RF interference from ballast

Lavender Lady

Lavender Lady

Well-Known Member
My new digital ballast interferes with my tv reception. Does anybody have any suggestions to stop the interference? I'm using a Solar Tec digital ballast for a 1000 hps light bulb. I can't move it further away and it is already 25+ ft away from the source. Any suggestions?
 
S

SSHZ

Well-Known Member
Try same plugging the ballast into a different outlet........Or run an extension cord to another plug that's not on the same circuit. Doing this simple thing helped me out when I had the problem.
 
Ibex

Ibex

Active Member
SSHZ said:
Try same plugging the ballast into a different outlet........Or run an extension cord to another plug that's not on the same circuit. Doing this simple thing helped me out when I had the problem.
Click to expand...
How did changing the outlet have any effect what so ever, other than maybe moving the entire ballast? Its the ballast and cord giving off the interference not where its plugged in at.

The product website doesnt specifically say that is has RF shielding either.

http://www.solis-tek.com/digital-ballasts/solistek-1000-digital-ballast.html

My 2 1k lumateks do this as well, but I only need to move it about 25ft from the ballast to remove any interference on my digi antenna. The ballasts are located about 4ft away from my tv on the wall. The tv operates fine when using the pS3. Only time I receive interference is when I am watching the football games on an over-the-air antenna.

My only suggestion is to move your antenna, get a longer coaxial cable and extend it or move your ballasts.

IMO, dont run ballasts on extension cords.
 
S

SSHZ

Well-Known Member
This fix was suggested to me by someone at Lumatek (ballast company). I did it and in my case, it helped a lot. I never gave it much thought why it did or did not work, but they wouldn't have suggested it if it was a waste of time. So, change to another outlet that's NOT ON THE SAME CIRCUIT AS THE TV. And if you use the proper electrical cord, and it's not too long, it will be fine.
 
Ibex

Ibex

Active Member
SSHZ said:
So, change to another outlet that's NOT ON THE SAME CIRCUIT AS THE TV. And if you use the proper electrical cord, and it's not too long, it will be fine.
Click to expand...
Why would you assume they are on the same circuit for the OP? Mine are not, the ballasts have their own dedicated circuits, and I still receive interference under the right conditions. It sounds like your interference problem was the entire TV and not interference with an antenna. My LG tv works just fine only a few feet away from 2 1k luma's.

Yeah of course, but you cant automatically guess someone is going to use the right gauge extension cord and one that isnt 35ft long. How many times have you seen a 10amp AC on a 14guage extension cord that wraps around the world? Running a 1k ballast at 9ish amps on an extension cord for 12+ hrs a day isnt something I want to do. My outlets are wired straight back to the breaker box that each one of my ballasts goes in to.

At the end of the day, you can do whatever you please with your grow ;)

Your ballast manufacturer probably makes an extended ballast cord so you dont have to use an extension cord. This cord works with Works with these ballasts

  • Lumatek
  • Galaxy
  • Quantum
  • Sun System
  • Harvest Pro
  • Xtrasun
and goes to 20'
http://www.greners.com/i/grow-lights/ballasts/brand/lumatek/240-smart-volt-20-power-cord.html (240volt)
 
vostok

vostok

Well-Known Member
This has become something of a nonsense, since the introduction of shit cheap ballasts from China and other places, the best thing to do is get it corrected properly in the first place, even if you are in a legal state, your ballasts may well be interfering with other radio stuff for within 300 meters or so of your grow space, this is heat that most growers will not tolerate, locate for sure the source or its cause and have it fixed, in many of todays ballasts are RF fixed, contact the supplier and bitch like hell, or locate an electrical guy and spend $20.00, or get a new ballast $60.00? ....I would be very tempted to just update the ballast to one of those new digital ones that you can dial up and down even insert a Mh bulb ...go figure?
 
Lavender Lady

Lavender Lady

Well-Known Member
SSHZ said:
This fix was suggested to me by someone at Lumatek (ballast company). I did it and in my case, it helped a lot. I never gave it much thought why it did or did not work, but they wouldn't have suggested it if it was a waste of time. So, change to another outlet that's NOT ON THE SAME CIRCUIT AS THE TV. And if you use the proper electrical cord, and it's not too long, it will be fine.
Click to expand...
I have tried this but it did not work.
 
dbkick

dbkick

Well-Known Member
it operates at 67khz there's gonna be some rfi/emi even though they're internally shielded.Shouldn't be enough to interfere with other things though.
If it's just your television you're worried about solis may offer up a filter.
I own and run two solis tek matrix with no problem. I don't know why it is but you're the second person that has had a problem with rfi. I'm not seeing it.
 
dbkick

dbkick

Well-Known Member
Solis tek makes a good solid ballast but if all these rfi/emi stories are truly the ballast they have some work to do.
But as I stated I run two and have even done the AM radio test for rfi and found no noise at 20 foot away.
I don't have a portable AM radio so I can't really get any closer since I'm using my truck radio.
 
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