OT: Fluorescent lights interfere with FM

[sandiapaul]

I put in T-8's in my basement shop years back....and as many know the ballasts play havoc with the FM reception.

I have done bit of searching for a solution and bought a device that plugs into the wall that you then plug your radio into, it made no difference.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0002E4YI8/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o01_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Is there an easy way to fix this? I really would like to get the radio back!

[browne92]

Simply use a radio that has connections for an external antenna and run a cable to an outdoor antenna. The higher the better.

[justanengineer]

Ive got T8s throughout the house and garage, never had a problem with radio reception in the least. Have you tried turning off the lights to make sure thats the source of the problem? Maybe you just need a powered antenna.

[Rosco-P]

Might use the process of elimination and hunt down the ballast or ballasts that are causing the interference. If you're lucky, one or two new electronic ballasts will make all the difference in the world.

[lakeside53]

Yes... fix the problem... not the radio.

[sandiapaul]

I have a lot of lights...and yes it is the lights. I'd really prefer not to have to test each ballast...one would have to unwire each one one at a time right?
Powered antenna? I'll have to check into that....

[Paul Alciatore]

Well, you may have more than one bad ballast. It would be better to disconnect all of them and reconnect one at a time.

OR you could use the radio to find the bad ones. Carry it near each fixture and see which ones produce more noise.

Oh, and powered (translate that as amplified) antennae can be even more problematic in bad RF noise environments. They amplify noise too. At the very least, be sure the amplifier is at the antenna, on top of the pole, not in the basement.

I have a lot of lights...and yes it is the lights. I'd really prefer not to have to test each ballast...one would have to unwire each one one at a time right?
Powered antenna? I'll have to check into that....

[macona]

Or use internet radio

[Bob Fisher]

I like AM radio most times in my shop. Yeah, that's right Rush Among others. Macona has the answer, Internet radio have one in the kitchen, Wife's sewing room., and the. Shop. Problem gone! Bob.

[Puckdropper]

I have a lot of lights...and yes it is the lights. I'd really prefer not to have to test each ballast...one would have to unwire each one one at a time right?
Powered antenna? I'll have to check into that....

It depends... The lights may be wired so that it's easy to disconnect the ones downstream at the same time you disconnect the one. (Say you've got a connection at each box that has power in, light, and power out.) If wired like that, then the process can be shortened considerably. Disconnect the light in the middle so half the lights go out. Check the radio. If you're still getting interference, disconnect the lights about halfway through the remaining ones. If not, reconnect the lights and disconnect them again about halfway through the ones that were off. Repeat until the culprit is found.

This process is called a "binary search."

[justanengineer]

I'd really prefer not to have to test each ballast...one would have to unwire each one one at a time right?

Disclaimer: Young and NOT an EE/electronics guru question coming.....

but couldnt you simply remove a bulb at a time to interrupt the circuit and the source of interference? Paul? Bueller? Bueller? Anyone?

[sandiapaul]

Justanenginnner,

Interesting idea...but isn't the ballast still "on" if I remove a bulb? I mean it might be that particular one no?

[macona]

Disclaimer: Young and NOT an EE/electronics guru question coming.....

but couldnt you simply remove a bulb at a time to interrupt the circuit and the source of interference? Paul? Bueller? Bueller? Anyone?

Maybe, electronic ballasts are still active when there is no lamp, less load but still putting out some EMI. The sound of the interference might change though. I wonder if his fixtures are grounded...

[Black_Moons]

Maybe, electronic ballasts are still active when there is no lamp, less load but still putting out some EMI. The sound of the interference might change though. I wonder if his fixtures are grounded...

The sound of interference will DEFINITELY change if you remove a bulb, but it may not disappear. There is also the chance that a ballast that was not making noise will start making noise when the bulb is disconnected.

That said, you should also be able to use the FM radio to 'hunt' the noisy ballast by moving the radio around the room near the lights.

[sandiapaul]

Fixtures are grounded and run on a different circuit than the radio, if that makes any difference...I guess I have my work cut out for me...I was hoping for a "quick fix"