Electronic Ballast ?

My conventional ballast gave me a lot of hum, so I replaced it with an electronic one. Didnt know that it is going to save me some electricity, but I like its instant operation when you switch it on.

We get them here for about $3 a piece from the 100% discount stores and super save stores which sell goods from China. And so far I have replaced 2 of my flourence fittings. Worked for few months and still ok so far.

Allen

So how much is 20% of the money that you have spent on electric power for the fluorescent lighting over the last 28 years?

Chris

"mowhoong"

** Do the math.

If an electronic ballast saves only 5 watts and has a life of 50,000 hours that means 250 kWh

Saves around $ 30 in electricity.

Then there is the saving in starters, say another $ 10.

Then there is the additional light output from running fluoro tubes at high frequency.

Plus longer tube life, as the start up process is not near so harsh as a bi-metal stater.

** Bet you have replaced a good few starters.

...... Phil

Hi Phil, thanks to members's reply. Some bought it at only $3/- it could be simple circuit without noise filter.etc. But additional light output may result your end terminal get blacken easily.

As it happens, I spent yesterday installing a custom noise exposure booth at a Major Metropoitan University. The booth had to fit into a former single-stall shower room, but the overhead light needed to be repositioned to do this.

The "industrial" light appeared to be 3 compact fluorescent U-tubes in a cluster; don't know what watt rating, but they were pretty hot to touch when running. The surprising thing was that they had tiny conventional ballast transformers, one for each tube, that were *very* hot.

Surely, if this light had been installed to save energy, the ballasts weren't doing their share!

Bob Masta D A Q A R T A Data AcQuisition And Real-Time Analysis

Scope, Spectrum, Spectrogram, Signal Generator Science with your sound card!