"Seasoning" ballasts

[L5wolvesf]

I tend to prefer BBQ seasoning. But seriously . . .

I picked up a Lithonia T12 fixture and was reading the trubleshooting section of the instructions. In 2 places it mentions "seasoning" (leaving on for 24 - 72 hours) of ballasts if there is a humm, blinking, of flickering.

Have any of you heard of this?

Thank you,
L

 

[theoldwizard1]

I thought all "modern" ballast were electronic ?

The purpose of a "ballast" is to limit the amount of current flowing thru the florescent tube, once the gas is "lit". After the gas lights, the resistance changes and it will draw too much current and burn out. Current limiting is pretty simple with modern electronics.

 

[MrMark]

No, but I've heard of seasoning the bulbs themselves by leaving them on for a week when new. I thought it was BS but apparently there is something behind it.

 

[nehog]

I think you are 'seasoning' the lamps not the ballasts. There is nothing in a ballast (either magnetic or electronic) that should change or need 'seasoning'!

 

[L5wolvesf]

The Lithonia T12 fixture instructions says to leave on for 24 - 48 hours "This allows for proper seasoning of the ballast"

L

 

[Greatbear]

Never heard of "seasoning" a ballast. However, most T12 and T8 lamps won't put out rated lumens until they have been installed and left on for a few hours. It's worse with the new green-end low Hg T8 tubes, the last batch I installed in the garage gave me dull pink light for at least 20 minutes before the light started to whiten and extend beyond the tube ends. Until the break in period, the lights were far dimmer than the originally installed tubes. Afterward, things were normal.

 

[nehog]

The Lithonia T12 fixture instructions says to leave on for 24 - 48 hours "This allows for proper seasoning of the ballast"

L

Would not be the first bit of BS found in an instruction manual!