I have an all glass dual tube 36" fixture I use over my 55 which I currently have down for remodeling (moved the occupants to my new 100 while I'm remodeling so they can break in that tank.)
One thing that had bugged me about this fixture was taht when I would turn it on the front tube would come on, but the back one wouldn't. If i rotated the tube a little either way it would come on. Needless to say this wreaked havoc with that tank getting regular lighting. I decided it was probably the ballast, so I'd replace it.
I had done this recently to resuscitate a "dead" 110w CF fixture i got for free, so figured it couldnt be that hard. I also figured it MIGHT be the rear receptacles so I picked up a replacement pair at the store. (home depot)
It had two starters so I figured both tubes had thier own starter, but I dont like those so I decided to upgrade it to an electronic auto-start ballast.
I picked up a GE ballast at home depot for $23. It was capable of supporting up to three lamps. So I figured it would push this fine, and new receptacles for $1.50.
I get home, pop it open to find TWO ballasts. One running each bulb, each small.
I pop both out and put the one big one in, wire it up to the two bulbs and test. POOF problem solved, and no longer using starters, yay team SKippy!.
Then I get to thinking, which usually ends me up in trouble... a couple tin snips later I had mounted the new THIRD set of receptacles to the hood, wired them in and put in a spare bulb I had.
It actually worked!, so now the 55w will be upgraded from 60w to 90w. All for under $25.
I just had to tell that story. Surprisingly easy to do.
One thing that had bugged me about this fixture was taht when I would turn it on the front tube would come on, but the back one wouldn't. If i rotated the tube a little either way it would come on. Needless to say this wreaked havoc with that tank getting regular lighting. I decided it was probably the ballast, so I'd replace it.
I had done this recently to resuscitate a "dead" 110w CF fixture i got for free, so figured it couldnt be that hard. I also figured it MIGHT be the rear receptacles so I picked up a replacement pair at the store. (home depot)
It had two starters so I figured both tubes had thier own starter, but I dont like those so I decided to upgrade it to an electronic auto-start ballast.
I picked up a GE ballast at home depot for $23. It was capable of supporting up to three lamps. So I figured it would push this fine, and new receptacles for $1.50.
I get home, pop it open to find TWO ballasts. One running each bulb, each small.
I pop both out and put the one big one in, wire it up to the two bulbs and test. POOF problem solved, and no longer using starters, yay team SKippy!.
Then I get to thinking, which usually ends me up in trouble... a couple tin snips later I had mounted the new THIRD set of receptacles to the hood, wired them in and put in a spare bulb I had.
It actually worked!, so now the 55w will be upgraded from 60w to 90w. All for under $25.
I just had to tell that story. Surprisingly easy to do.
