Help with RF from HID lights please?

OGsleepyhead

OGsleepyhead

Member
Hello everyone. I joined this site to post this question, because I feel it will be best answered here. And I'd like to hear people's opinion on it. Also I plan on staying after my question is answered anyways :)

I started with CFL's, then when I got my precious 400w HPS with a dimmable digital ballast I thought this is the first "real" step for better quality.

Ran it for a few days, noticed my cable on my TV was flickering and wouldn't pick up well. I also had problems with my internet while it was on. One day I come home and see there has been cut wire on my front yard. Apparently someone from the cable company installed a "splitter" under my house without even letting me know.

The issue was still there. I didn't think of the RF until after I had talked to the cable company and they are sending ANOTHER person out to look at it. I had to scurry like crazy to get things presentable for a stranger. Not that I don't try to keep it as stealth as possible, I can always improve. When the cable man was here it popped into my head, "I've had these issues since the HPS." So I turned the ballast off and he said the problem WAS the "splitter" and he had removed it.

This was at least 4 years ago. Have been using LEDs, but I would like a shot at HPS, especially for flowering. I've noticed some come with "internal RF blocker." Would a 150W single system cause RF that disturbs things? Or are there really HPS lights that come with RF blockers?

Any and all input would be much appreciated. Much love and thanks.
 
Redeye 420

Redeye 420

Well-Known Member
Have you tried running the ballast recently to see if the problem still exists?

Also keep the ballast as far as possible from existing cable wires and routers etc.

I've never had this problem with my hid setup but have heard of it.
 
OGsleepyhead

OGsleepyhead

Member
Redeye 420 said:
Have you tried running the ballast recently to see if the problem still exists?

Also keep the ballast as far as possible from existing cable wires and routers etc.

I've never had this problem with my hid setup but have heard of it.
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Unfortunately my space is near the cable modem because it's in my "computer room"
 
OGsleepyhead

OGsleepyhead

Member
Redeye 420 said:
Try running it in a different room just to see if proximity is the issue, then go from there.
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I do want to try it, but my question is the ones that say, "Internal RF shielding" would actually work better and safer? Also would 150W integrated ballast/fixture configuration would make enough RF interference to worry about at that wattage?
 
Redeye 420

Redeye 420

Well-Known Member
OGsleepyhead said:
I do want to try it, but my question is the ones that say, "Internal RF shielding" would actually work better and safer? Also would 150W integrated ballast/fixture configuration would make enough RF interference to worry about at that wattage?
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I would say internal RF shielding would work better, I think mine has that.

As for the rest of your questions I'm not sure. Maybe there's an electrician here that can answer better.

What's the make of your ballast?
 
OGsleepyhead

OGsleepyhead

Member
Redeye 420 said:
I would say internal RF shielding would work better, I think mine has that.

As for the rest of your questions I'm not sure. Maybe there's an electrician here that can answer better.

What's the make of your ballast?
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I got it from HTG a while ago. I'm not sure the name. It was dimmable and digital. Ended up selling it to a friend who was looking for an HPS. He mentioned he had no issues with it. I'm not sure his internet or tv provider is different though.

I appreciate your help and feedback. Will wait for more input. The one I used wasn't using an RF shield, so it could be night and day difference with it.
 
Redeye 420

Redeye 420

Well-Known Member
OGsleepyhead said:
I got it from HTG a while ago. I'm not sure the name. It was dimmable and digital. Ended up selling it to a friend who was looking for an HPS. He mentioned he had no issues with it. I'm not sure his internet or tv provider is different though.

I appreciate your help and feedback. Will wait for more input. The one I used wasn't using an RF shield, so it could be night and day difference with it.
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I bet if you get one with the RF shield that will work. Go with a 600w dimmable and you will be very happy. Good luck.
 
Jimdamick

Jimdamick

Well-Known Member
Cable interference is usually caused by a "leaky" termination, like a splitter, which the cable company removed.
The digital ballast with RF blockers should be fine, but you can always use a magnetic ballast if you are very concerned.



I used a 250 watt, and it worked great, and in a tent it should be perfect, as it doesn't run that hot
 
ttystikk

ttystikk

Well-Known Member
OGsleepyhead said:
I got it from HTG a while ago. I'm not sure the name. It was dimmable and digital. Ended up selling it to a friend who was looking for an HPS. He mentioned he had no issues with it. I'm not sure his internet or tv provider is different though.

I appreciate your help and feedback. Will wait for more input. The one I used wasn't using an RF shield, so it could be night and day difference with it.
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Two things; first, it wasn't the light, it was the digital ballast operating at high frequency and interfering with the cable. The cable company will cut your service if you don't deal with it because it screws up service to everyone else's house too.

2. Your entire line of thinking regarding switching from LED to HPS is flawed on several levels. LED lights have much better spectrum and efficiency. If you can't grow good smoke with one, either you have a crappy LED light- a very common situation- or your environment is out of whack- also a very common situation.

You haven't mentioned anything about the size of your growing space or your goals. Knowing these could help us point you in the right direction regarding a good LED light.
 
OGsleepyhead

OGsleepyhead

Member
ttystikk said:
Two things; first, it wasn't the light, it was the digital ballast operating at high frequency and interfering with the cable. The cable company will cut your service if you don't deal with it because it screws up service to everyone else's house too.

2. Your entire line of thinking regarding switching from LED to HPS is flawed on several levels. LED lights have much better spectrum and efficiency. If you can't grow good smoke with one, either you have a crappy LED light- a very common situation- or your environment is out of whack- also a very common situation.

You haven't mentioned anything about the size of your growing space or your goals. Knowing these could help us point you in the right direction regarding a good LED light.
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I never said HPS was better than LED. That was in no particular order from worst to best. Would just like the chance to grow with one and see how different the outcome is. I didn't mention my growing space because it's not applicable IMO for a question regarding RF. My goal is to do a run with an HPS without the same issues as in the past.

At the moment I'm using two 400w Mars Hydros. They are older. I'm thinking of investing into better quality light and if I can't with HPS I will buy another LED light.
 
ttystikk

ttystikk

Well-Known Member
OGsleepyhead said:
I never said HPS was better than LED. That was in no particular order from worst to best. Would just like the chance to grow with one and see how different the outcome is. I didn't mention my growing space because it's not applicable IMO for a question regarding RF. My goal is to do a run with an HPS without the same issues as in the past.

At the moment I'm using two 400w Mars Hydros. They are older. I'm thinking of investing into better quality light and if I can't with HPS I will buy another LED light.
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Mars Hydro LED lights are and always have been cheap crap unworthy of comparison to quality lighting from a reputable source.

I can understand the attraction of trying HPS for the sake of nostalgia.
 
rkymtnman

rkymtnman

Well-Known Member
OGsleepyhead said:
I got it from HTG a while ago. I'm not sure the name.
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a better quality ballast would probably fix it. and a magnetic ballast would totally fix it.

but they do make a paint that will block the signal. i think it's called EMF paint if i remember correctly.

or you could build a cheap Farraday shield / cage in your grow room if it's really bad
 
OGsleepyhead

OGsleepyhead

Member
Thanks for all the help guys. Just wanted to double check before investing because I'm sure they'd get suspicious if it happened again. EMF paint or magnetic :)
 
A

Apalchen

Well-Known Member
You will be fine if you don’t go cheap. Whatever light you buy (I reccomend cmh over hps or led) just buy a quality light. If it’s from a quality manufacturer and it says it has rf shielding it most likely does. You just got unlucky the first time think about all the rest of us growing in places with cable also and majority have no problems. I have two cmh lights running in close proximity to my modem with no issues what so ever.
 
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