Calling EE's: Electrical phenomenon explanation requested!

[Qbranch]

So... I'm calling the concesus on my luminary phenomena that my flourescent lamp starter induced a current in the lamp's body which spooked the capacatince change detection circuit.

Cool! *goes back to experimenting with how far the bank lamp can be from the flourescent*

-q

[DonRotolo]

Originally Posted by Qbranch

*goes back to experimenting with how far the bank lamp can be from the flourescent*

Also vary the relative orientation of the two lamps - parallel will have a greater effect (=distance) than perpendicular.

The induced current from the old lamp into the new is indeed being treated like a change in capacitance by the touch lamp controller.

Now try it with electrical shielding betwen the two (e.g., aluminum foil) and then magnetic shielding (steel or some other metal that conducts 'magnetism') - what's the effect then? What does this tell you as to whether the phenomenon is electrical or magnetic in nature?

Don

[Al Skierkiewicz]

I think thee is something more simple going on here. The touch sensor by design is a very high impedance and as such is sensitive to electrical noise. As the starter tries to pulse the ballast in the old lamp, a noise pulse is produced. The noise travels through the air and false triggers the touch sensor. I bet the same effect will be had during cold dry months with static discharge.