Lumatek ballasts will get you busted

[Stay Puft]

They are called a "Ferrite Clamp". (The "clamp" type is one that opens in a clam-shell fashion so you don't have to remove connectors to install)
I don't know if you will find them at HD or Lowes but thet are certainly available at electronic hardware suppliers. Digikey, Mouser, Allied, Newark, Jameco, BGmicro etc...
You may want to research "Ferrite Beads" to help you select the correct Ferrite clamp for your application. (They use different materials depending on what frequencies you are trying to reduce). Knowing the switching frequency (output)of your ballast would help in selecting the correct ferrite material. (The unwanted noise will be at that frequency or one of its harmonics)
It is also worth noting that each pass or "turn" through the clamp has an additive effect in reducing unwanted emissions.
Salutes
Stay-Puft

edit- I cannot spell worth a ferrite nickle

 

[S4vvy]

purple= 600
blue=400

Like I said, they will replace their old ones which some do have the RF interference. I don't think anyone is getting busted for weird electricity usage unless your stealing it or biting off more than you can chew...I would be more worried about the smell IMHO and my meter is right next to oh about 15 others....

Blue is 600, and the big purples are 1000's at my friends store. Been wanting some 600's but i may hold off. I get em for super cheap tho... cheaper than the mag ones

 

[clowntown]

Thanks for the clarification / info, Stay Puft.

 

[WaT iT Do?]

nevermind

 

[bergerbuddy]

Suffering from that right now too.... i have 6 600w lumatek digital ballasts (purple) didn't really notice anything but seen a telecom guy on the block workin on a box.... I tried to walk by him since that box was on the way to the community mailbox... He didn't say anything to me... he was with a crew running thru the neighborhood.... and the day before that i seen him like 3 miles down the road workin on a mainbox out on the street.... am i paranoid? can my RFI reach that far of a mile radius? and a few weeks back i thought i heard a lot of choppers buzzin.... hopefully polyshield aint BS'n bout their product.....

ANY INPUT HIT ME UP ANYONE..... I'M PARANOID

gonna try to see if i can get new ballasts from the shop and make a makeshift CFL or fluoros for the garden......

DAMNIT LUMATEK! i was defending you!!!!!

RELAX!!!! ... LOL!! YOUR PARANOID!!!!!

I have the older WORSE "silver" lum's as many as you... they are fine FOR SURE 100yards away... I'd say 100 feet... but to be safe and sleep really well... 100 yards

Mellowww~~~

Peace
BB

 

[clowntown]

Lumatek claims that there is no detectable RFI from any distance on their blue & purple 600w models; while the new purple 1000w model puts out a "small" amount of RFI, usually within a 10ft radius or so. IMO that's not acceptable, especially for my apartment setup, so for now I stick to a 600w (and upgrading to 2 x 600w) even though I'd absolutely love to upgrade to 1000w.

 

[WaT iT Do?]

nevermind

 

[WaT iT Do?]

They are called a "Ferrite Clamp". (The "clamp" type is one that opens in a clam-shell fashion so you don't have to remove connectors to install)
I don't know if you will find them at HD or Lowes but thet are certainly available at electronic hardware suppliers. Digikey, Mouser, Allied, Newark, Jameco, BGmicro etc...
You may want to research "Ferrite Beads" to help you select the correct Ferrite clamp for your application. (They use different materials depending on what frequencies you are trying to reduce). Knowing the switching frequency (output)of your ballast would help in selecting the correct ferrite material. (The unwanted noise will be at that frequency or one of its harmonics)
It is also worth noting that each pass or "turn" through the clamp has an additive effect in reducing unwanted emissions.
Salutes
Stay-Puft



edit- I cannot spell worth a ferrite nickle

RIGHT ON BROTHA! IMMA GO A HUNTING THAT SILLY WABBIT TOMORROW!

 

[clowntown]

I personally don't think ferrite clamps are going to help you (Lumatek says it won't help you). If anything it'll install a false sense of security which is far, far worse than no security.

If it'll help you sleep better at night, I suggest you get rid of the digital ballasts and get some magnetic ones until you find out exactly where you stand.

 

[Guest]

Blue is 600, and the big purples are 1000's at my friends store. Been wanting some 600's but i may hold off. I get em for super cheap tho... cheaper than the mag ones

So 400 and 600 are blue and 1000 are purple? Cause the guy from lumatek told me otherwise, as I posted in this thread, but this could be the case.

 

[yamaha_1fan]

I find it kind of crappy of the OP to come here bad mouthing a product, then never coming back to answer some of the questions. Kind of like hit and run

 

[sqwirl]

I just wanted to add my .o2 to the thread.

I run a 3 digital lumatek Ballasts, and I've ran all three for over a year now. I have a blue 1000w, and two silver 600w. I HAVE NEVER HAD A PROBLEM WITH MY LUMATEKS. My ballasts are less than 12ft from my cable TV and computer.

I do use the RF Shieled cords they came with. And I have a circular light mover (don't think this should matter, but more info the better)

 

[WaT iT Do?]

I just wanted to add my .o2 to the thread.

I run a 3 digital lumatek Ballasts, and I've ran all three for over a year now. I have a blue 1000w, and two silver 600w. I HAVE NEVER HAD A PROBLEM WITH MY LUMATEKS. My ballasts are less than 12ft from my cable TV and computer.

I do use the RF Shieled cords they came with. And I have a circular light mover (don't think this should matter, but more info the better)

I kno for a fact that i have RFI issues.... its not just paranoid jibber jabber..... what frequency i'm not so sure of.... but the higher frequency radio stations the more problems i have wen ballasts are plugged in. whether the car in the driveway or cell phones...... all problems cease when not plugged in.... SO DISAPPOINTED

 

[S4vvy]

So 400 and 600 are blue and 1000 are purple? Cause the guy from lumatek told me otherwise, as I posted in this thread, but this could be the case.

Yea that's how it is at my friends store. He only carries the 600's (110 and 220). He recently started carrying the 1000w ones and they're purple. The ones he had before were silver and i can't remember if they were 400 or 600. I think 600's I'll try to double check for you when i go over there

 

[Stay Puft]

What it do:
Did you check that the ground contact on your AC supply input is good? (you can use an outlet tester (if 120V) or a multimeter to check).
Did you verify that the Case of your ballast is attached to Ground? (should be common to the ground pin on the AC input connector on ballast)
Is your Mogul base and Reflector grounded? (FYI-I checked the mogul of a "All System Cord Set" and it is grounded but the cable is not shielded)

Other things you may wish to try:
Loop all extra output cable and see if noise is reduced. (This should have a similar effect to adding a Ferrite Clamp-Adds inductance)
I would consider putting a Ferrite Clamp on the AC Input cable in addition to the Ballast Output. I mention this because sometimes unwanted RF noise is "conducted" back through the AC mains line and not just radiated via the output cable/load.
As an example,I have selected a Ferrite Clamp you may wish to try-
Digikey PN: 240-2199-ND
This is the biggest/nastiest clamp I found a digikey. Beware they are $15 ea! The center hole diameter is 1" which should give you plenty of room for two turns though the clamp. (depending on how thick your cord is)
240-2127-ND This is a smaller clamp that only cost $3.12 ea. but these have less impedance @ 100MHZ. 12.5mm ID. (Room for one turn only)
There are plenty of other Ferrite Clamps to pick from. I picked the most aggresive (most expensive too). If it works out for you Then you could look for more cost effective models.
Regards,
Stay_Puft

 

[Stay Puft]

Has anyone asked Lumatek for a copy of their EMC test report/results? This report will have a plot of emissions, both radiated and conducted (among other items), It will also detail the test conditions/setup.
I think it would be fair to ask Lumatek for their test report.

 

[sip]

I just wanted to add my .o2 to the thread.

I run a 3 digital lumatek Ballasts, and I've ran all three for over a year now. I have a blue 1000w, and two silver 600w. I HAVE NEVER HAD A PROBLEM WITH MY LUMATEKS. My ballasts are less than 12ft from my cable TV and computer.

I do use the RF Shieled cords they came with. And I have a circular light mover (don't think this should matter, but more info the better)

same here, i use a few blue 600's to add spectrum in the room. no issues at all with cable, cells, walkies, pc, radio etc..

 

[S4vvy]

Kinderfeld

went to my boys shop today and found out some info. The Blue 600's are 240, the purple 600's are 110 (and run hot). The silver 600's are not rf shielded (old model), and the big purple ones are the new 1000's

I think i got that right

 

[bodhiseeds]

well i wish it were true that they have no rf problems, i just fired up my new set up tonight, all new purple 1000s, and as soon as they go on my sentinal electronic environmental controller goes haywire messing up my whole system that took quite a while to build. as soon as i kill the lights no problem. does anybody know the lumatech website or email? could not find it on google.
sorry for the bad news....

 

[sneakyninja]

My buddy just got one of the new 600/110 purple ballast Lumatek's. Not sure if it makes a difference that its running through a daystar 8AC hood and the built in cordset that comes with it is being used.

Cable TV was fine 12ft away
Wiped out AM completely up to 5ft and caused a lot of interference at 12ft.

Is this a defective unit? or is the interference etc being caused by the use of the daystar cordset.