WARNING for 1000k digital ballasts

[Wasabi420]

Just heard from my hydro salesman that 1000k digital ballasts put off significant RF noise which people can pinpoint your garden with. You can test this with either an AM or ham radio. Several people in my area have had their gardens detected and had to switch lights as a result.. Anyone else heard about this?

 

[globel]

I was walking threw a tow and grow yesterday using 10 1000watt digital lumatek's I was talking on my cell phone and the ballast was a foot away from my head... I think they have solved most of the RF issues.

They were using the purple ones with the dimmer's

 

[Sgt.Stedenko]

Any ballast with a UL rating has been approved by the FCC for use without causing radio disturbance.
Maybe the cheaper Chinese knock offs have this problem.

 

[reckon]

I was walking threw a tow and grow yesterday using 10 1000watt digital lumatek's I was talking on my cell phone and the ballast was a foot away from my head... I think they have solved most of the RF issues.

They were using the purple ones with the dimmer's

then why is it when you try and listen to a BALL GAME on am AM radio with a digital ballast within 50 feet, the crackly interference is so bad you can't hear anything but static?

I use a mag ballast, but my buddy runs a digi, and we have to kill the light if we are working on a car in the garage (where the grow is) and want to listen to a game while wrenching,...his is a lumatek 1K purchased a year ago.

I think cell phones and AM radios operate on WAY different frequencies, and I think that digi ballasts still emit a lot of RF noise, but maybe they shield it better now?,...still it fucks with the radio when the lights on.

I know cops use both the IR heat source locators, like the fire dept has, and how hard is it to pack an AM transistor radio, drive by your place and see if they get any static?

I think that is what the OP was referring to as far as "warning"

I don't think cops will come busting down your door if you run a digi, but still if it's enough to mess with the radio, do you want that thing in your house/grow area?

 

[Bud Bug]

I don't know why some places resonate the RF interference more then others but its a hit and miss situation. Seems to be the way a house is wired I know they all should be the same but there's something there that allows some places to have no problems and some where the ballasts kill radios in the whole neighbourhood.

Brand spanking new Lumatek http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2N1BaCKOn6I

I know people running 50 digital ballast with no problems other having huge issues with just one.

You can buy RF filter for digital ballast which cost about $80. I'll see if I can get more specs on the filter.

 

[B00420]

It also interferes with rez ph/ppm combo meters....the ones that stay in the rez full time.

Mine won't give the proper ph reading unless the lights are off.

 

[Bud Bug]

It also interferes with rez ph/ppm combo meters....the ones that stay in the rez full time.

Mine won't give the proper ph reading unless the lights are off.

So do water pumps especially mag drives.

 

[Wasabi420]

all i know is my local hydro store stopped carrying all 1000k digital ballasts because of this isseue. Not just the knockoff brands but all including lumatek. Apparently it interferes with am and ham radio....enough to the point where at least three people were complaining that neighbors were complaining.

 

[NiteTiger]

I just posted this in another thread:

Those of you having RFI problems with digital ballasts, use a Faraday Cage.

You can buy copper screen down to an almost clothlike mesh at Arts and Crafts stores.

 

[reckon]

or just use a good old, proven, time tested magnetic ballast= $130

 

[Admiral Canna]

I have heard of someone causing problems with the cable in his area. Cable dudes showed up with a meter and said there is a signal coming from yer house that we think is shutting down cable for yer neighbors. He said I got a ham radio lemme shut it off. He killed the lights. Signal went away. Cable men left. All is well. He went back to mags. LOL. No more digis for me.

 

[Pinball Wizard]

1000 watt mag = 60Hz...usually, UL rated

1000 watt digital = 20,000Hz...(that's a lot of electrons hopping around)

 

[NiteTiger]

or just use a good old, proven, time tested magnetic ballast= $130

Yes, that's right, all these people who have perfectly fine digi ballasts should throw them in the trash and run out and get a magnetic instead of spending under $20 to solve a security concern.

I prefer mags myself, but this is a thread for Digi users, the mag vs digi discussion is over here.

 

[reckon]

Yes, that's right, all these people who have perfectly fine digi ballasts should throw them in the trash and run out and get a magnetic instead of spending under $20 to solve a security concern.

I prefer mags myself, but this is a thread for Digi users, the mag vs digi discussion is over here.

that wasn't my point,...I was referring to getting a mag ballast instead of building a FARADAY CAGE,......

and yes, guys showing up from the FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION wanting to know why someone is transmitting RF interference would be more than a SECURITY CONCERN,....do you think the local cable company is the ONLY one that will respond to area complaints regarding unusual RF "noise" in the area? (especially when the "interference" keeps coming back for exactly 12 hours a day?)

so, yes, depending on your legal growing status, I might think about switching back to a mag ballast, if it keeps me under the radar.

and this thread is a WARNING to users of digital ballasts, so I think my comments are RIGHT ON TOPIC, thank you very muchas.


nuff sed.

 

[NiteTiger]

that wasn't my point,...I was referring to getting a mag ballast instead of building a FARADAY CAGE,......

So, again, why is buying a new ballast better than building a Faraday Cage? When both achieve the same result, but one is at a fraction of the price, and more likely easier to achieve?

When someone has a problem with their gas car, do you recommend they go get an electric? Or do you offer advice that might actually help them fix the problem with the equipment they have?

That's why I felt it was wrong for this particular discussion.

 

[TroubleGuy]

I agree with you Tiger. Suggesting that I throw out my digital ballasts and replace them with mags is ridiculous when it'll cost more to do that than to build a faraday cage.

I'll have to check mine out and see if I have any interference. I'm pretty sure they don't cause problems cause I've used them for awhile and this is the first I've heard of this issue. Mine are UL rated too..

 

[Mr. Bongjangles]

How will a faraday cage stop the rf interference when the cable to the light and the power circuit will still be out in the open?

I'm no expert on this stuff, but considering all the talk from the digi ballast companies about how they use shielded cables and whatnot to prevent the issue, makes me feel like the cables definitely receive some of this interference.

As for me personally, I've gotten the knock on the door from the cable man as a result of using the 2009/2010 model 1k Lumatek. This faraday cage talk sounds neat, and I'd love to spend 20 bucks and be able to use it again, but as mentioned I have some reservations.

 

[reckon]

So, again, why is buying a new ballast better than building a Faraday Cage? When both achieve the same result, but one is at a fraction of the price, and more likely easier to achieve?

When someone has a problem with their gas car, do you recommend they go get an electric? Or do you offer advice that might actually help them fix the problem with the equipment they have?

That's why I felt it was wrong for this particular discussion.

look, dude, I'm NOT trying to argue with you, if you want to wrap your world in copper mesh, go right ahead.

so, without continuing this pointless discussion in the wrong direction,...

SIMPLE,.....KEEP IT SIMPLE,.....is building a faraday cage easy? (doesn't sound easy) what if it "leaks"?
is it more simple than just replacing the thing you are trying to hide, with one that doesn't need HIDING?,...so SIMPLICITY, and SECURITY are my goals, not cost,..because personally I don't mind spending a few hundred to keep federal agents, and nosy cops away from my grow.

THAT was the point(and still is my point) that you seem to not be able to grasp.

I personally know that if you get the FCC up your ass they ain't going away till they FIX THE PROBLEM, and if the problem keeps coming back, so do THEY.

been growing since 1979, never got caught and no one ever knew, they still don't except you guys, and I'm keeping it that way.


do you understand now?

 

[TroubleGuy]

Does anyone know if this is also an issue with 600w digis? If I had anything with an AM radio dial in my home I'd check both the 600w AND 1000w for myself.

 

[darksith]

1000 watt mag = 60Hz...usually, UL rated

1000 watt digital = 20,000Hz...(that's a lot of electrons hopping around)

its a good thing you know what Hz is...same amount of electrons, just moving faster. Hz = cycles per second.