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Fluor Ballast question

0

0_Qed

Jan 1, 1970
0
Readership,

<?>
What are the pros/cons of running two(2) F20WT12 fluor bulbs on
an electronic ballast suited for two(2) F40WT12 bulbs.

The 'reason' I ask is that the only 'type' of replacement ballasts I can
find are magnetic-trigger ballasts for F20WT12 bulbs ...
less than 'good'.


Replies appreciated,
Ed.
 
S

SQLit

Jan 1, 1970
0
0_Qed said:
Readership,

<?>
What are the pros/cons of running two(2) F20WT12 fluor bulbs on
an electronic ballast suited for two(2) F40WT12 bulbs.

The 'reason' I ask is that the only 'type' of replacement ballasts I can
find are magnetic-trigger ballasts for F20WT12 bulbs ...
less than 'good'.


Replies appreciated,
Ed.

I have always been adverse to using equipment other than what it was
designed for.

Most electronic ballasts I have dealt with use T-8 lamps not T-12.

http://www.grainger.com/Grainger/productdetail.jsp?xi=xi&ItemId=1611593259&ccitem=

This ballast indicates that it will do F25 t-12 but not F20's

What does your ballast manufacture say for the one that you have.
(assuming)
 
0

0_Qed

Jan 1, 1970
0
Andrew Gabriel wrote:
....snip...
Those tubes are long obsolete in the UK (you might still find them
if you really hunt around). They were replaced with F18WT8 tubes
around 20 years ago. Given what you say about availability of
ballasts in the US, it sounds like something similar may be true
for you too. Why not take the opportunity of changing ballasts to
change over to current issue lamps?

2' fluor t12-bulbs/ballast/fixtures "seem" generally on the wain 'here'
..

As you 'suggest' ... time to move on.

Thanks for the advisory.
Ed
 
A

Andrew Gabriel

Jan 1, 1970
0
Readership,

<?>
What are the pros/cons of running two(2) F20WT12 fluor bulbs on
an electronic ballast suited for two(2) F40WT12 bulbs.

If these are the 2' 20W tubes, and the ballasts are ideal current
sources, it should work as the F20WT12 and F40WT12 tubes run at
the same arc current. However, if you operate the ballasts outside
their designed operating area, it's quite possible their current
regulation will not operate correctly and you might operate the
tubes outside their design or even safe operating area, and likewise
the ballasts. An example resulting failure could be that the ballast
will fail to detect end of lamp life when the electron emitting
coating is all sputtered off, and continue operating the tubes in
cold cathode mode, resulting in excessive overheating of the tube
ends with possible bad consequences for nearby materials. Really
you will need to put this question to the ballast manufacturer.
The 'reason' I ask is that the only 'type' of replacement ballasts I can
find are magnetic-trigger ballasts for F20WT12 bulbs ...
less than 'good'.

Those tubes are long obsolete in the UK (you might still find them
if you really hunt around). They were replaced with F18WT8 tubes
around 20 years ago. Given what you say about availability of
ballasts in the US, it sounds like something similar may be true
for you too. Why not take the opportunity of changing ballasts to
change over to current issue lamps?
 
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