I am encountering a problem with static in my radio that is apparently caused by flourescent light fixtures in my workshop, and am seeking advice as to any options that I have for eliminating it. Here is some background:
1 - The static occurs in both battery powered radio headphones that I wear inside, as well as the shop "boom box". These are two completely different radio systems.
2 - The static stops when the flourescent lights are turned off.
3 - The radio is on a different circuit from the lights.
4 - The light fixtures and bulbs are new (last 3 months), and are T8 4 bulb (4' bulb) 8' flourescent fixtures with electronic ballasts. There are 10 fixtures.
5 - All fixtures are grounded, but not the ballasts directly (have been advised that gounding the ballast will increase the static, not reduce it). The ballasts are grounded indirectly via their attachment to the steel housing that is grounded.
6 - The fixtures are suspended about 30" from a 15' ceiling.
7 - The shop radio is located underneath the fixtures, about 9' away from them.
8 - The static occurs in the radio headset (Peltor Alert model), even 50' away from the flourescents.
9 - On the shop radio, the static is only notable on the weaker stations (such as the local classical radio station).
10 - The main shop floor is 50' x 60', with the personal woodshop portion occuping a space of about 20' x 30' in one corner. The T8's hang above the personal woodshop, the rest of the shop is lit by 400 watt low bay metal halide fixtures. One string of the MH's (there are two strings) also has 4 T8 fixtures attached to it.
Does anybody have any experience with eliminating radio static caused by flourescent fixtures, and can share some advice?
Thanks much.
Scott