66HertzClone
ALLIANCE MEMBER
I was at a trade show last week and stopped to talk to the people at a booth with fluorescent lighting. They were featuring T5 fixtures, saying this was the newest best thing available. Since I'm still searching to find the "right" fixtures for my garage I asked them some questions. They had some trouble telling me how these fixtures would react to my unheated garage in the winter time, no real answer to that question, just a dance around committing to an answer. I asked about RFI, they weren't sure but told me they would research and get back to me. Well today I received this from them, thought some others might like to see what they had to say. The vendor in question is Wesco lighting. BTW, I didn't say zero emission, just low emission.
What level of RFI are your fixtures emitting? One gentleman is looking to see if you offer any with 0 RFI. We offer a Radio Interference Filter option for our fluorescent fixtures. It’s approximately a $20 adder per fixture. We’ve used it in laboratories and in the medical field where there’s a concern to protect highly sensitive equipment. I will check on RFI levels for you.
Here’s more info on RFI –
Electromagnetic Interference (EMI)
Because of the arcing action at the lamp cathodes, all fluorescent ballast and lamps as a system generates EMI (Electromagnetic Interference), a portion of which is in the RFI (Radio Frequency Interference) range. This energy may interfere with sensitive equipment by one of three methods:
Direct radiation from the lamp,
Line feedback from the lamp through the power line, and
Direct radiation from the electric supply line.
Typically, the type of equipment RFI affects is radios, television, sound amplifiers, electronic devices, radar, telemetry systems and computer systems. A shielded fixture must provide for control of both feedback (line suppresser) and direct radiation. (shielded lens). Line feedback and line radiation may be suppressed through the use of a power line interference filter. Lithonia has two line suppresser options:
The RIF1 line suppresser limits emissions in the AM broadcast frequency range of 550 - 1600 KHz. An external RIF filter might not be required when a Class-A electronic ballast is use. The internal filtering of an electronic ballast does limit emissions in the AM broadcast frequency range of 550 - 1600 KHz, which makes the RIF unnecessary. However, if direct radiation (radiation from the lamp) is a concern then a shielded lens would still be necessary, even though the RIF filter is not required. Lithonia will supply an electronic ballast with external RIF suppressers if the project specification demands it.
The EIS1 line suppresser will meet the requirements of Military Standards 461A/462/463. These standards provide limits and measurement procedures for testing and qualifying shielded luminaries. The EIS1 line suppresser limits emissions in the frequency range of 50Khz - 50MHz. The RIF1 filter option does not meet the military standards. The EMI requirements of MIL Std 461 are more stringent than those imposed by the FCC (CFR 47 part 18) for an electronic ballast to receive an FCC-Class A (non-consumer) classification. Therefore an EIS filter would be necessary on any application that required fixtures (60Hz magnetic or high-frequency electronic) be in compliance with MIL STD461/462/463.
What level of RFI are your fixtures emitting? One gentleman is looking to see if you offer any with 0 RFI. We offer a Radio Interference Filter option for our fluorescent fixtures. It’s approximately a $20 adder per fixture. We’ve used it in laboratories and in the medical field where there’s a concern to protect highly sensitive equipment. I will check on RFI levels for you.
Here’s more info on RFI –
Electromagnetic Interference (EMI)
Because of the arcing action at the lamp cathodes, all fluorescent ballast and lamps as a system generates EMI (Electromagnetic Interference), a portion of which is in the RFI (Radio Frequency Interference) range. This energy may interfere with sensitive equipment by one of three methods:
Direct radiation from the lamp,
Line feedback from the lamp through the power line, and
Direct radiation from the electric supply line.
Typically, the type of equipment RFI affects is radios, television, sound amplifiers, electronic devices, radar, telemetry systems and computer systems. A shielded fixture must provide for control of both feedback (line suppresser) and direct radiation. (shielded lens). Line feedback and line radiation may be suppressed through the use of a power line interference filter. Lithonia has two line suppresser options:
The RIF1 line suppresser limits emissions in the AM broadcast frequency range of 550 - 1600 KHz. An external RIF filter might not be required when a Class-A electronic ballast is use. The internal filtering of an electronic ballast does limit emissions in the AM broadcast frequency range of 550 - 1600 KHz, which makes the RIF unnecessary. However, if direct radiation (radiation from the lamp) is a concern then a shielded lens would still be necessary, even though the RIF filter is not required. Lithonia will supply an electronic ballast with external RIF suppressers if the project specification demands it.
The EIS1 line suppresser will meet the requirements of Military Standards 461A/462/463. These standards provide limits and measurement procedures for testing and qualifying shielded luminaries. The EIS1 line suppresser limits emissions in the frequency range of 50Khz - 50MHz. The RIF1 filter option does not meet the military standards. The EMI requirements of MIL Std 461 are more stringent than those imposed by the FCC (CFR 47 part 18) for an electronic ballast to receive an FCC-Class A (non-consumer) classification. Therefore an EIS filter would be necessary on any application that required fixtures (60Hz magnetic or high-frequency electronic) be in compliance with MIL STD461/462/463.
