Air Conditioning Interference

[takepride]

I now have empirical proof that the florescent lighting does interfere with the air conditioners.

Even after replacing the inverter (Xantrex RS3000), the AutoGenStart and the AC control module (for thermostat control trigger), I continued to have problems with the AC not coming on and staying on while at my storage lot (only).

I leave the front-most florescent light on while in storage (with shoreline) to ward off evil spirits and thieves. My AC would keep cycling and the compressors would not operate. I have read of such happening in previous posts, but could not duplicate it immediately. I was slow to identify this since it only happened after the florescent had been left on overnight.

Today, after the AC failed to operate correctly, I shut off the light and the thermostat for five minutes. Then turned on the thermostat and after the normal 3 - 4 minute wait, viola! all better. I then tested it while leaving the florescent in the kitchen on without problems. I guess the light close to the front AC was able to confuse both AC units since they are using a low voltage data cable.

I think I'll try to shield the light next, but it might be a case of why bother?

Oh, and for those of you without florescents but with the new halogen spot lights.... I hate you!

[takepride]

I now have empirical proof that the florescent lighting does interfere with the air conditioners.

Even after replacing the inverter (Xantrex RS3000), the AutoGenStart and the AC control module (for thermostat control trigger), I continued to have problems with the AC not coming on and staying on while at my storage lot (only).

I leave the front-most florescent light on while in storage (with shoreline) to ward off evil spirits and thieves. My AC would keep cycling and the compressors would not operate. I have read of such happening in previous posts, but could not duplicate it immediately. I was slow to identify this since it only happened after the florescent had been left on overnight.

Today, after the AC failed to operate correctly, I shut off the light and the thermostat for five minutes. Then turned on the thermostat and after the normal 3 - 4 minute wait, viola! all better. I then tested it while leaving the florescent in the kitchen on without problems. I guess the light close to the front AC was able to confuse both AC units since they are using a low voltage data cable.

I think I'll try to shield the light next, but it might be a case of why bother?

Oh, and for those of you without florescents but with the new halogen spot lights.... I hate you!

[hrhuggie]

Yeah, but you dont have to put up with all that terrible heat that the halogens put out
Glad you found the source of your problem

[Dale777]

takepride,

You are right about the florescent light potentially being a problem. Specifically, the problem is with the ballast for the light creating RFI with the thermostat controller on the wall, possibly transferred through the wiring to the controller. Try replacing the ballast.

After I replaced the ballast on the light nearest the Dometic thermostat controller on my 2001 Alpine Coach, all the air conditioning problems disappeared.

[takepride]

Hey Dale,

I found my offending fixture was actually the one closest to the forward AC. It is only a few inches away. I can run the fixture closest to the thermostat without problem.

Since the interference is introduced to the system through the data cable, it affected the entire system, shutting off both the front and rear AC's. It also causes the thermostat to occasionally go blank.

I read elsewhere that shielding it may help. Likely a better ballast would work, too, though last time I went to change a Thinlite ballast, it ended up cheaper to replace the fixture (funky ballast).

BTW, I re-tested today and the problem can be re-created and re-solved.