T5 ballast interrupting Radion?

Capt_Cully · 01/21/2016, 12:06 PM

I added a single 4 foot T5 to my hood. Only other lighting is 2 Gen 2 Radion Pros.

The ballast is at the back of the hood. It is a good 8-9" away from the Radions. The wiring is at least a foot away from the wiring to the Radion wires.

When the T5 kicks on, it causes the Radion to reset and cycle through its colors.

Any recommendations to clear up the interference?

Capt_Cully · 01/21/2016, 12:07 PM

gus6464 · 01/21/2016, 01:27 PM

How many wires are connected to that T5 ballast? It looks like a programmed start ballast but you only have 2 wires coming out of it. What ballast is it?

Capt_Cully · 01/21/2016, 01:44 PM

Illumination technologies. It's has solutions for 1 bulb or 2 bulb configurations. It is currently wired for a 1 bulb set up.

It's from Reefbrite.

gus6464 · 01/21/2016, 06:34 PM

Can't really see anything from the picture. Can you post one without the LEDs on and showing the connectors on the ballast and how its wired.

Capt_Cully · 01/21/2016, 06:42 PM

This is the ballast.

Capt_Cully · 01/21/2016, 06:44 PM

One wire runs to one end cap, the other wire runs to the other end cap. Pretty simple design. The 18/2 wires run along the back side of the inside of the hood. Then straight forward to the end caps. That it.

Capt_Cully · 01/21/2016, 06:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SoloGarth

gus6464 · 01/21/2016, 08:28 PM

K couple of things. Is the wire you are using on the ballast solid core 600v rated? Also how is the ballast grounded? Grounded to power wire or somewhere else?

Capt_Cully · 01/21/2016, 09:26 PM

Wire is solid. 18G. I'm sorry I don't see a voltage rating.

Grounded through power cord.

alton · 01/22/2016, 06:12 AM

You may want to try another brand? I had an electronic ballast for MH in my office and the radio interference was bad, changed to another brand and no issues.

gus6464 · 01/22/2016, 11:17 PM

Home depot carries Phillips advance centiums now in 4ft. They have 2 and 4 bulb versions. Best ballasts money can buy.

John Helm · 01/23/2016, 06:31 AM

Captain, I had the exact same problem with 2 retro-fitted t5 bulbs and my 2 Radions. The problem is that the t5 setup is interfering with the buttons on top of the Radion units. The weakness in the lack of shielding for these buttons is causing the issue, not the t5 bulbs or wiring themselves. After talking to Ecotech, they recommended that I connect the units to the software and disable the buttons. This worked perfectly and I've had no issues since, although I can't control the Radions with the buttons. No big deal for me though.

Mark426 · 01/23/2016, 07:18 AM

John has it right.

Capt_Cully · 01/23/2016, 08:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by John Helm

Captain, I had the exact same problem with 2 retro-fitted t5 bulbs and my 2 Radions. The problem is that the t5 setup is interfering with the buttons on top of the Radion units. The weakness in the lack of shielding for these buttons is causing the issue, not the t5 bulbs or wiring themselves. After talking to Ecotech, they recommended that I connect the units to the software and disable the buttons. This worked perfectly and I've had no issues since, although I can't control the Radions with the buttons. No big deal for me though.

Yes, I have not had time to do this yet, but I got the same response. I sincerely thank you for sharing your experience. Gives me confidence. Every time I try something different, it zaps the lights so ice been hesitating trying yet another "internet fix". I feel much more confident that that is the issue. Just need some time to actually do it.

Thanks again!

Capt_Cully · 01/25/2016, 06:08 PM

Worked like a charm.

01/21/2016, 12:06 PM	#1
Capt_Cully Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Syracuse, NY Posts: 13,574	T5 ballast interrupting Radion? I added a single 4 foot T5 to my hood. Only other lighting is 2 Gen 2 Radion Pros. The ballast is at the back of the hood. It is a good 8-9" away from the Radions. The wiring is at least a foot away from the wiring to the Radion wires. When the T5 kicks on, it causes the Radion to reset and cycle through its colors. Any recommendations to clear up the interference? __________________ People say cars are a bad investment. Those people don't have reef tanks. Current Tank Info: 120, Radion Gen 2 Pro x 2

01/21/2016, 12:07 PM	#2
Capt_Cully Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Syracuse, NY Posts: 13,574	__________________ People say cars are a bad investment. Those people don't have reef tanks. Current Tank Info: 120, Radion Gen 2 Pro x 2

01/21/2016, 01:44 PM	#4
Capt_Cully Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Syracuse, NY Posts: 13,574	Illumination technologies. It's has solutions for 1 bulb or 2 bulb configurations. It is currently wired for a 1 bulb set up. It's from Reefbrite. __________________ People say cars are a bad investment. Those people don't have reef tanks. Current Tank Info: 120, Radion Gen 2 Pro x 2

01/21/2016, 06:42 PM	#6
Capt_Cully Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Syracuse, NY Posts: 13,574	This is the ballast. __________________ People say cars are a bad investment. Those people don't have reef tanks. Current Tank Info: 120, Radion Gen 2 Pro x 2

01/21/2016, 06:44 PM	#7
Capt_Cully Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Syracuse, NY Posts: 13,574	One wire runs to one end cap, the other wire runs to the other end cap. Pretty simple design. The 18/2 wires run along the back side of the inside of the hood. Then straight forward to the end caps. That it. __________________ People say cars are a bad investment. Those people don't have reef tanks. Current Tank Info: 120, Radion Gen 2 Pro x 2

01/21/2016, 01:27 PM	#3
gus6464 Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Posts: 1,079	How many wires are connected to that T5 ballast? It looks like a programmed start ballast but you only have 2 wires coming out of it. What ballast is it?

01/21/2016, 06:34 PM	#5
gus6464 Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Posts: 1,079	Can't really see anything from the picture. Can you post one without the LEDs on and showing the connectors on the ballast and how its wired.

01/21/2016, 08:28 PM	#9
gus6464 Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Posts: 1,079	K couple of things. Is the wire you are using on the ballast solid core 600v rated? Also how is the ballast grounded? Grounded to power wire or somewhere else?

01/21/2016, 09:26 PM	#10
Capt_Cully Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Syracuse, NY Posts: 13,574	Wire is solid. 18G. I'm sorry I don't see a voltage rating. Grounded through power cord. __________________ People say cars are a bad investment. Those people don't have reef tanks. Current Tank Info: 120, Radion Gen 2 Pro x 2

01/22/2016, 06:12 AM	#11
alton Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Zuehl, Texas Posts: 4,460	You may want to try another brand? I had an electronic ballast for MH in my office and the radio interference was bad, changed to another brand and no issues.

01/22/2016, 11:17 PM	#12
gus6464 Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Posts: 1,079	Home depot carries Phillips advance centiums now in 4ft. They have 2 and 4 bulb versions. Best ballasts money can buy.

01/23/2016, 06:31 AM	#13
John Helm Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Central NJ Posts: 34	Captain, I had the exact same problem with 2 retro-fitted t5 bulbs and my 2 Radions. The problem is that the t5 setup is interfering with the buttons on top of the Radion units. The weakness in the lack of shielding for these buttons is causing the issue, not the t5 bulbs or wiring themselves. After talking to Ecotech, they recommended that I connect the units to the software and disable the buttons. This worked perfectly and I've had no issues since, although I can't control the Radions with the buttons. No big deal for me though.

01/23/2016, 07:18 AM	#14
Mark426 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: South Carolina Posts: 2,479	John has it right.

01/25/2016, 06:08 PM	#16
Capt_Cully Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Syracuse, NY Posts: 13,574	Worked like a charm. __________________ People say cars are a bad investment. Those people don't have reef tanks. Current Tank Info: 120, Radion Gen 2 Pro x 2