Ballasts and signal interference

Walterwhiter

Well-Known Member

• Aug 25, 2016

• #1

So one of the concerns I've seen regarding digital ballasts knocking out WiFi and throwing out basically a trackable signal. Has any one had issues and if so what brand and wattage?

 

PSUAGRO.

Well-Known Member

• Aug 25, 2016

• #2

Generally you should avoid cheap ballasts (apollo,ipower,etc.) .......quality ones have good shielding, short lamp cords help too.

 

Walterwhiter

Well-Known Member

• Aug 25, 2016

• #3

I have an Apollo and it has yet to effact my WiFi or cell signal. I have satalite as well and have not noticed anything. I'm gonna get a tittle am fm radio and do that little test. Matter of I'm posting this with my phone touching the ballast. I know

 

guod

Well-Known Member

• Aug 25, 2016

• #4

look for Electromagnetic compatibility (EMC)... maybe only a law from europa

http://aeroponik.eu/product_info.ph...nisches-vorschaltgeraet-vgt-250---600w.html&=
...
"Control anti - interference
The electronic ballast passes EMC to avoid interference from RF ( Radio Frequency ) with the environment while running this is very important because it prevents to be detected by electromagnetic interference producing electronic ballasts that can distort any signal to radio, television "
...

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electromagnetic_compatibility

 

PSUAGRO.

Well-Known Member

• Aug 25, 2016

• #5

still I wouldn't chance getting popped to save 100 bucks

Walterwhiter said:

I have an Apollo and it has yet to effact my WiFi or cell signal. I have satalite as well and have not noticed anything. I'm gonna get a tittle am fm radio and do that little test. Matter of I'm posting this with my phone touching the ballast. I know

Click to expand...

Yeah, it's the local AM fucks you have to worry about.

 

Walterwhiter

Well-Known Member

• Aug 25, 2016

• #6

I tested it with the car radio

 

SPLFreak808

Well-Known Member

• Aug 25, 2016

• #7

Ballast now days have low rf emissions.
the problem is more likely to be the routing of your ballast to bulb cable, keep it away from routers ect and roll up your slack correctly.
Not like this..
Like this!

A circle will help keep the field towards the center

 

Walterwhiter

Well-Known Member

• Aug 25, 2016

• #8

SPLFreak808 said:

Ballast now days have low rf emissions.
the problem is more likely to be the routing of your ballast to bulb cable, keep it away from routers ect and roll up your slack correctly.
Not like this..View attachment 3765561
Like this!View attachment 3765562

A circle will help keep the field towards the center but once the cable is done, its done.

Click to expand...

Thanks brother! Solid ^ one of the good ones.lol I tested it with a walkie I know it's not am but they are sensitive to things like that no squall at all! I'm wrapping up the about the grow room after about the third revision.

 

sixstring2112

Well-Known Member

• Aug 25, 2016

• #9

My worst ballast have been lumitec.using my headphones i checked all mine because my grow was taking my headphones right out @ about 30 feet from my shop.after some unplugging i found all 3 lumitec make alot of rf noise.phantom aint much better.nextgens (6 years old) make none and nanolux are great,almost nothing.gavita is solid but no lamp cord so we should expect them to be good. I need to check my meanwells but i would think led are less noisy because they are not driving a fireball inside a glass tube lol.but i will check mine soon.