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Do I replace the ballast?

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HappyHippyDad

HappyHippyDad

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I have narrowed the fault down to the ballast in this fitting. See picture.

I cannot find an identical ballast. Blimey, there must be hundreds!

Is there a similar ballast I can use? Bearing in mind the existing cables, both supply and load, are terminated into little blocks that clip in either side of the ballast. Or, are there other options? I never work in commercial settings, hence having a limited knowledge. This is for a friend who runs a local charity shop, hence having a look. The word hence seems to be a common theme 😄, a bit like the word 'damn' during the early years of @davesparks threads 😉

[ElectriciansForums.net] Do I replace the ballast? [ElectriciansForums.net] Do I replace the ballast?
 
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Is that a fly killer? It might be easier and cheaper just to replace it.
 
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Rockingit said:
Is that a fly killer? It might be easier and cheaper just to replace it.
Click to expand...
That's kind of what I as thinking, but having not done this before I thought that may be a bit extravagant, also finding a fitting exactly the same size may be just as hard.

Here it is in situ. It's not a fly killer 🙂

[ElectriciansForums.net] Do I replace the ballast?
 
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I'm a bit out of touch with wholesalers these days but that used to be the sort of thing you'd get on the shelf - a twin electronic ballast. The make doesn' really matter.
 
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If it is as simple as replacing the panel, then I think I will do that. I'm guessing most panels are a generic size? It seems that an entire fitting is not very expensive.....
energylightbulbs.co.uk

30w LED Panel 300 x 600 Surface Mount Ceiling Down Light Cool White

Long Life Lamp Company 30w Surface Mount LED panels are suitable for both commercial and domestic applications, Designed to be surface mounted to ceilings and walls or can be used as pendants. These panels are manufactured to the highest possible stand
energylightbulbs.co.uk energylightbulbs.co.uk
 
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HappyHippyDad said:
If it is as simple as replacing the panel, then I think I will do that. I'm guessing most panels are a generic size? It seems that an entire fitting is not very expensive.....
energylightbulbs.co.uk

30w LED Panel 300 x 600 Surface Mount Ceiling Down Light Cool White

Long Life Lamp Company 30w Surface Mount LED panels are suitable for both commercial and domestic applications, Designed to be surface mounted to ceilings and walls or can be used as pendants. These panels are manufactured to the highest possible stand
energylightbulbs.co.uk energylightbulbs.co.uk
Click to expand...
try here:
chrome-extension://efaidnbmnnnibpcajpcglclefindmkaj/https://www.tridonic.com/com/de/download/data_sheets/DS_PC_T8_TOP_18-58W_en.pdf
 
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You could try eBay….

Tridonic 2x55 Balkast for sale | eBay

Find great deals on eBay for Tridonic 2x55 Balkast. Shop with confidence.
www.ebay.co.uk


Cheap enough… but the time taken to swap it over might be more than changing the fitting.
 
As an eBay Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.
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littlespark said:
You could try eBay….

Tridonic 2x55 Balkast for sale | eBay

Find great deals on eBay for Tridonic 2x55 Balkast. Shop with confidence.
www.ebay.co.uk


Cheap enough… but the time taken to swap it over might be more than changing the fitting.
Click to expand...
Changing a ballast is much quicker, once you've done a few it's a doddle.

Just drop the old one down, fix the new one in its place and transfer the wires one at a time.

Well, I say much..... depends if rhw fittings are on a Clik type plug, which is equally rapid.

As an aside, why is it every fitting have to replace is always direct wired and the one with the loop in, out and switch drop, always?
 
As an eBay Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.
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HappyHippyDad said:
If it is as simple as replacing the panel, then I think I will do that. I'm guessing most panels are a generic size? It seems that an entire fitting is not very expensive.....
energylightbulbs.co.uk

30w LED Panel 300 x 600 Surface Mount Ceiling Down Light Cool White

Long Life Lamp Company 30w Surface Mount LED panels are suitable for both commercial and domestic applications, Designed to be surface mounted to ceilings and walls or can be used as pendants. These panels are manufactured to the highest possible stand
energylightbulbs.co.uk energylightbulbs.co.uk
Click to expand...
I assume this is a retail outlet and your duff fitting is what I call a wash light not a solid flat panel and they do LED versions.
 
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westward10 said:
I assume this is a retail outlet and your duff fitting is what I call a wash light not a solid flat panel and they do LED versions.
Click to expand...
Well sort of. It's main purpose is to allow single parents to meet up with their kids. It does sell cards to make a bit of cash.

Is there a proper name for the type of light I am looking for? It slots into the ceiling, being help up with an interlacing metal network. The ceiling is all the same, polystyrene type squares all slotted into the same metal framework.

I've been searching for 'recessed panel light', but perhaps their is a proper name for it.
 
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Search for LED panel. Be wary that the majority are square.

As someone said above, rewiring the internals for LED tubes also works, it’s as simple as a pair of wires to one end of each tube, remove all other wiring (ballast, starter) but leave the capacitor that’s in parallel with the supply.
5way wagos make it very quick.
The direction the tubes are fitted matters, one end can be a dead short on some makes. They are marked “supply this end”
 
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This ballast will do, it's nothing the same footprint but is the same pin layout.
The lamps are 55w TC-L which areabout £10 a pop, factor in delivery and you're getting upto £50 to refurbish the existing light.
[ElectriciansForums.net] Do I replace the ballast?


If the look of the lighting is not important then search for "600×300 LED Panel Light" which can be had for about £25.

I was going to post "good luck getting an LED conversion tube for those" but what do I know....

[ElectriciansForums.net] Do I replace the ballast?
 
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If this is one of many identical fittings in one room, it might be a chance to upsell the lot for LED.
One different light will be noticed… brighter, different colour etc…

Push to the customer of energy saving… “ it’ll pay for itself in x time….. if energy prices stay the same….”
 
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I used to be of the "repair it "mindset. What tipped the balance for me was when a "Made in W Germany" ballast caught fire.
I know there's a lot out there that aren't nearly as old but these days there are so many reasons to go LED.
 
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