FM Reception + Halogen Lights = Static

[zach_t]

I have 4 halogen lights in my garage with the cold start boost. My FM reception from my receiver is fine, until I turn on the lights and then everything above ~95 kHz on the dial is all static.

I think in my travels I have seen some sort of filter to correct this issue. Any ideas?


TTILE SHOULD READ Fluorescent LIGHTS

[weinstro]

Try putting the receiver on a different AC circuit, preferable of the opposite branch than what the garage fixtures are on.

If that doesn't work, try an isolation filter/transformer for the receiver.

If that doesn't work, then you're dealing with radiated EMF from the ballasts, and you will need to change the fixtures or consider snubbers inside of them.

The band you mentioned, 95 kHz, seems low. Did you mean 95 MHz?

Regards,

Rob

[philiparcario]

check for proper grounding of the socket, for the bulbs. do you know the maker or seller of the light. I have 20 types of fluorescent fixtures in my home. some cannot be stopped from interferring with radio or tv. radio filters don't help (some times they do). try a portable radio if the problem is there with the portable then an isolation transformer will not work. replace the light in that case.

[zach_t]

Good timing Rob & Philip and thanks for the replies.

I did mean MHz, what is a couple 1,000,000 hertz between friends?

I ran a heavy duty extension cord from the basement (different circuit) to the radio and got less interference with the lights on but still too much to listen to some of the stations on the lower end of the dial.

I will try the portable radio trick, good idea. If it works, any suggestions on a starting point for isolation filters?

Would something like this help at all?

http://www.partsexpress.com/pe/pshow...TOKEN=76144335

[philiparcario]

been there done that, no! I had a filter from radio shack that helped with a vcr. the vcr was the villian. unplug it fm was fine. plug it into any socket in the house all fm radios went bad plug it into the shack filter all was good. someone mentioned bad ballast it is a definite possibility.

[zach_t]

Try putting the receiver on a different AC circuit, preferable of the opposite branch than what the garage fixtures are on.

If that doesn't work, try an isolation filter/transformer for the receiver.

If that doesn't work, then you're dealing with radiated EMF from the ballasts, and you will need to change the fixtures or consider snubbers inside of them.

The band you mentioned, 95 kHz, seems low. Did you mean 95 MHz?

Regards,

Rob

It is radiated EMF from the ballasts, any suggestions or starting points for snubbers? Are these off the shelf items or do they have to be designed to a certain frequency?

[philiparcario]

see about replacing ballast costly I know. Try shielding them. add more grounds to the light fixture or (new shield aluminum foil),and attach the new shielding to a good ground in your home. The junk/noise should run into the ground. Sometimes it works.