Any thoughts?????

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SPARKS40

SPARKS40

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Okay....I recently wired up my rather small workspace/tool room in my residence.....6 receps, and 3 2-lamp 32watt T8 strips, each on their own switch, and all devices on one 20A circuit. I have a radio down there, which is fine with all of the strips, until i turn on the center strip, then the radio gets static, which i can only get rid of by turning the center strip off. The strips are Lithonia, all purchased at the same time.....Any thoughts, guys????
 
Sounds like a loose connection in the center strip which is arcing and causing RF interference. Maybe you should put it on an arc fault breaker and see if it trips.
 
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fisherelectric said:
Sounds like a loose connection in the center strip which is arcing and causing RF interference. Maybe you should put it on an arc fault breaker and see if it trips.
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No loose connections here....i guarantee it.....and what would an AFCI have to do with it?? Just curious....
 
SPARKS40 said:
.....Any thoughts, guys????
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I have a few....none of which will probably apply...but the the thought is there and you can't stop the freight train :D

Radio is so last millennium...do people still listen to the radio?
We have Satellite radio...mp3 players..streaming internet radio..etc
Ditch the mullet and get up to speed.

So was I right?
Did any of it apply?
:D
 
SPARKS40 said:
No loose connections here....i guarantee it.....
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Did you check the pins' contact with the lampholders? Try wiggling the tubes while the radio is buzzing.
 
[6 receps, and 3 2-lamp 32watt T8 strips, each on their own switch, and all devices on one 20A circuit. I have a radio down there, which is fine with all of the strips, until i turn on the center strip,
Did you ground the strip fixtures and if you did check to see if you have a loose ground. I see alot of strip fixture not grounded...
 
It could be a bad ballast (yes, I know you bought all 3 new) Another thing that could cause a loose connection are those cheap plastic wire connector thingys (the wires are often not pushed in all the way at the Guadalupe factory):mad:

PS: Hope your not on the Am dial or you might have more work to do.:roll:
 
I don't think this is unusual. It seems to be common for me. Finishing a house, install the fluorescent closet lights, turn them on and the radio buzzes and what not.

My solution turn the radio or the light off.

Electronic ballasts cause interference.
 
celtic said:
I have a few....none of which will probably apply...but the the thought is there and you can't stop the freight train :D

Radio is so last millennium...do people still listen to the radio?
We have Satellite radio...mp3 players..streaming internet radio..etc
Ditch the mullet and get up to speed.

So was I right?
Did any of it apply?
:D
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Yes, people still listen to the radio....in regard to the mullet.....I'm sorry your sister has a bad haircut.....
 
Hmmmm.....I've got it....seems that the fixture in question has a smaller, more resi grade ballast....i swapped them out, and no problem....shame on Lithonia. What gets me is that the price point is almost the same between the two fixtures....
 
SPARKS40 said:
Yes, people still listen to the radio....in regard to the mullet.....I'm sorry your sister has a bad haircut.....
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I'm telling!!!!!


:D
 
Bad ballast could cause interference, but sometimes you get wires and metal fixtures together in the right length and you get an antenna effect. I would do the swap, and if the interference follows the light - it's either bad contacts (as someone else had suggested) or bad ballast. If it still happens when the "new" center light is on, you may have to reroute/change lengths on some of the wiring.

I like Celtics idea best - just get a satellite radio and be done with it.
 
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