Ballast questions.

[fflintstone]

The other day I picked up a screaming deal on some industrial 4’ 2 lamp florescent units.
The ballast on the one I opened up is a “universal lighting technologies” 446-L-SLH-TC-P.
Are these a good ballast?
Are there any known problems with them?
If I switch to a modern electronic ballast will I save much money?

The current plan after bench testing them is to use them as is until they burn up unless there is a good reason to switch them out.

I bought 9 fixtures with lamps in each along with over 50 extra lamps for $19.99! I love goodwill industries.

 

[Steevo]

That is a 120v ballast for (2) T12 lamps.
T12 is a dead technology, which will soon be hard to find.

 

[nehog]

That is a 120v ballast for (2) T12 lamps.
T12 is a dead technology, which will soon be hard to find.

I don't think with 50 spare bulbs he's going to worry one bit about "hard to find..."

OP--I think you have the best idea, use em as they are.

 

[Greatbear]

Seems like decent fixtures, similar to the channel mounts that I have all over my garage for the last 20 years. A few years ago I replaced all the ballasts in order to switch to T8 technology. I now have flawless light when it's below freezing. It would have cost me much more to rip out the 25 fixtures and replace them with new ones over getting a bulk-buy deal on ballasts and lamps.

Since you already have the extra bulbs, go ahead and use them as they are. You will probably have cold-starting issues with the T12s unless your shop is heated in the winter, however.

 

[trainer]

Put them up and see if you like them. If a ballast goes bad or starts buzzing you can change the ballast to newer technology.
t-8's use 1/3 less energy, but you probably not enough to notice on your power bill unless you have them on for very major hours.

 

[fflintstone]

Thanks for the replies.
I plan on running them as is for now.