RF noise from flourescent lights

[Gene Arnold]

I just returned from another trip with the trailer. When a florescent light is turned on the RF noise makes it impossible to hear much of anything on the AM radio band (Alpine car stereo). I don't know why I've put up with this so long (ever since I bought the trailer in 1999) but I'm sick of it! Anybody have a filter they can recommend? Maybe another solution?



Gene

 

[jelag]

Do you have an external antenna on your radio... I found that the noise or RF from the lights was because my radio was straining to get the radio signal, once I connected my AM, FM, CD player to and external antenna it went away... .

 

[Gene Arnold]

Jim,



Yes, I have an external antenna.

 

[Ragain]

Next time you go by a CB shop on the road, stop in and grab a power supply in-line filter for your radio/stereo. Is your flourescent fixure a 12 volt? The filter may not completely suppress the noise, but will help considerably. Sometimes the inverter in your RV can make noise on AM/FM radio's also.

 

[jelag]

Gene... I'm at a loss, my external antenna fixed my problem... could you have a bad connection or damage to the cable???

 

[Hincka]

Have you removed the buld and reinstalled it? Sometimes if not in nice and tight, you can get a tiny little arc and it can cause RF noise. I have also seen ballast connections that are not tight cause RF problems. Get a small AM handheld radio and move it around the light, it might help pinpoint where the actual problem is coming from.