Apollo 600w HPS Cool Tube RF Interference

Recently bought this http://www.amazon.com/Apollo-Horticulture-GLK600CT24E-Digital-Dimmable/dp/B00521B894/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1393242870&sr=8-3&keywords=apollo+600w

Seemed like a good deal till I found out about RF interference issues. Plugged in my new light to see if all was in order and of course my computer instantly gets disconnected from WiFi. Brought in a radio, put on a somewhat clear AM station, fire up the light, and static! Is there any method to shielding this noise? I know you get what you pay for but I've heard that shortening the cord that goes from the ballast to the light could help reduce interference. What else could I do to help shield better? Thank you for your time and patience!

I'd send it back for a replacement (or just refund). That seller was reasonable and prompt when I've had occasion to contact him on Amazon, and he covered shipping for a return I made. I would contact him directly instead of Amazon.

I recently switched from using a magnetic ballast to one of these and was worried about RF interference so that was one of the first things I played around with when I first hooked it up. But I've had absolutely no issues with any interference and it runs no more than 15' from both my wireless router, 2 WNAs, and a cable TV. I don't normally listen to a radio but I used an old AM radio to see if it would cause static when turning on and wasn't able to discern any.

Long story short, Apollo claims their ballasts conform to "all international electromagnetic emission standards" and the one I have seems fine so you may have just gotten a lemon.

As far as something you could check/do: Make sure the all the cable shielding is intact (no splits/cuts) and check the terminal end of the wire that connects to the socket is not loose.

I just tried a different outlet and moved the ballast a few feet further away from my computer area and I don't get disconnected anymore. So maybe there is some interference, but could it be an acceptable amount? I'm mostly worried about causing problems for the cable company & neighbors. I'll have to try listening for static at different distances (if that's even any indicator for anything). The first time the stereo was only a few feet from the ballast.

Yeah, I'm not an expert on this stuff by any means - but if you get a portable AM radio and tune it to a station that is barely coming in but clear, you can sort of use it as an RFI detector. Start from a room or two away and walk towards the ballast - if there is a large amount of RFI, you should start to hear increased static or a humming over the radio signal as you get closer. Might try wiggling the connections with the radio nearby to see if it's possibly a loose connection? On a lot of fixtures, including the cool tube in the package, I've noticed that the connection to the mogul base arrived loose (might double check that area specifically in case the wires got bumped in shipment).

SableZen said:

Yeah, I'm not an expert on this stuff by any means - but if you get a portable AM radio and tune it to a station that is barely coming in but clear, you can sort of use it as an RFI detector. Start from a room or two away and walk towards the ballast - if there is a large amount of RFI, you should start to hear increased static or a humming over the radio signal as you get closer. Might try wiggling the connections with the radio nearby to see if it's possibly a loose connection? On a lot of fixtures, including the cool tube in the package, I've noticed that the connection to the mogul base arrived loose (might double check that area specifically in case the wires got bumped in shipment).

Click to expand...

So I only get the static when the radios really close, like within a couple feet. I know what you're talking about, it was kinda just swiveling in there when I got it, tightened everything up. I'm probably gonna shorten the cable and wrap it in some aluminum tape, maybe add a ferrite bead for good measure and hope for the best. Thanks for your help.

Awesome - you're welcome.

I run 3 600w Apollo cool tubes in my grow, in the basement, and directly under my home theatre room. I have 4 plasma TV's, 4 hd dvr boxes, and 2 surround sound home theatre setup, 3 laptops, 2 home pc's, plus wifi. I have zero RF interference.

make sure you ground ALL your splitters pertaining to the cable lines.

Running 400w MH and 600w HPS both Apollo (purple digital ballast) 0 interference

Shit happens all the damn time with digital ballasts... Happened to me too with an Ipower, I just simply bought a Apollo magnetic to replace - 0 RF. AM radio a few inches away clear as day.
With the digital, when fired up it would knock the radio completely out, a room away. Insane interference. Cable company showed up and I knew the problem instantly, apparently that 1 ballast was fucking stuff up for like 3 houses, lol.

Just happened to me but I was knocking out the signal for the whole block my cable an net got disconected to protect the neighborhoods connection thing is my net and cable worked just fine the whole time the signal wasnt affecting me at all but it was leaving my house and hitting my neighbors . Got the knock at the door and everything . Scary stuff people should be more aware of this . My ballast was lumitek

im still running 3x600w Apollo electronic ballasts. 1 from 5-11, the other 2 from 7-7. absolutely NO house/neighbor/neighborhood issues.

DemonTrich said:

im still running 3x600w Apollo electronic ballasts. 1 from 5-11, the other 2 from 7-7. absolutely NO house/neighbor/neighborhood issues.

Click to expand...

I'm having the noise problems from the sound of cooling fans,maybe caused by mountin them on the bars of wood stick to the wall.
I also did a radio test,the radio was buzzed when standin next to the wires (wires from ballast to light,from power source to ballast) from 10-30cm or 10-60 cm from ballast SO ZERO RF LEAKING !
Only noisy sounds from coolin fans make them a trouble !!!