Questions about starters and ballast

[konisaan]

I have no experience in this area. I recently purchased some light fittings, but I need to purchase circular tubes, ballast and starters.

I saw some all in one kits (not that I want to buy one of these) where there was a special ballast that (apparently) didn't require a starter. I don't know if these are any better or worse than those that require a starter.

1. Are there different grades of ballast and starters? If so could someone please recommend a combination that has the longest life and doesn't start buzzing after six months.

2. Do I use the same ballast for 32W and 22W tubes (there is less space for ballast etc in a 22 what light fitting)?

[Crossy]

You have to get the right ballast for the tube, starters tend to be 'universal', buying as a kit is the easiest way to get a compatible set of bits.

If you have the budget get electronic ballasts, no starters to fail, use less power, extend tube life. Oh and they don't buzz.

You could also consider going straight to LED, innards for the circular fittings are becoming affordable.

[konisaan]

You have to get the right ballast for the tube, starters tend to be 'universal', buying as a kit is the easiest way to get a compatible set of bits.

If you have the budget get electronic ballasts, no starters to fail, use less power, extend tube life. Oh and they don't buzz.

You could also consider going straight to LED, innards for the circular fittings are becoming affordable.

From memory, 'normal' ballast was around 150 baht. How much dearer are electric ones?

[Crossy]

Lamptan 32W electronic ballast 169 Baht from HomePro (normally 245 Baht).

http://www.directtoshop.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/en/directtoshop/ballast-electronic-32w-lamptan-p137301

Or go LED for 549 Baht

http://www.directtoshop.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/en/directtoshop/led-lamp-circle-cgbu-pc18w-led-pan-3-pemco-p1035888

or 399 Baht

http://www.directtoshop.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?urlRequestType=Base&catalogId=10051&categoryId=&productId=140612&errorViewName=ProductDisplayErrorView&urlLangId=-1&langId=-1&top_category=&parent_category_rn=&storeId=10001

or even 299 Baht

http://www.directtoshop.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/en/directtoshop/led-lamp-circlecgbu-pc18w-pan-dl-set-pemco-p1035958

[konisaan]

If I could get 2000+ lumens out of an LED (32 watt fluoro substitute) then I would go LED.

[Sealbash]

Lamptan 32W electronic ballast 169 Baht from HomePro (normally 245 Baht).

http://www.directtoshop.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/en/directtoshop/ballast-electronic-32w-lamptan-p137301

Or go LED for 549 Baht

http://www.directtoshop.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/en/directtoshop/led-lamp-circle-cgbu-pc18w-led-pan-3-pemco-p1035888

or 399 Baht

http://www.directtoshop.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?urlRequestType=Base&catalogId=10051&categoryId=&productId=140612&errorViewName=ProductDisplayErrorView&urlLangId=-1&langId=-1&top_category=&parent_category_rn=&storeId=10001

or even 299 Baht

http://www.directtoshop.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/en/directtoshop/led-lamp-circlecgbu-pc18w-pan-dl-set-pemco-p1035958

Sir,

I have had minimal (read "0") experience with on line shopping in Thailand. Are the products shown on your post quality? And do you actually receive what is advertised?

Signed

Cautious

[Crossy]

Direct to Shop is the online branch of HomePro, you can check stock of any item at your local store before heading there to purchase, no need to buy online if you don't want to.

[Tywais]

If you have the budget get electronic ballasts, no starters to fail, use less power, extend tube life. Oh and they don't buzz.

Myself, I wouldn't recommend electronic ballasts at least in Thailand. We replaced our facilities conventional ballasts with all electronics and the failure rate is much higher. We had one major power glitch that took out nearly a third of them. If you are in a power stable area you may be ok.

[RichCor]

If you have the budget get electronic ballasts, no starters to fail, use less power, extend tube life. Oh and they don't buzz.

Myself, I wouldn't recommend electronic ballasts at least in Thailand. We replaced our facilities conventional ballasts with all electronics and the failure rate is much higher. We had one major power glitch that took out nearly a third of them. If you are in a power stable area you may be ok.

+1

Also, the cheaper electronic ballasts fixtures sold here tend to be unsealed, so can be adversely affected by moisture as well.

On the plus side, electronic florescent fixtures are lighter weight and quick and easy to replace.

[curtklay]

The electronic ballasts work well for me. No more of that annoying buzzing, and when I replace a bulb, I don't have to deal with that plug-in socket that holds the starter crumbling in my hand.

[LindaLovelace]

I have had no problems with electronic ballasts. They are also instant on -- no delay like you get with a transformer ballast.

As for bad luck with them, just don't buy the cheap ones; get a good name brand like Panasonic, etc. I bought some cheap CFL bulbs a few years ago (thinking they were all the same) and they lasted about two months. I replaced them with a Japanese name brand and they have been going strong ever since.

Another thing. A friend just had his TV equipment upgraded to full digital. He was getting interference in the signal. It took him a long time to figure the problem, but it turned out to be electromagnetic interference from transformer ballasts. After he changed them to electronic, the problem disappeared. I know nothing about the technology involved here. I only know, (1) with transformer ballasts on his lighting, he had interference with his digital TV, and (2) changing to electronic ballasts cured the problem.

Finally, you can get some protection against power spikes (not a direct lightning strike) by installing a whole house surge protector like the Schneider QO-SPD-225, which just pops into your Schneider panel. Given the fact that practically everything contains electronics these days, some sort of protection is a good idea.

[IMHO]

@OP: just get LED and be done with it all, and don't have to revisit it again for 10 years

[james.d]

Sorry to tag onto an old thread, we have 1 bedroom without light now, I tried a new circular tube and blue starter but still off so I am guessing its the ballast.

Are their better quality ballast worth driving further for or nowadays much of the same?

 

Many thanks.

[bankruatsteve]

Make sure not something else... switch working?  power getting to the light?  I recently ended up changing out a light fixture only to discover a loose connecting giving intermittent power.

[tjo o tjim]

Just replace it with LED (after checking that you have power).  

[sometimewoodworker]

7 hours ago, james.d said:

Sorry to tag onto an old thread, we have 1 bedroom without light now, I tried a new circular tube and blue starter but still off so I am guessing its the ballast.

Are their better quality ballast worth driving further for or nowadays much of the same?

 

Many thanks.

There are better ballasts, as has already been said if you read the thread, but do make sure that you have power to the unit as it could be the cable that has been damaged.

[doctormann]

Fried ants in the switch?  Been there and done that!

[johng]

Fried ants make amazingly good electrical insulation.

[Crossy]

Yes on the ants.

 

Had them in the water pump pressure switch (an expensive Telemecanique unit), the crushed bodies are incredibly hard to remove from contacts.