Official Luthiers Forum!

A couple of weeks ago, the remote control for my Jet air cleaner stopped working. I changed the batteries and it still didn't work. Then when the air cleaner started coming on all by itself, it occurred to me that this started happening about the time I switched out the magnetic ballasts in my fluorescent fixtures for electronic ones. So I turned off the lights and tried the remote and sure enough, it worked.

I don't suppose anyone knows a way to fix this?

I wonder if my neighbor is wondering why his garage door opener isn't working?

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http://www.chassonguitars.com

Sounds like the electronic ballasts are generating RF interference that is jamming the signal from the remote and providing false triggers to your air cleaner. Check and see if you can change the code or frequency on your remote. Probably not but worth looking. Next step would be to contact customer service from the manufacturer and hope they're one of those that will respond and try to help.

One other thing. Did you properly ground everything when you installed the electronic ballasts?

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Steve Smith
"Music is what feelings sound like"

Yup!
Do you have any friends that are amateur radio guys ('hams')?
The search term for this is RFI (radio frequency interference).
Those 'electronic ballasts' (and the 'electronic power supplies' for 12v halogen lights) are notorious for RF interference.
Just use an old AM transistor radio or Walkman and go for a 'walkabout' and you will see the problem. I don't know why the FCC lets this interfering junk on the market....
My guess is that the ballasts are pumping RF back on to the power lines and that the wiring is radiating RF. The metal case of the fluorescent fixture is probably shielding the ballast OK. (I'm assuming that your remote control is working in RF (like a garage door opener), not IR-like a TV remote.)
MY first line of 'attack' would be to put some ferrites on the wiring for the ballasts (inside the fixtures).
These problems are soluble.

Cheers
John

What John says makes sense. If your remote is IR then I would be looking at the receiver module on the air cleaner.

We have pretty strict requirements for RFI/EMI from FCC and EC on the equipment we build. Sometimes it takes a fair amount of detective work to track those kinds of problems down but like John says, they can be solved.

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Steve Smith
"Music is what feelings sound like"

Thanks for the help.

As for grounding, my recollection is that there is no ground wire from the ballast itself. The ground from the supply is attached to the frame of the fixture (as is the ballast). I'd have to open it up to be sure but that's how I remember it.

As for ferrites on the wires, should I just bundle the wires together and tape a magnet or two to the bunch? I have a ton of those 3/4" round ceramic magnets around.

And while we're at it, the ballasts did get rid of that awful hummmmm but one of the 4 has an intermittent hum at a much higher pitch now. Usually I can wiggle the bulb and get it to stop but it seems to come back. Any thoughts on that?

Thanks again. I'm always impressed by all the areas of expertise represented around here.

_________________
http://www.chassonguitars.com

Ferrites are something different-not magnets. (There are different classes of ferrites for different frequencies, etc-it can get a bit complicated. RF suppression is a big topic for offshore boats as well, so if you know an offshore sailor with a SSB radio......)

If you have a junk TV monitor or older keyboard, you might find a clip-on ferrite on one of the wires - a plastic 'lump' with 2-pc. ferrite inside.

Cheers
John

The TV remote in my garage also turns on my air cleaner. I have to hold my hand beside the remote when I turn on the TV.