Flourscent Lighting and FM radios- Help!

[c_mccann]

I have 4-4' 2 tube flouro lights installed in my shop. They are the high-end GE units surfaced mounted, they were mounted 6 months ago. When they are off, my FM radio, a Pioneer SX 2300 receiver gets perfect reception on all saved preset stations, I have a Dipole antenna tacked on the wall. When you turn on the lights, everything goes to fuzz- the stereo light goes out and the signal indicator goes blank.. Troubleshooting this further, I mounted the dipole antenna in the attic inside the peak of the roof. Same reception issue. I then brought in my Bose Wave Radio to test and it has the same issue with the lights. Any suggestion? Radio Shack scratched their head, do I start wrapping everything in foil??

 

[pattenp]

Check out these links.

http://www.ehow.com/how_5008035_stop-radio-static-fluorescent-lights.html

http://www.ehow.com/how_5873417_reduce-radios-fluorescent-light-bulbs.html

 

[trythis]

you need residential grade ballasts in your fixtures. Commercial dont have radio interference restrictions

 

[c_mccann]

I'm not sure what grade the lights are, I'll check..

 

[wssix99]

Check out these links.

http://www.ehow.com/how_5008035_stop-radio-static-fluorescent-lights.html

http://www.ehow.com/how_5873417_reduce-radios-fluorescent-light-bulbs.html

+1 on these. Also, do you know if your fixture is older and uses a starter?

If so, the starter may be going bad. There should be a RF interference capacitor in there that could be bad: http://home.howstuffworks.com/question337.htm

 

[RoadBeater]

If they are T8 fixtures, do a search, the ballasts are causing it. I had the same problem and had to change ballasts to fix it.

 

[smithbd2]

One thought, check all the grounding on the lights. You could have one ground wire on paint and not making a good connection.
Roadbeater could be right, you may have a ballast going bad.
If all the grounds look good, try powering up one fixture at a time to single out the bad one.
Let us know what your findings are.