I have a blown LOA CF lighting fixture. The ballast is toast, however the bulb is brand new. Returning it isnt an option. The bulb is a screw in type CF, and is rated at 65 watts. Can I just wire up another electronic ballast to this bulb? If so, what should the ballast be rated at? Does it have to be 65 watts, or can it be more or less... I saw some 96 watt electronic ballasts somewhere.
My Blown out LOA...
- Thread starter Luca Brazzi
- Start date
Have you taken the lighting fixture apart and looked at the ballast. It might have the wattage rating you need to replace it stamped or printed on the case. Remember also that a new ballast must fit within the same space as the old one.
Well actually I was thinking that if I get a different ballast, I dont really need to put it in the same case... do I? couldnt I just remote it and wire it to the lamp socket (this is a screw in type CF).
But as far as the wattage goes... as long as the ballast I use is rated at or higher than the bulb I should be ok right? Are there issues as far as frequency of the electricity that I need to take into consideration? I know that there are electronic ballasts that actually drive the light using a frequency much higher (~20khz) than the 60hz from the line...
But as far as the wattage goes... as long as the ballast I use is rated at or higher than the bulb I should be ok right? Are there issues as far as frequency of the electricity that I need to take into consideration? I know that there are electronic ballasts that actually drive the light using a frequency much higher (~20khz) than the 60hz from the line...
I dont know, Id be worried that the lamp works at a custom voltage. Seems like a lot of risk to save $10...
Personally I would probably spend the money and buy a proper CF or fluorescent setup...
Personally I would probably spend the money and buy a proper CF or fluorescent setup...
Well the reason I wanted to use it was because for the size/wattage this light puts out quite a bit of light... however, it seems that LOA screwed up the ballast design.
Well... the bulb wouldnt have lasted very long anyways.
I have to replace mine about once a month because the bulb fades or burns out real quick.
The fixture always shuts off if I leave it on for more than 8 hours.
I have to replace mine about once a month because the bulb fades or burns out real quick.
The fixture always shuts off if I leave it on for more than 8 hours.
So your ballast remains ok... but the bulb blows out? On mine the light detection circuit on the ballast blew up. Maybe... with another ballast that doesnt drive the bulb as hard it would work. I havent actually measured the electrical signal coming from the ballast though... maybe I should try that. I still have one that I have never taken from the box, maybe I can plug that one in and measure the output signal of the ballast with my oscilliscope to see what the output voltage and frequency are. But then again, that wouldnt tell me what the current limitations are (which is most important on a fluorescent lamp).
AHEM... Is there an electrical engineer in the house?
AHEM... Is there an electrical engineer in the house?