Halides make Tv fuzzy

bmrescort

New member
I turned on my Metal Halides after getting my canopy on the tank and the TV started getting fuzzy and lines all thru it. Does this mean that I have to have them on a different circuit (which is what Im thinking or is there something here im missing. The TV and the tank are in the same room.
 
Magnets from the halides maybe?
if so i think this could be damaging to your tv.

recommend you move it right away until you figure it out!
 
I'ved lived with it for years. I used to get most of the local channels but since the Halides on icecap ballasts I get 9, 11 and sometimes 30 but they even have the lines and fuzz. I have the tank and lights all on seprate, grounded circuits. grounded the reflectors etc. So far no help. If you find a fix please share it with me. How I'd love to see channel 2,4 and 5 again!
 
First, try plugging the TV into another circuit using an extension cord, to see if it's actually travelling through the electrical circuit.

If so, one thing you may want to try is wrapping your TV's power cord with some choke cores from Radio Shack (the snap kind, not the toroid).

It may also help on the power cord from the ballasts. You may need a few. It may take some experimentation with where to put them as well as your power cord configurations (e.g. wrapped up tightly vs. stretched out), but I'vd had good luck getting rid of interference from various sources. Never had trouble with my MHs, but with various halogen lights in the same room.
 
Thanks for the advise, after posting I found a few links, many of the same that shooter ahd suggested and I will go home and try to figure some things out.
 
Back prop has the right idea, the fuzziness is caused from RFI, and EMI sent through the the power. your options would be to either plug it into a different circuit from the tv (cheapest, but only works if your CB is not run in series, most are not) second you could try the choke cores but they only typically eliminate small amounts of EMI and no elimination of RFI, third you could buy a clean power center for your tv(usually around 79 and above) this option has many benefits including extending life of your tv... but it is by far the most expensive if you can just move the cord.
 
Changing circuits will probably NOT solve the problem. I would try the aluminum foil method to block the RFI signal, if that doesn't work, you may have to try a capacitor on the Ballast. I will need to do more research on the capacitor fix, and let you know what I find out. You may also have problems if you are running the compact flourescent lamps or electronic ballasts in other flour. fixtures in your house. Electronic ballasts are good for energy efficiency, but they can really mess with your TV and radio reception.
 
Sometimes it's to do with whether your tv has a grounding plug or whether the ballast does; we had a grounding wire that was picking up passing aircraft and then one telly would suck up the interference and spit it on to another via the cable system, for what we could tell---unplugged, they would gradually lose the problem, then reaquire it. Try putting the tv on a UPS or power conditioning strip and see if that helps.
 
Kidding ! I tried hooking just the ballast up downstairs without plugging the light bulb into it and the problem did not happen with the TV. So that makes me think it is in the reflector. LOL funny thing is I did'nt try it with the light on DOOOOOOH ! Try again this evening when I get home.
 
Just out of interest, does yours get real crazy when lights first come on? My TV goes to entire static on the sound and picture for a few minutes when the lights are heating up. If I stand between the tank and tv, at just the right spot, it gets a little better but still not great, then clears some and sound returns once the lights are burning normally.
 
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