Isolating fluorescent lights

[bdbdbuck]

I am going to convert my old gun shop into a studio. Currently, it has acoustic ceiling with 2x4 lay-in fluorescent lights. In order to insure that I don't get any hummmmm, how should I re-wire the feeds? I would like to keep the lay-ins. The big question here is...does the transformer create a "proximity" hum, or does it backfeed through the wiring? Any input would be helpful.

Thanks,
bd

 

[DigitalDon]

I think the problem has to do with the ballast of the fixture itself. There are 2 types of ballasts available - magnetic and electronic. If I remember right, the magnetic one is the noisiest. According to the brochure I saw at Home Depot the electronic ballast is 75% quieter (hum wise) than the magnetic. I'm sure there will still be some hum though. I plan on using the electronic type in the studio I'm building but they'll only be used during practice/rehearsal of my son's band. Much cheaper to run than incandescent. During recording, I'll be using track lights (incandescent). Hope this helped in some way.

DD

 

[Track Rat]

I would put the lights on their own breaker. That's the way I did mine.

 

[bdbdbuck]

Digitaldan,
Thanks for the track light suggestion, that is a good option that seems do-able.

Trackrat,
Having them on seperate breaker is enough isolation to do away with the hum? Nothing that you have noticed? Mine are already on a seperate breaker...that would be great if I could just proceed without re-wiring anything. I think I would put tracks in just for recording though.