[PVRCNC] Fluorescent lighting

[Jim Jordan K4QPL]

Thanks to everyone for their input and advice on this subject. Following up
on one idea to use the easy return policy of the DIY stores, for comparison
at Home Depot I bought the lowest price magnetic ballast 2 x48" strip light
and the "power saving"  next level up. Both use the large 40 W tubes, not
the thin 32W type. I also bought  pairs of Phillips cool white and Phillips
warm white tubes. These fixtures are NOT the "shoplight" versions which have
no "iron" ballast at all.

I left them ungrounded and the cover off on the theory that would most
likely be the worse case for rf noise.

I used my wide coverage Yaesu VX-7R HT as a test probe between 540Khz and
30Mhz. (Probably the only thing below 2M this radio is good for!)

Results were surprisingly similar, and good, with both fixtures. Noise was
loud at 540khz and detectable up to about 8' away, falling off as you go up
in frequency. At 1.8mhz about half the strength of 540khz, and disappearing
with the rubber duck about 4' from the fixture. Only detectable at 3.5mhz
with the probe almost touching the tube. On higher bands noise was
imperceptible even with the probe moved all over the fixture. The more
expensive unit /seemed/ to be slightly noisier, but the pattern was
basically the same and not significant. Tubes used made no difference.
Grounded with the case closed, and with the possible exception of 160M, the
present day commercial fluorescent strips are unlikely to be a source of RF
noise unless a component fails.

What was interesting was the spec sheet glued to the ballasts. For the same
40W tubes, the more expensive "Energy Saver Mark III" ballast listed the
"line current" at approximately .1A HIGHER than the standard rapid start
ballast in the cheaper unit! I'm not an E.E., but given a fixed 120V input,
I can't understand how one can save energy by drawing an extra tenth of an
amp. And comparing $17.29 vs. $13.00 x 18 units, I'll just put the $75
savings in my pocket and not worry whether it's deceptive advertising or
not. I also feel more comfortable going with the reports from many of you
that the non-electronic is less likely to cause rf interference, even though
with my not very scientific test the difference was minimal if it existed at
all.

Thanks again and 73,

Jim, K4QPL