ground?

[garage rookie]

I picked up these lights complete with bulbs for $20, yes all 6 of them for $20! I know I **** Anyway I wired them up one at a time to see if they worked and they do, the problem is when they are on I hear static or buzzing on my radio. Grant you I have a cheap am-fm WalMart special and it only picks up one station but it doesn't buzz or anything with the current 6 2 bulb 4 footers I have when they are on. Is this a grounding problem with these 4bulb 4 footers or ? There are only two (2) wires, black and white, no ground. Do I need to run a ground wire from the light to the ground in my wiring? If you think this light deal was cheap, you should see the stuff I've gotten given to me. Also included a pic of the ballast. The lights say Lithonia and the ballasts were made in Mexico.

 

[mrb]

most likely the ballasts are not residential grade and are interfering with the radio.

 

[Garage5.9]

Do they make rf suppressors like they do for car audio ?

 

[garage rookie]

Thanks mrb. There's no indication whether they are residential or commercial that I can see. As for rf suppressors, I don't know if they make 'em or not.

 

[Rickochet]

The only thing that is going to eliminate the radio interference is replacing the ballasts with a residential ballast. Please post the model numbers so we can determine what you have.

 

[garage rookie]

Rickochet, the ballast are Triad by MagneTek. The model # seems to be B432I120RH-A. If I have to change ballasts, I guess they weren't so cheap...lol. Oh well. What's the consensus on the Phillips ballasts at Lowes?

 

[Greatbear]

Is the fixture itself grounded? The ballasts are grounded through the case, the case is grounded through the fixture, you need a ground wire connected to the fixture itself.

 

[fefarms]

If you zoom in on the label on the ballast it says "Complies with FCC 47 CFR Part 18 Non Consumer limit". This basically means it is a commercial grade ballast and generates more radio-frequency noise than one that meets the "Consumer Limit".

You do need to ensure that the metal lamp housing is grounded to the branch circuit feeding the light. The RF noise will be that much worse of the housing isn't grounded, and also the lamps may not start properly.

Ballasts can be had from ebay for considerably less money than the big box stores.

 

[garage rookie]

Ok, thanks for all the help and advice. I'll put ground wires on all the fixtures. Right now there are only two(2) wires,blk & wht that I can wire up. If I need to change ballasts, I will eventually.

 

[35mastr]

I have the same issue with the 2, 4 bulb T5 that I put in my shop. As soon as I flip the switch the radio goes to hell. If I move the antenna around or the radio I can get it to work. But a royal pain in the ***.

 

[Rickochet]

I picked up these lights complete with bulbs for $20, yes all 6 of them for $20! I know I **** Anyway I wired them up one at a time to see if they worked and they do, the problem is when they are on I hear static or buzzing on my radio. Grant you I have a cheap am-fm WalMart special and it only picks up one station but it doesn't buzz or anything with the current 6 2 bulb 4 footers I have when they are on. Is this a grounding problem with these 4bulb 4 footers or ? There are only two (2) wires, black and white, no ground. Do I need to run a ground wire from the light to the ground in my wiring? If you think this light deal was cheap, you should see the stuff I've gotten given to me. Also included a pic of the ballast. The lights say Lithonia and the ballasts were made in Mexico.

Definitely not the ballasts for home use. Don't fell bad about your purchase----it is still a good one! You can shop around to find some deals on residential rated ballasts. You could also add an external radio antenna to eliminate the RFI.

http://www.naturalhandyman.com/iip/infelectrical/inffluor.html

 

[fefarms]

Ok, thanks for all the help and advice. I'll put ground wires on all the fixtures. Right now there are only two(2) wires,blk & wht that I can wire up. If I need to change ballasts, I will eventually.

There should be a 10-32 threaded hole in the fixture (not the ballast) to receive one of those green ground screws. Sometimes "GND" is stamped next to it. That's where the branch circuit ground wire attaches.