Bad RFI Knocking Out Internet Connection

[fn217]

Hey everyone.

Out of now where, my ballasts have started to knock out my internet connection. I previously didn't have any issues whatsoever.

The 12 ballasts are mounted on the other side of the wall that the phone line comes in through.

I'll be moving the ballasts out of the room (should have been that way from the start) as a start. Is there any product I can use to improve the RFI deadening once mounted outside?

I have a feeling it has to dim with the dimming, as I only recently started dimming my ballasts (HVAC not enough capacity) and right around then the connection issues began.

The units are Solis-Tek DE ballasts.

Looking for any suggestions. Thank you.

 

[kingtitan]

Dimming shifts spectrum so don't do it. Galaxy, Solis TEK and Phantom II were my top ballast choices and ended up with Phantom because its all sealed with no fans and is RFI shielded and FCC certified (not just a fake sticker).

If you really want to suppress the RFI and continue with the problematic dimming then look up Faraday Cage, there are tons of DIY for ballasts.

 

[klozetgrow]

Spent an entire day researching rfi, scary shit putting an order for a mag ballast today thought it was people just being paranoid but its really not if you don't have the money for a top of the line eballast go mag saw many threads over different forums that have had knocks at the door or was pinging to thieves who robbed them

 

[fn217]

Spent an entire day researching rfi, scary shit putting an order for a mag ballast today thought it was people just being paranoid but its really not if you don't have the money for a top of the line eballast go mag saw many threads over different forums that have had knocks at the door or was pinging to thieves who robbed them

Been doing research on RFI shielding. I have a few ideas. I'll be making a tutorial thread on it soon.

 

[klozetgrow]

Keep me posted if its a relatively cheap fix might consider it wouldn't mind a real life solution

 

[fn217]

Will do.

Keep me posted if its a relatively cheap fix might consider it wouldn't mind a real life solution

 

[whitebb2727]

The simplest thing to do is make sure that any coax is rg-6 quad shielded.

The next is to make a faraday cage. It can be made with hardware mesh. The stuff you make like rabbit cages from. Thin fence with 1/4 inch holes.

You can also test for rfi with an old AM radio.

 

[cannetix Inc]

Download a utility called 'InSSIDer'. It's a free network scanning tool that will allow you to visualize WiFi networks and find bands with minimal interference. Most modern routers allow you to choose between multiple bands. It may or may not help, but its a great software in my opinion. Besides that, information others have provided about Faraday cages and good cable shielding is accurate.

If you are having temp issues with your ballast due to your HVAC being insufficient, is it possible for you to simply improve airflow with a better fan or similar solution? Kingtitan was correct about dimming potentially causing issues with spectrum, so it's not an ideal fix.

http://www.lrc.rpi.edu/programs/solidstate/cr_effectsofdimming.asp

 

[fn217]

I'm at a point that I'll probably end up removing a few lights in order to turn up the remaining ones. I am running a sealed room, so no way to vent air in and out. I already have seriously MASSIVE air flow.

Download a utility called 'InSSIDer'. It's a free network scanning tool that will allow you to visualize WiFi networks and find bands with minimal interference. Most modern routers allow you to choose between multiple bands. It may or may not help, but its a great software in my opinion. Besides that, information others have provided about Faraday cages and good cable shielding is accurate.

If you are having temp issues with your ballast due to your HVAC being insufficient, is it possible for you to simply improve airflow with a better fan or similar solution? Kingtitan was correct about dimming potentially causing issues with spectrum, so it's not an ideal fix.

http://www.lrc.rpi.edu/programs/solidstate/cr_effectsofdimming.asp

 

[kingtitan]

I honestly never heard of RFI problems with SolisTEK they are one of the top tier ballast makers and I was sure they were shielded for RFI. You have 12 of their ballasts, I would contact them about this and if its all still under waranty even better, they may repair or replace. most RFI problems are the cheapo ballasts (iPower, Vivosun) and early ballasts from 10+ years ago (old Lumateks? i think they went bankrupt after some bad batches of RFI ballasts and FCC went down on them)

Have you tried the AM radio to compare static on it when lights are on and off? and how much at various distances? It could be that the combination of 12 ballasts in one area are creating some RFI but drops significantly a foot away etc. If you have lines on the other side of the wall (guessing drywall? Concrete would shield it) it could be interfering. I know with the new "im so cool flashy chrome " Galaxy ballasts give off RFI right up next to them and drops to almost nothing just a foot away. I wouldn't be concerned about someone knocking with this type of RFI.

My other thought could be just the amount of amps creating a small electro magnetic field around the ballast or the power cords. TIP: keep cords running as straight as possible, coiling it up excess is a no no in general and why even power bars have the caution label not to do it, think back to science class with step up and step down transformers and creating your own electromagnets.

Your first step is to move the ballasts away from lines and space them out, check the manual for optimal mounting and spacing if applicable, mine suggests vertical with power output towards bottom, this allows better cooling as there is no fan and works with heat-sink alone.

To further protect from any RFI I ran a dedicated 20 amp 12/2 cable and 20 amp breaker from the panel for my lights and fans, this insures that nothing from the ballast line can leak into other circuits.

 

[kingtitan]

I'm at a point that I'll probably end up removing a few lights in order to turn up the remaining ones. I am running a sealed room, so no way to vent air in and out. I already have seriously MASSIVE air flow.

I agree, download a wifi analyzer. there are some very good ones on android (wifi analyzer). Check how things respond lights on and off. Check if your channel is correctly set on the least nosiest channel. pick the best from 1, 6, 11 (on your wifi router) as these are the optimal channels for 2.4ghz bandwidth without getting too nerdy. If you have 5Ghz AC router use that instead as it has lots of space and most people are still on a/b/g/n routers anyway still (area dependent).

 

[MarWan]

dsl routers can show the signal to noise ratio SNR on the dsl line status page, the higher the number the better.

6dB or below SNR is bad, you will experience no sync, or intermittent sync problems
7dB-10dB is fair but does not leave much room for variation in conditions
11dB-20dB is good with little or no sync problems (if no large variation)
20dB-28dB is excellent
29dB or above is outstanding.

also you might check the value of the Attenuation, the lower the better.

 

[fn217]

The ballasts are in VERY close proximity to the service line. I think that it is a case of "conductive interference". I contacted SolisTek and they assured me their ballasts are the top of the top when it comes to RFI shielding, so it is very likely not a radiant interference but interference cause by being so close.

I'll move the ballasts out to start, and will try other methods if it does not resolve it, although I have a strong feeling that it will resolve the issue.

I honestly never heard of RFI problems with SolisTEK they are one of the top tier ballast makers and I was sure they were shielded for RFI. You have 12 of their ballasts, I would contact them about this and if its all still under waranty even better, they may repair or replace. most RFI problems are the cheapo ballasts (iPower, Vivosun) and early ballasts from 10+ years ago (old Lumateks? i think they went bankrupt after some bad batches of RFI ballasts and FCC went down on them)

Have you tried the AM radio to compare static on it when lights are on and off? and how much at various distances? It could be that the combination of 12 ballasts in one area are creating some RFI but drops significantly a foot away etc. If you have lines on the other side of the wall (guessing drywall? Concrete would shield it) it could be interfering. I know with the new "im so cool flashy chrome " Galaxy ballasts give off RFI right up next to them and drops to almost nothing just a foot away. I wouldn't be concerned about someone knocking with this type of RFI.

My other thought could be just the amount of amps creating a small electro magnetic field around the ballast or the power cords. TIP: keep cords running as straight as possible, coiling it up excess is a no no in general and why even power bars have the caution label not to do it, think back to science class with step up and step down transformers and creating your own electromagnets.

Your first step is to move the ballasts away from lines and space them out, check the manual for optimal mounting and spacing if applicable, mine suggests vertical with power output towards bottom, this allows better cooling as there is no fan and works with heat-sink alone.

To further protect from any RFI I ran a dedicated 20 amp 12/2 cable and 20 amp breaker from the panel for my lights and fans, this insures that nothing from the ballast line can leak into other circuits.