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Re: Florescent lighting

To: shop-talk@autox.team.net
Subject: Re: Florescent lighting
From: Derek <dereklola@yahoo.com>
Date: Tue, 2 Mar 2004 14:25:02 -0800 (PST)
Wayne

Not directly answering your question but directly related:

Current T12(?) fluorescent tubes will become obsolete in
next few years because of their mercury content and
environmental disposal problems. They will be replaced by
thinner T8(?) non-mercury tubes. These are brighter (for
same wattage) and "instant-on" (what a delight) but require
electronic ballasts designed for them, not same as T12
ballasts. The good news is that you can use the same 2-pin
end fittings (not sure of you have these).

How did I find this out - our kitchen lights stopped
working on Dec 23 - great timing eh? House was built six
years ago and stupid electrician used T8 ballasts with T12
tubes. That's a no-no. After several tries I finally found
out the above and bought t8 ballasts and tubes. Both SO and
I are delighted and cooking is much better!

Suggest you give this changeover serious consideration.
Hopefully some lighting expert will also chime in.

Derek

--- Wayne Farrington <w.farrington@verizon.net> wrote:
> 
> I've about had it with the lighting in my shop. I have
> twenty, twin
> tube, 8ft. florescent fixtures on two separate circuits.
> Many of these
> fixtures are connected (hardwired) together end to end,
> and hung from
> chains from the tall ceiling. Some are surface mounted
> under the
> mezzanine.
> 
> These are the cheap, single pin fixtures. They make a
> tremendous amount
> of noise. Worse when cold, but still unbearable when
> warm. I don't know
> if it is the particular frequency that these things are
> humming at but
> it drives me up the wall. I can hardly stand to be in the
> building for
> very long. You can tell when the lights in the shop are
> on right when
> you pull in the driveway, as your radio signal gets wiped
> out right
> away. I've tried changing ballasts, bulbs etc. These
> lights just plain
> suck.
> 
> I would like to replace these with the electronic ballast
> type. I'd
> really rather not have to dismount all these fixtures.
> I'm hoping there
> is some sort of retrofit kit that would provide the
> ballast and the end
> connecters, and I can use the same fixture shell. I
> realize this will be
> expensive, but I've got to get this fixed.
> 
> Has anyone done something like this or know of any kits?
> 
> Wayne






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