Stereo in shop on fritz since putting in new lights - Lateral-g Forums

**scherp69** · #1 10-23-2009, 03:36 PM

Last week I decided to install some new fluorescent lights in the shop. I now have three sets of fluorescent (one was already there and the 2 new ones) and one bulb that still needs to be replaced. Before I put the new lights, I had okay reception with my stereo. It is a brand new Sony industrial ghetto. Since putting in the 2 new ones, I have no reception at all. I turn off the lights and I get great reception. Do you guys know of anything that I can use to get my reception back? I know this doesn't have to do with cars, but it helps me when I'm working on my car. Thanks in advance.

**GregWeld** · #2 10-23-2009, 08:17 PM

Yeah MIKE!! I can help!!

GET CABLE!!

LOL

Seriously -- The lights are putting out some "RFI" -- Radio Frequency Interference -- Pull the plug out of the wall and run it on battery only - if that helps - go to Radio Shack and get a RFI FILTER and plug that in between the wall and the radio.

You'd be better off by far - by installing an external antenna.

Funny --- I was building my shop (The Shed) and nobody was calling me... I was working inside and I'd step outside and all of a sudden I'd have 10 "messages" on my cell phone. The Shed is all metal - NO RECEPTION WHAT SO EVER... so I installed a CELL PHONE REPEATER (about $500) that takes the signal from inside the building to the outside and vice versa.... No other way around it!

**scherp69** · #3 10-26-2009, 12:19 PM

Thanks Greg. Hopefully I will be able to fix it as I find it way too quiet in the shop without some tunes. I'll try the batteries first and if that works I'm going to try putting in another plug to plug it into. All my lights are on one breaker and I have another breaker with a small panel box in the shop for all my 220 stuff. I'm going to add a 120 plug into the panel and hopefully that will work.

70rs · #4 10-26-2009, 12:59 PM

I have always preffered the big hammer fix on all things electronic. Computers are my specialty though.

The RFI filter that Greg mentioned should take care of it for you Mike. I had the same problem in an old shop and that was the fix for me then. Cheap and easy!!

**scherp69** · #5 10-26-2009, 01:24 PM

Hey Eric. I tried calling around and asking if anyone had a RFI filter to plug in. No one had a clue what I was talking about. Do you have a pic of yours?

bulldog19 · #6 10-26-2009, 01:39 PM

Mike this is one i have sold with mixed results for the exact problem you are experiencing. Cost is about $30 +shipping and i could have to you in about a week.
Here's the link let me know if you have any questions.
http://www.leviton.com/OA_HTML/ibeCC...2:US&item=3735
Thanks
Bulldog

**GregWeld** · #7 10-27-2009, 06:55 PM

Scherp -- I did have to chuckle a minute when you mentioned you'd gotten a new radio for the shop...

There's a LONG story behind my "shed radio" -- but the gist of it is - this stuff was "BUILT IN" the house when we bought it... the problem is -- it's STEREO and all the new TV's etc are Surround sound... so it really wasn't being used. In fact it was sitting on the floor in a closet. So I talked to the local stereo shop about what I could do with this "stuff" -- and the guy told me that I could use it for surround sound - but that would 'limit' what I could do etc - since the AMP isn't made to do this -- it's really made to send STEREO into several different rooms (areas)... but since it was multi channel - I could use various channels for the different speakers in a surround sound "system"... so out to the SHED it went!! It was "free" since it came with the house....

PS - hope you get your "buzz" fixed with that RFI filter!!

bulldog19 · #8 10-28-2009, 03:32 AM

Mike one other thing we have found with this problem is that there are different grades of ballasts. Basically a commercial grade and residential grade. The residential grade has an RFI filter built in where the commercial grade does not. This is more prevalent with the new electronic ballasts that use the skinny style tubes. Installing a new circuit for the radio unfortunately will not solve your problem.

**scherp69** · #9 10-28-2009, 06:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bulldog19

Mike one other thing we have found with this problem is that there are different grades of ballasts. Basically a commercial grade and residential grade. The residential grade has an RFI filter built in where the commercial grade does not. This is more prevalent with the new electronic ballasts that use the skinny style tubes. Installing a new circuit for the radio unfortunately will not solve your problem.

Hmmmm...and those are the exact ones I have. I believe they are a T8 bulb or something like that. So would a filter work then or would I be better off taking a loss and getting new lights? I might go price new ones out and see, but if a filter would work, would be much cheaper.

bulldog19 · #10 10-28-2009, 08:04 AM

I have sold the filter and it has worked for some and cleared up the static and in other cases it did not work at all. A new ballast for your exisitng fixture is about $20.00 that has the filter built in and that is a 2-tube unit. Let me know if I can help any further.
Thanks
Bulldog