can do to me. I am how ever experiencing some RF interference and so is my neighbor.

Anyone got any tips and tricks on how to fix this with digital ballasts?

My light is away from the ballast , it is in the tent.

I have thought about shortening the power cord from box to power outlet.

I have also thought about using those uhhh ... forget what they are called ( drawing a blank ) that you attach to your cord to block RFI? I know they are relatively cheap on amazon, something like 4-5$.

Any help is much appreciated as I'm new to this digital ballast and so far .. not caring much for it and am about to break out my magnetic due to the frustration.

Thanks!!

Edit ::

Is there a relatively cheap tool I can buy to test the RFI so I know if it is the box or the cord or the lamp its self?

Joel Reviewed by Joel on 10-02-2013. RF Interference Hey Guys so I recently went to digital ballasts and am having a hell of a time with RFI. I am not in legal trouble because I am a carded user and their is nothing the local authorities can do to me. I am how ever experiencing some RF interference and so is my neighbor. Anyone got any tips and tricks on how to fix this with digital ballasts? My light is away from the ballast , it is in the tent. I have thought about shortening the power cord from box to power outlet. Rating: 5

[Shovelhandle]

Attachment 295182

an rfi meter can be found for under $80.

[Shovelhandle]

RFI from electronic ballasts. this can and has caused problems for folks with neighbors. They get a shitty TV image, call cable co. and there's a knock on the door. Unfortunately, the problem is usually with the device. Some ballasts are quiet, some not. Lumitek can be either, some are some aren't. They put out interference and the power and lamp cables act as antennae. Sometimes this can be reduced by shielding the cable from ballast to the lamp. You can try foil around the cables and to a ground source. If this helps you may want to install a proper shielded cable. Good luck.

[Weezard]

"If this helps you may want to install a proper shielded cable."

Good advice!

Greenfield flexible conduit between the ballast and bulb should tame it.

Any shielding solution will require a proper ground.
So buy a cheap Led, outlet tester and use it to check your ballast's outlet.
Your solution could be as simple as tightening the main grounding clamp at the service entrance or swapping the hot and neutral leads.

Aloha,
Weezard (retired IBEW)