-
ICMag with help from Landrace Warden and The Vault is running a NEW contest in November! You can check it here. Prizes are seeds & forum premium access. Come join in!
Beware Friends (Apollo Digital Ballasts)
- Thread starter GuerrillaRed
- Start date
BlackBuds
Member
This is no joke if you are trying to keep your anonymity in a residential area.
Here is the ARRL article about it.
http://www.arrl.org/grow-light-rfi
Very important point the article makes is:"Typically the light fixture is removed from the ballast by about 25 to 30 feet. Since this length is about a 1/4 wavelength on 40 meters, it makes a good "antenna" for 40 meters so the RFI may be strongest on 40"
"We focused on 40 meters where the interference was the worst but all HF bands were obliterated."
"While the FCC may not have jurisdiction in the enforcement of drug laws, an interference complaint to the FCC may result in an investigation."
This page describes an attempt to filter the noise which was marginally effective.
"In most cases, common mode chokes are easy to fabricate. Simply wrap the cable around a toroid core several times, typically eight or more, in order make one."
http://www.w0qe.com/RF_Interference/grow_light_electronic_ballasts.html
Most HAM operators are hardcore hobbyists and will stop at nothing to identify a source of RFI especially if it is an FCC violation and 40dB above the code is what a lumitek ballast puts out at 250 away.
Here is the ARRL article about it.
http://www.arrl.org/grow-light-rfi
Very important point the article makes is:"Typically the light fixture is removed from the ballast by about 25 to 30 feet. Since this length is about a 1/4 wavelength on 40 meters, it makes a good "antenna" for 40 meters so the RFI may be strongest on 40"
"We focused on 40 meters where the interference was the worst but all HF bands were obliterated."
"While the FCC may not have jurisdiction in the enforcement of drug laws, an interference complaint to the FCC may result in an investigation."
This page describes an attempt to filter the noise which was marginally effective.
"In most cases, common mode chokes are easy to fabricate. Simply wrap the cable around a toroid core several times, typically eight or more, in order make one."
http://www.w0qe.com/RF_Interference/grow_light_electronic_ballasts.html
Most HAM operators are hardcore hobbyists and will stop at nothing to identify a source of RFI especially if it is an FCC violation and 40dB above the code is what a lumitek ballast puts out at 250 away.
Last edited:
cable shielding used to be a problem on cheaper digital ballasts.
BlackBuds
Member
What have they done differently since 2011 when it was still an issue?
you wouldn't have to encase the whole room in metal, just the ballast. This will greatly lower the interference
i need a new ballast for my small cab. i was looking at the 400w apollo ballast on amazon.
apparently the old ones had issues with RFI disrupting televisions and radios.
just curious if the new models have resolved this issue?
there are three cable satellite antennas for my apartment complex located about thirty feet from where the ballast would sit. i really dont want any issues to arise because of neighbors losing their cable or wifi when lights turn on. getting hard to find the old school ballasts these days. seems like theyve become more expensive than their digital counterparts.
any help would be appreciated. thanks!
apparently the old ones had issues with RFI disrupting televisions and radios.
just curious if the new models have resolved this issue?
there are three cable satellite antennas for my apartment complex located about thirty feet from where the ballast would sit. i really dont want any issues to arise because of neighbors losing their cable or wifi when lights turn on. getting hard to find the old school ballasts these days. seems like theyve become more expensive than their digital counterparts.
any help would be appreciated. thanks!
i run 4x600 Apollo ballasts about 15' away from my Comcast cable modem )only separated by 1/2" drywall. I have 2x55" plasma TV's, 1x42" plasma, 3x laptops, internet tv on ALL TV's, sony ps3, sony ps4. and absolutely NO rf issues.
