T-12 to T-8 ballast swap

[PaulR]

I searched, could not find anything.
Not an electrician, but I've wired in some lights before, I'd rate myself a professional DIY hack.

Is this a straight forward swap? out with the old and in with the new? Any caveats I should be aware of?

I've got 4 - 4 bulb troffers I'd like to swap over.

TIA
Paul

 

[pattenp]

From what I've researched it looks like a simple swap. T8 bulbs will work in T12 sockets. So you switch out the ballast and put inT8 bulbs.

Google "convert t12 to t8" you'll find info.

 

[burleymike]

Just follow the wiring diagram on the new ballast and you are good to go. I have never had a problem on the 10 or so fixtures I have done. Some ballasts come with an instruction page that has a little more in depth diagram.

Here is a link to a typical 4 lamp ballast diagram.
http://www.advance.philips.com/eCatalog/out/2348525121.pdf

 

[hillbilly1]

The wire colors may not match with the new t-8 ballast, and you may have two ballast instead of one running the t-12 lamps, if you can understand wiring diagrams though, it is fairly easy to do.

 

[Interex]

We retrofit them all the time in the buildings I manage. Super easy! Nearly every ballast I've seen has a wiring diagram printed on them. I would recommend a voltmeter just to verify your hot and neutral leads. It's very straight forward.

 

[canbug]

If you are using the word "troffer". I would put you at least one notch above a DIYer.

Tim

 

[Falcon67]

troffer, troffer, troffer

X3 on the not a big deal thing - the ballasts have a clear wiring diagram, just wire it up and power it up. The ones I've used were so different from an older ballast replacement that the first was a bit of "say what?" but they work good.