Cathode tubes interfering with electrical equipment!?

[VortX]

Today I discovered something that is worrying me greatly...

I have 3 UV cathode tubes in my new PC, and I am going to finish building it tomorrow.

However, when turning on the cathode tubes outside the case, one of them was laying next to my touch sensitive bedside light. When moving the cathode tube next to it, the light would turn on and off!

This is extremely worrying as 2 power supplies have died on me and I just realised the 2 PSUs that died were sitting right next to a cathode tube. After that tube dying, removing the tube and having a new PSU I haven't had any issues...

Is it possible that these tubes give out some kind of electromagnetic interference? I have tested it with both UV and normal blue cathode tubes and they all do the same thing. Surely if this is the case how in earth have these been approved for use inside a computer!?

For info sake they are Sharkoon cathode tubes.

 

[PhillyDee]

The inverters use high AC voltage from low DC voltage to power the tubes. Touch sensitive lights are sensitive to a lot of things, cathodes and CFL lamps are just two of them.

 

[VortX]

The inverters use high AC voltage from low DC voltage to power the tubes. Touch sensitive lights are sensitive to a lot of things, cathodes and CFL lamps are just two of them.

Is it safe to have them inside a computer though? I mean the lamp will turn on and off just by moving the CCFLs close to it. Surely the CCFLs can have the same effect on other electrical equipment, in my case the PSU?

 

[Akempster]

the PSU is sheilded anyway, any electromagnetic interferance would showitself with bluescreens as the signals rund the mobo and cpu get mixed up - as this isnt happening dont worry bout it. The way the incverters work causes them to produce a magnetic field stronger than most components which will cause this effect on touch sensitive equipment just remember that there is a stronger magnet in most PSU's than you will ever find in a Cathode inverter ^^

 

[Phoenixdancer]

Omg...

This real??

Since i put 6 tubes in my PC im getting random BSOD from GPU hardware... the Tubes are sitting above the cards

Is this my issue?!"!?!

 

[RobEves]

I have a UV cathode when i turn that on my monitor goes into standby mode. :S

 

[Ph4lanx]

The easy way to check, Phoenixdancer and RobEves, is to disconnect them and see if the problem persists.

 

[VortX]

Well I won't be risking it anyhow, not after the money I just spent on this thing. I think I will just buy some LED UV strips, see how they do.

 

[Akempster]

Well I won't be risking it anyhow, not after the money I just spent on this thing. I think I will just buy some LED UV strips, see how they do.

good move google what happens to inverters when they blow.