Advice on how to fix lights

[Mr. Roboto]

Hey Guys,

I had a thread on here a while back about where there was some discussion about some flourescent lights I scored for free through my dads work that they were throwing out. The problem is they do not work at ALL in cold weather. Through the discussion, we determined that the wrong ballasts are installed in these fixtures, as they are actually made for running 4 foot bulbs.

Here is a picture of the light fixture, they take 2 8 foot long single pin bulbs:

And this it the ballast that is installed:

I need some advice on the best way to make these work together. Should I get new bulbs that will work with these ballasts? I was told I may have to switch to 4 foot bulbs, which would require new bumb holders to hold them as well. The other thing to consider is I have about 15 extra 8 foot bulbs currnetly as well.

Or am I better off finding the correct ballast to run the bulb setup I have? I was told the ballasts to run these may be hard to find. Or, is either solution going to cost more than it's worth - should I just buy all new light/ballast/bulb combos?

The last concern I have is that currently when my lights are on in the garage, my radio reception goes to **** - is this an effect of the ballast?

Thanks so much in advance for the help!

 

[Rookie2]

I would look on ebay for new ballasts to match your lamps and/lampholders. T8x 96" or T12x 96". Don't buy used.

 

[Mr. Roboto]

Good idea. I should be able to read the bulb to see if it is a T8 ot T12 correct?

 

[pattenp]

The ballast you have are not cold start. They are listed as 60F. For cold start with T8's or T12's you need a high output (HO) rated ballast and also HO lamps which will get it down to -20F.

 

[Mr. Roboto]

The ballast you have are not cold start. They are listed as 60F. For cold start with T12's you need a high output (HO) rated ballast and also HO lamps which will get it down to -20F.

OK I wasnt sure, it says 0F or 60F for a SS bulb, but I dont know what an SS bulb is.

 

[pattenp]

I see now. I didn't catch the range based on the lamp. Plus I had T12 on my mind. Standard T8 is usually 0F. But to get down to -20F, the HO ballast and lamps are needed for maximum cold starts.

OK I wasnt sure, it says 0F or 60F for a SS bulb, but I dont know what an SS bulb is.

 

[pattenp]

I forgot to say the radio interference (RFI) is because of the ballast. You need a residential consumer rated ballast to have the least amount of chance of creating RFI.

Your ballast look to meet the requirements for RFI limits for non-consumer but not comsumer.

Excerpt taken for Sylvania document...
EMI/RFI (electromagnetic interference/radio frequency interference): Electronic Ballasts contain circuits that limit electrical noise conducted onto the power line or radiated through the air, otherwise referred to as EMI/RFI. OSRAM SYLVANIA ballasts comply with FCC 47 CFR Part 18, non-consumer limits for commercial applications. Ballasts for residential applications must meet consumer limits. OSRAM SYLVANIA has magnetic ballasts and new QTR electronic ballasts for residential use.

 

[LS6 Tommy]

Those ballasts are for 4' bulbs. I'm surprised they worked at all. I may have ballasts for 8' single pins. How many do you need?

Tommy

 

[pattenp]

Well... duh. Good catch Tommy, I didn't even think to read the lamp listing. That is a big part of why they don't work right.

Those ballasts are for 4' bulbs. I'm surprised they worked at all. I may have ballasts for 8' single pins. How many do you need?

Tommy

 

[Mr. Roboto]

Those ballasts are for 4' bulbs. I'm surprised they worked at all. I may have ballasts for 8' single pins. How many do you need?

Tommy

That would be awesome! I have 10 of these installed in my garage.

 

[yeldogt]

I have them in the old part of my studio. Some are HO others regular. I was able to get a couple of the old style ballast from a supply house that was closing -- and some bulbs and sockets.

While they work well -- they are obsolete. My local supply house still caries a few items -- but I can't remember if it is the HO or the regulars that they no longer keep around ... and all of it has gone way up in price.

......... have T8's in the newer part and they are a better bulb -- more efficient .. and cheaper.

I would take stock of what you have and the cost of fixing all that you need - you may find that it is not worth using them. When I run out of bulbs (soon) I'm not going to keep them.

 

[Charles (in GA)]

The light from a non-HO lamp is not much. I had two of these over the workbenches, and removed them in favor of T5HO strips. I even had one new one with bulbs, never used, gave them all to the Habitat ReStore. Its an old warehouse next to the RR tracks. I think they installed them for more light, but they are ****.

T12 bulbs are 12/8 of an inch in diameter, thus 1½ inch diameter. T8 is 8/8 or one inch in diameter. T5 is 5/8 inch in diameter.

Pic is standard non-HO T12 96 inch lamps on the left, on the right is a new T5HO fixture. The lamps had not been used alot. In cold weather, they gave trouble starting and would not ever come up to temp so they operated properly. Lots of flickering. T5HO lamps are purple in the middle for a few minutes and come up to temp and operate normally, no matter how cold.

Charles

 

[Mr. Roboto]

Wow, looks like quite a difference. I think I need to ditch the old light setup, the more I read.

Do you guys think this is a good deal? Seems to be since they come with the bulbs.

http://nh.craigslist.org/for/4571785455.html

 

[ACDNate]

Wow, looks like quite a difference. I think I need to ditch the old light setup, the more I read.

Do you guys think this is a good deal? Seems to be since they come with the bulbs.

http://nh.craigslist.org/for/4571785455.html

$50 a fixture is pretty good.

 

[LS6 Tommy]

That would be awesome! I have 10 of these installed in my garage.

I checked the ballasts I have. Unfortunately I only have (4), they're magnetic and they're rated for 60* F minimum start temp. I don't think it would be worth the shipping costs when you can get electronic low temp ballasts locally & they'd probably be better for your RFI issue.

Tommy

 

[alfredeneuman]

$50 a fixture is a tremendous price....

But be sure to check if the ballasts are compatible with 120V.

 

[Rookie2]

High Bay is 20-40 ft. are you sure you want these ?
http://www.warehouse-lighting.com/warehouse-industrial/high-bay-lights/t5-fluorescent

 

[ACDNate]

High Bay is 20-40 ft. are you sure you want these ?
http://www.warehouse-lighting.com/warehouse-industrial/high-bay-lights/t5-fluorescent

"High Bay" varies by manufacturer and by specific product, 20-40ft isn't a hard rule. I've seen it referred to as 10' or higher, the lithonia fixtures I have say 12' or higher. No hard rule on what high bay is...

If you follow the link Rookie2 provided to a similar fixture
http://www.warehouse-lighting.com/store/p/7372-4-lamp-T5-High-Bay-Lighting-Fixture-120-277-volt.aspx

You'll see this one states

Suggested fixture mounting height 10FT-35FT mounting height.

 

[yeldogt]

One thing about the T5's -- they are bright .... go look at them first. I thing maybe too bright for some applications.

Charles -- Interesting lamp holders -- did you make them?