Do fluorescent lights affect digital scales?

[rijndael]

Lightning will jump right through a power switch. If that's a serious concern, you need to unplug the scale.

I'm not concerned with direct strikes.

 

[Cassidy]

I have a desk lamp over my reloading table with a 8" circular fluorescent tube that provides illumination for my reloading. The fluorescent tube is positioned about 22" above my Chargemaster 1500. Last evening after warming up the Chargemaster for about 30 minutes and calibrating it per the manual, with the fluorescent light on I weighed a 1 gram reference standard weight (which is 1000 mg and 15.4 grains), and the Chargemaster 1500 scale showed 15.4 gr. I turned off the Chargemaster and fluorescent light, waited about 2 hours, then repeated the above process with the fluorescent light off. The Chargemaster 1500 scale again showed 15.4 grains. This information suggests this fluorescent light has no effect on the Chargemaster 1500. All comments are welcome.

 

[D-4297]

Ask 500 loaders , and you'll get 500 answers . I load with a Gem Pro 250 , and there are four Fluorescent tubes ( two fixtures ) approx. eight feet above my bench . I've check the Gem Pro against two different battery powered scales , and found no difference in loads , checked at random . I do run the scale through a surge protector power bar and have two of the recommended "sinks" on the power line to the scale .

 

[Doom]

Analog electronics were very susceptible to all kinds of interference. Digital equipment is much less susceptible but it is not totally immune. Its easy check. Calibrate with the suspected equipment on. Check the measurement. Turn the equipment off and place the calibration weight on the scale. You will have your answer.

Most interference will cause fluctions in reading, not a constant offset.

 

[Longtrain]

I had 5 four foot fluorescent light banks in my cellar, they drove my scales crazy. I switched them all out to 2200 LM 4’ LEDs and the problem went away. They give anout 90 watts of light. They daisey chain together and burn at about 20 watts each.

 

[Coyotefurharvester]

Easy way to determine if you have interference, ferrite rfi, emi clip ons, put them on your AC cords. If drift, zero shift stops you have/had radio or magnetic interference. A set is 10 bucks. And you can isolate were the problem is originating from.