Is my ballast shot?

[roofster]

On a couple of my T12 florescent fixtures only 1 buld lights. One of them is going out altogether peroidically. When I switch the bulbs to other fixtures they work fine but no change in the bad fixtures. Could I have a loose wire or are the ballasts just going bad?

 

[kbs2244]

Either one.

Open them up and tighten up all the screws.
Check the wire nuts.

Try them out.

If it still fails it is ballast time.

 

[D KRAGER]

Most likely the ballast. They are only making the old magnetic ballast til June. I would replace the ballast with the newer electronic style for the t-8 bulbs while you are doing it. The tombstones (bulb sockets) are the same for t-8 and t-12, so you don't have to change those.

 

[tfi racing]

I agree with the ballast being finished.Unless you have a stockpile of T12 lamps to still use up,upgrade to the T8 ballast and lamps.

 

[Number22]

I agree with the ballast being finished.Unless you have a stockpile of T12 lamps to still use up,upgrade to the T8 ballast and lamps.

Exactly what I was going to say. T8s/T12s fit into the same sockets, so if you're buying a new ballast anyway, that's all you need to "convert".

 

[Mr_fixit]

Most likely the ballast. They are only making the old magnetic ballast til June. I would replace the ballast with the newer electronic style for the t-8 bulbs while you are doing it. The tombstones (bulb sockets) are the same for t-8 and t-12, so you don't have to change those.

Yes but the wiring is completely different!

 

[Number22]

Yes but the wiring is completely different!

Just follow the diagram printed on the top of your fancy new electronic ballast. I just replaced several old magnetic ballasts with some Sylvania electronic ones. They were only like $18 each and the wiring was simple 2 wire input, and one or two wires to each bulb socket. 15 minute job. World of difference in performance, better light, less energy, and completely silent.

 

[D KRAGER]

Yes but the wiring is completely different!

The only difference is on the T-12 there are two wires going to each tombstone. Those get tied together on a T-8 ballast and then just match up the colors and follow the diagram.

 

[NRChopshop]

This only making T12s until June is ****. Do you know how many signs and lighting fixtures out there....including Government owned...that use HO t12s?

Magnetic ballasts will no longer be available...yes. I dont blame them. Electronics have taken over and for good reason. T12 replacement lamps will be available for commercial, industrial, and residential replacement for the foreseeable future.

 

[D KRAGER]

This only making T12s until June is ****. Do you know how many signs and lighting fixtures out there....including Government owned...that use HO t12s?

Magnetic ballasts will no longer be available...yes. I dont blame them. Electronics have taken over and for good reason. T12 replacement lamps will be available for commercial, industrial, and residential replacement for the foreseeable future.

Replacements for signs are still going to be available after June. Just nothing for anything else.

Yea it seems really stupid to go away from something that has worked fine for many years. They claim it's gonna save so much energy. Whatever, how much labor and money is it gonna cost to eventually change to the new style. Kind of like the digital TV issue........ Don't get me going ........

I've heard bulbs will be available til at least 2012.

 

[tfi racing]

T12 magnetic ballasts will not be sold or manufactured in Canada after June 2010,I beleive the lamps will be available for as long as the manufacturers feel like it is worth their while to produce them.Anyways,T12's will be history in the next few years,so either stock up on them or start converting as the old ones quit.You will save money on energy,for example,if one had 300 stores with 2000 lamps each across the country-the savings are massive,too bad for us residential users it will likely take 100 years of use for that investment in T8's to pay us back!

 

[Number22]

I don't have a problem with them stopping making magnetic ballasts, I will fully support that! Availability of bulbs is a completely different issue. Swapping a magnetic for an electronic ballast is quick and easy, more efficient, better lighting, no noise, and will probably last much longer...and have longer bulb life. If some business needs to convert their sign from T12s to T8s it won't be very hard...and if they were a good business they'd do it anyway.

Magnetic ballasts are about as useful as Michael Jackson.

 

[z28snksknr]

So I can just swap out my T12 ballasts to T8 (and correct wiring as required) and still use the same bulbs or do I have to buy T8 bulbs as well?

 

[D KRAGER]

So I can just swap out my T12 ballasts to T8 (and correct wiring as required) and still use the same bulbs or do I have to buy T8 bulbs as well?

Yes, you have to switch the bulbs also to T-8's.

It might run the T-12 bulbs but won't be the correct light output.

 

[Number22]

You could try the T12 bulbs until they burn out. I had an old 4 tube fixture that I thought was a T8...because it had T8 bulbs in it. When I opened it up to replace the ballast with an electronic one...I realized it was a T12 fixture/ballast...lighing up the T8s just fine. (though not nearly as good as an electronic ballast!)

 

[LameBolus]

I'd like to hi-jack this thread if you all will humor me.

Just purchases some T-8 ballasts to retrofit my lights. I needed a 2 lamp 4' ballast and HD had 2 models. I picked up the "high performance" version which was like 5$ more. The other was a residential model. Well, as I actually read the instructions, the high performance models states 'commercial install only, not for residential.' So my question....should I install these my detached garage/workshop/gym? or should I go and get the residential/cheaper version? Any pro/cons for one ballast vs the other?

 

[WinFred]

good chance the tombstones are oxidized..
at least spin the bulb a few times while installed to scrape away the oxidation...