[TenTec] OT Florescent Ballast's

[CSM(r) Gary Huber]

Jim,

I've been retired for six years and do not have the NEC and FCC manual sets nor the ballast information available... It seems like this class of device was industrial / commercial use only and was not considered part 15. As previously stated the electronic ballasts were generating a lot of VHF -  UHF energy which was strong enough to QRM standard one way pagers that were carried into the building. We ran a spectrum analyzer and the ballasts were within manufacture's specifications and in compliance with FCC regs but we could not use the slide projectors when the ballasts were energized. We got what was specified by our building design department (no coordination with my unit which was the company's "wireless communications team" http://www.csm-gh.com/ECS-2000.htm ) and the manufacture was not liable but replaced the A/V equipment anyway. 

Best regards,

CSM(r) Gary Huber - AB9M
9679 Heron Bay Rd
Bloomington, IL 61705
(309-662-0604)
www.csm-gh.com 
glhuber at msn.com 
gary.huber at us.army.mil 

--------------------------------------------------
From: "Jim Brown K9YC" <k9yc at audiosystemsgroup.com>
Sent: Monday, December 08, 2008 7:37 PM
To: "Discussion of Ten-Tec Equipment" <tentec at contesting.com>
Cc: "RFI List" <rfi at contesting.com>; <w1rfi at arrl.net>
Subject: Re: [TenTec] OT Florescent Ballast's

> On Mon, 8 Dec 2008 16:45:32 -0600, CSM\(r\) Gary Huber wrote:
> 
>>I was called in to figure out the problem and determined the 
> lighting circuits (and the ballasts) were radiating between 150 MHz 
>>and 500 MHz but were within the FCC limits for that class device. 
>>The ballast manufacturer and supplier provided the replacement 
>>projectors and remotes rather than fix the problem. 
> 
> Can you tell me the "class of device" and exactly what Part of the 
> FCC Rules the mfr told you covers it?  The so-called "electronic 
> transformers" (actually switching power supplies) that run 
> architectural low voltage (12V) lighting have taken over the track 
> lighting world. I inherited several in the home I bought when I 
> moved to CA three years ago, and they are VERY noisy. Go to an 
> electrical supply store to buy a transformer, and that's all they 
> have. Not only that, but the lighting fixtures are built in such a 
> way that a REAL transformer won't fit, and won't fit in an 
> electrical backbox that fits in the ceiling or wall. 
> 
> This is a VERY big issue looming on the horizon (bigger than BPL by 
> a lot), and the ARRL seems to be asleep at the switch. When a 
> neighbor installs one of these devices, your enjoyment of ham radio 
> is going go downhill fast. 
> 
> 73,
> 
> Jim Brown K9YC 
> 
> 
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