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Installed an 8' two bulb fixture about 6 (,aybe 8) months ago. The bulb ends were flickering and getting dark. New bulb time. I purchase two new ones, install them only to find how 'dim' they are. Hm..figured I picked up those shop-light bulbs that light up only gray things. So I get two that are 'color-Tones' and it appears that they're getting dimmer almost with every use! How can I check the ballast to see if that's not going bad?
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the old ballasts were meant for preheat, preheat rapid start. newer ones a super saver etc. less energy same output.
ballast nomenclature is something like F96T12, RS/SS means for a 96 inch bulb, T12 base single pin or bi-pin, rapid start, super saver.
output is 750 ma at about 1000 volts
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Thanks, HayZee. SInce it was less than a year old fixture, I thought most any single pin bulb would work. Will go to Menard's and purchase the exact same nomenclature bulbs to replace.Comment
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"output is 750 ma at about 1000 volts" That would be 750 watts! I think your zeroes are misplaced.
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Open circuit volts... to start the lamp.. if its a standard "slimline" they use a high voltage to fire across the tube to get it going... voltage will be around a grand... Current sounds about right..Comment
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Haven't gone to Menard's yet, but the lights are getting dimmer each time they're used. They're on for only few minutes a night. The fixture and lamps didn't even last a year. Pitiful.Comment
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I find ADVANCE ballasts to be the most dependable. Sylvania and Phillips make one but I never had any problems with Advance. Newer ones are all electronic that means no more tar gunk if they leak. Sealed with epoxy two part.Comment
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This is a Radionic ballast for (2) T12/96" lamps. The tag says there's an output of 1,000 V between the red and white wires. Well, my little VOM doesn't go quiite that high. So I'll be making a trip tomorrow to Menard's and maybe even to HD and Lowe's. If possible, I can find Advance ballast at one of those places and just replace that. Two new bulbs didn't last two weeks, so I think it's definatley the ballast.Comment
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I agree with HayZee, Advance makes a ballast thats pretty hard to beat! Even the ones they make for H.I.D lighting are EXTREMELY reliable as well.
I have had very few problems with anything by Phillips as well. They make both a good ballast and quality lamps as well.
I will say for sylvania ( just personal opinion though) that they should be avoided.. on many an occasion I have had dud ballasts and lamps right "out of the box", or have had them fail shortly after for no reason, in one case, there was an explosion of a typical "floodlight" type lamp!
Also, I have found that some of their ballasts are not the same dimensions as some of the other manufacturers of the "same" ballast (H.I.D usually) that makes for a royal pain when doing service work!
This is just my opinion though!
A.DComment
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Picked up an Advance unit from Lowes today along with two new lamps. When comparing the schematic on it with the original one in the fixture I found them to be the same. But... after looking at the ACTAULL wiring setup I found it wsa pretty botched up. I (the installer!!) had merely connecte the house leads to the apparent black/whites. Well, the ballast is wasted aas are the bulbs that were used on it. Oh well, I learned (finally) to not trust what comes from the store as being correctly done. Is there any reason as to not throw out that no-good ballast in the trash? Is there any hazardous stuff like in the old ones?Comment
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If it is a magnetic ballast, there may be PCB's in it. A residential consumer is probalby under no obligation to do anything other than put it in household trash. However, most communtiies today have recycling and hazardous waste disposal programs available for residents. Commercial properties are supposed to collect their old ballasts in a pail which is sent to a hazmat disposer. Same is true for all fluorescent bulbs, unless they are "Alto", ECO, etc. (low mercury)Comment
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All flourescents use a bit of mercury to form the arc-over path. flourescents are under high vacuum so they implode violently. when they do they release their mercury into the atmosphere and so are classed as haz-mat. the phosphor coating, the part that glows white or pink may be hazardous as well. It's like a chalky substance don't touch it. What we used to do is drive a sharp nail into the end of a flourescent and puncture the glass envelope. You could hear the air being sucked into it, then if the tube broke, it wouldn't send glass all over the place.Comment
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Thanks for the info on that stuff. Will act accordingly....Comment
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