[Fourlanders] another question for the brain trust

[Bill Pence]

actually, I did mix between the 2 types, but there are electronic ballasts
for the tube fixtures and then there's the compact FL (CFL) bulb
replacements to the normal screw in bulbs. there are now even dimmable CFL
bulbs to replace incandesent screw in bulbs.
I have seen the CFL replacement be bad and not bad in ters of interference.
same with the FL tube ballasts of the electronic variety.

On Sun, Feb 1, 2009 at 11:27 PM, Jim Worsham <wa4kxy at bellsouth.net> wrote:

> If the electronic ballast you mention is similar to what they put in the
> screw in florescent light bulb replacements then you may have a problem.  I
> have heard that the screw in florescent light bulb replacements are
> terrible
> generators of RFI.  Take your 817, run it off of batteries and put it in AM
> or SSB mode.  Probe around the fixture and see if you can find the source.
> Go to home depot and check out the fixtures there you plan to put up.
>  Yeah,
> you will get some strange looks but you should be used to that by now.
>  Call
> ARRL and ask to talk to W1RFI or someone else in that department.  See what
> they know.  I bet Ed can tell you more than you ever wanted to know.  If it
> turns out that these new electronic ballasts are RFI generators then you
> should consider going old school incandescent.  You can buy incandescent
> bulbs (yeah, they are pricey) that are supposed to be as white as
> florescent.
>
> 73
> Jim, W4KXY
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: fourlanders-bounces at contesting.com
> [mailto:fourlanders-bounces at contesting.com] On Behalf Of Bob Lear
> Sent: Sunday, February 01, 2009 11:10 PM
> To: fourlanders at contesting.com
> Subject: [Fourlanders] another question for the brain trust
>
> Does anyone have info or experience with RFI/TVI from Florescent lamps?
>
> I noticed last night that some of the interference I was getting on
> Channel 2 (analog, off the air with rabbit ears) was caused by one of
> the florescent fixtures here in the basement where we are living.  It
> appears to be the new 4 bulb fixture added for the kitchen.  The others
> were existing when I bought the house and are a good bit older.  They
> don't cause interference on channel 2 when the offender is turned off.
> I would have expected the older ones to be more of a problem than the
> newer ones but I may be wrong and certainly don't know for sure.
>
>
> Anyway, it got me to thinking about what I am planning for the shack in
> the new building.  I have just finished roughing in the wiring to put
> eight, four bulb florescent fixtures on the ceiling in the shack for
> good lighting.  I understand that the newer florescents have electronic
> ballasts and my electrician said that soon we won't be able to get
> ballasts for the older units as they will stop making them in favor of
> the newer types.  He didn't say anything about RF noise, but he's not a
> ham either.
>
> So, an I setting myself up for RFI from these new fixtures in the shack?
>  I do like to have a lot of good light in a work area like that and in
> the operating vicinity and I've always liked florescent lighting anyway
> as it's so white and cool.
>
> Any comments, any alternatives??
>
> Thanks, Bob
>
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