Digital ballast causing audio interference

[Sojourner]

I've had a 600 watt digital ballast and light for about a year now, it hasn't given me any problems, until now. I moved it upstairs to a spare closet, which is real close to my home theater system, which has two wireless rear channel speakers. If I am listening to music, when the ballast powers on I hear an incredibly loud BUZZZZ for about 45 seconds then it settles down to a much quieter distortion which continues for the whole 12 hours the light is on.

Is it possible to shield the ballast from emitting so much RF interference? As a last resort I could move everything back to the basement, but I just spent two weeks setting up the closet. Alternatively I could replace the ballast with a regular magnetic one, but I would really prefer not to.

I occasionally have friends or family over, and they go "What the hell is that noise" while we're watching a dvd or whatever. Other than being extremely annoying, it is also a security risk.


Please, can anyone give me any suggestions here? Thanks in advance

 

[FreezerBoy]

If it's just the rear wireless speakers, can they be wired or replaced with wired? It's not as though they're are the mains where you'd spend money.

 

[SpoCannabis]

If it's just the rear wireless speakers, can they be wired or replaced with wired? It's not as though they're are the mains where you'd spend money.

Yes, this is the route I would go as well. Don't think you can really shield the ballast to stop it.

 

[Sojourner]

If it's just the rear wireless speakers, can they be wired or replaced with wired? It's not as though they're are the mains where you'd spend money.

I looked at this, but there isn't anywhere to connect a speaker wire to, the only thing on the speakers is a power cable and an antenna. Also, on the receiver it only has hookups for wired speakers on the front right/left, and center channels. Currently I've just been playing it with the two wireless speakers unpowered, but it makes dts and surround sound playback sound all whacked out and unbalanced. I'd have to replace the whole home theater system to get 5.1 without interference.

What if I put the ballast in a galvanized steel box with just a little hole for the wire and a small fan? Would that work for shielding it?

 

[SpoCannabis]

What if I put the ballast in a galvanized steel box with just a little hole for the wire and a small fan? Would that work for shielding it?

Might be the only thing that will work

 

[FreezerBoy]

What if I put the ballast in a galvanized steel box with just a little hole for the wire and a small fan? Would that work for shielding it?

Doesn't that take lead? Or have I read too many Superman comics?

Could it be because both are on the same circuit breaker? Do you have an ext cord 14 gauge or larger (smaller the number, the bigger the wire)? Try running one or the other off a different breaker.

 

[yamaha_1fan]

I have heard some older ballasts may not have had a shielded cord. What brand ballast is this? try contacting the manufacturer and see what they say.

A 600 ballast kit from HTG is about $100

 

[Sojourner]

Doesn't that take lead? Or have I read too many Superman comics?

Could it be because both are on the same circuit breaker? Do you have an ext cord 14 gauge or larger (smaller the number, the bigger the wire)? Try running one or the other off a different breaker.

I don't think it requires lead, I am not trying to stop x-rays here. Also, it is definitely RF interference-- If I pick up the speaker and move it closer to the ballast it gets louder.

I have heard some older ballasts may not have had a shielded cord. What brand ballast is this? try contacting the manufacturer and see what they say.

My ballast brand is "Digital Greenhouse Systems." I don't know if the cord is shielded or not, how can I tell?

 

[FreezerBoy]

I don't know if the cord is shielded or not, how can I tell?

Open up the ballast or the socket housing. Once inside the enclosures, the wire's outer sheath is stripped off. This will allow you to look inside. Just what you're looking for, I don't know. But, if you post a pic, maybe someone can.

 

[Sojourner]

Fucking ballast, I turned it off and after five minutes I opened it up, I was greeted with this nasty warm black goop that got all over my hands and shirt. I couldn't see squat in there. What the hell is that? I've looked in my other ballast and it got nothing like that trash. I'm ready to just replace the sucker, this is ridiculous. I put it back together and got it running again, but it's not gonna go for more than another week.

 

[FreezerBoy]

Well

 

[~fvk~]

Fucking ballast, I turned it off and after five minutes I opened it up, I was greeted with this nasty warm black goop that got all over my hands and shirt. I couldn't see squat in there. What the hell is that? I've looked in my other ballast and it got nothing like that trash. I'm ready to just replace the sucker, this is ridiculous. I put it back together and got it running again, but it's not gonna go for more than another week.

I think it's supposed to be the resin that "seals" in any rfi/emi problems. Apparently heat is also sealed in too. They make what I think are called ferrite clamps for shit like this, you might want to check them out. I'm sure Radioshack has them, worst case scenario is you lose 10 bucks or so. I've also heard using metal cages and stuff around the ballast keeps the interference in, so I don't know about lead or Superman, but if it bothers you enough I'd say it's worth a try. Splurge for a Galaxy next time man, it's worth the extra 20 bucks.

 

[Hydro-Soil]

I have a mag ballast. Not that it will help ya.

What you want to look up is "Faraday Cage Construction"

Essentially you're looking to build a grounded, copper, mesh, cage around the ballast.

I'd look into getting a quality replacement. I'm not exactly raving happy about electromagnetic storms in my house. Even if it only affects the radio.

 

[badugi]

I bet if you checked out that digital ballast RF/EMI thread first, this thread wouldn't exist.

 

[NiteTiger]

Depending on your setup, you can make a Faraday cage for it. When I helped manage a grow that used digi ballasts (against my advice), the number of lights caused significant disruption outside the house itself.

We used a copper mesh that was woven so tight it looked like cloth. We surrounded the ballasts with this, and put a ground wire to the nearby water line. Boom, interference gone.

Cost about $30

 

[VenturaHwy]

NiteTiger, the disruption outside the house... was that on the radios AM channels? I have a digital ballast and the am channels are affected 40 feet away, the fm channels are not affected at all... very helpful advice on the copper mesh, do you have a website where I can order this? If I don't see you post here again I'll send you a pm...

The ballast I have is a Quantum 1000 watt digital ballast (dimmable) which is a very useful feature, I had to order the cord to the hood separately so I'm not sure if the cord is shielded...

 

[NiteTiger]

Yeah, it messed with radios and baby monitors outside the house. Inside the house it messed with everything

Copper Mesh

 

[catman]

I had a lumatek (the new purpose model) that did the same thing... messed with the cable tv signal.