Lighting RF interference Questions

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So I bought an apollo 600 watt kit, and THEN read about IF interference. I literally just did the am test and sure enough as soon as my timer came on it sounded like that low pitch wind noise that goes up really high and then comes back down. If you don't understand that go "shh" at a low pitch then high and back down low. Not sure if it was from the ballast but I've never heard a radio do that before so I'm sure it was. Anywho, I was ready to send it back to apollo and get a magnetic ballast, but that consists of money and time. Two things that I try to spend wisely. Now there's a few solutions I've read about, one being the faraday cage and another being, chokes. I assume I'll be trying the chokes first, where do I put them? If I do build a cage could you guys point me to a good guide for doing so? But the main question and possible solution for many of people is if an RF shielded power strip would block the emissions. Actually this one http://www.walmart.com/ip/Tripp-Lite-Isobar-4-Outlet-120V-Surge-Suppressor/3910300 not sure if it would work but I'm hoping you guys with all your brains could tell me if you think it would or not. Thanks guys! Should be starting my grow in the next month. Not in any rush
 
I tried to choke the power cord. I don't think it worked XD lmfao

I was l lucky and ran across some info on RF interference before I bought my light and it pushed me towards LEDs. I know it sucks but I would send it back or you will always be worried about it. If you have neighbors that have cable it can cause problems in their homes and the cable company will track down where the problem is coming from. Ham Radio operators have this problem too sometimes. From what I read there is no rhyme or reason to it, some digital ballasts cause interference and others don't. Even from the same manufacturer. IMHO, I would try a magnetic ballast if your are going HID. I have had good experiences with my marshydro LEDs and they are pretty cheap. Good Luck, my friend.
 
Damn, ive never heard of this before. I have two Apollo 600's they are working great after a year+.
 
I'm just really hoping that either the choke of the cage works. I really don't want to send these back. Can anyone help some more?
 
So I bought an apollo 600 watt kit, and THEN read about IF interference. I literally just did the am test and sure enough as soon as my timer came on it sounded like that low pitch wind noise that goes up really high and then comes back down. If you don't understand that go "shh" at a low pitch then high and back down low. Not sure if it was from the ballast but I've never heard a radio do that before so I'm sure it was. Anywho, I was ready to send it back to apollo and get a magnetic ballast, but that consists of money and time. Two things that I try to spend wisely. Now there's a few solutions I've read about, one being the faraday cage and another being, chokes. I assume I'll be trying the chokes first, where do I put them? If I do build a cage could you guys point me to a good guide for doing so? But the main question and possible solution for many of people is if an RF shielded power strip would block the emissions. Actually this one http://www.walmart.com/ip/Tripp-Lite-Isobar-4-Outlet-120V-Surge-Suppressor/3910300 not sure if it would work but I'm hoping you guys with all your brains could tell me if you think it would or not. Thanks guys! Should be starting my grow in the next month. Not in any rush

Hi Auto, you can make a faraday cage out of some galvanized window screen wire mesh from the hardware store. You can use a stapler to fasten the edges together. Important things are to ground it to a good electrical ground and use some sort of non-conductive spacers to make sure the ballast does not touch the screen. Some pieces of Styrofoam would work for the spacers.

Yom may still get a little leakage from the power cord but it should block the majority
 
So I bought an apollo 600 watt kit, and THEN read about IF interference. I literally just did the am test and sure enough as soon as my timer came on it sounded like that low pitch wind noise that goes up really high and then comes back down. If you don't understand that go "shh" at a low pitch then high and back down low. Not sure if it was from the ballast but I've never heard a radio do that before so I'm sure it was. Anywho, I was ready to send it back to apollo and get a magnetic ballast, but that consists of money and time. Two things that I try to spend wisely. Now there's a few solutions I've read about, one being the faraday cage and another being, chokes. I assume I'll be trying the chokes first, where do I put them? If I do build a cage could you guys point me to a good guide for doing so? But the main question and possible solution for many of people is if an RF shielded power strip would block the emissions. Actually this one http://www.walmart.com/ip/Tripp-Lite-Isobar-4-Outlet-120V-Surge-Suppressor/3910300 not sure if it would work but I'm hoping you guys with all your brains could tell me if you think it would or not. Thanks guys! Should be starting my grow in the next month. Not in any rush

Hi Auto, you can make a faraday cage out of some galvanized window screen wire mesh from the hardware store. You can use a stapler to fasten the edges together. Important things are to ground it to a good electrical ground and use some sort of non-conductive spacers to make sure the ballast does not touch the screen. Some pieces of Styrofoam would work for the spacers.

Yom may still get a little leakage from the power cord but it should block the majority
 
I don't need to make an actual faraday box though? I could just take a screen and wrap the ballast in it and basically staple it shut? And how do I ground it? I do have ground wire
 
the large size of radio waves makes any type of wire mesh opaque. The key is that the object emitting the waves can not touch the mesh or the mesh will become an antenna. The ground wire attached to the mesh helps route any singles in it to ground. Driving a metal rod into moist ground and then attaching a wire that runs from it to the wire mesh would be the best way to ground it. You can buy 5 ft ground rods and clamps to attach a ground wire at most hardware stores
 
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