ballasts

[Jamesfish10]

Hi, I'm new to this forum and was wondering if anybody got any ideas of such tests we can do on starter type ballasts? To determin whether there good or bad??

 

[Guitarist]

Sniff em...
This doesn't work with the new electronic types, obviously

 

[Brightspark2]

You usually know when there gone either by the sight of the burnt ballast, the stench of the burnt ballast or by the MCB/Fuse operating.

You can usually just pop up to the light and as said above give it sniff, you can usually smell it from outside the fitting...

The smell will stay on your hands for some time too lol...

EDIT

Good point guitarist, this isnt for electronic ballasts...

They give no signs...

 

[hubsy]

if it ain't the tube or the starter and wires are tight in the endcaps, then its the ballast.

simple enough to setup a test rig, clip on end caps, holder for the starter, and 2 wires to test ballast.
and don't forget the RCD to keep safe.

 

[i=p/u]

They still warm if working too...

 

[i=p/u]

Can anyone say why we don't get voltage at output , isit because no current drawn or somerhing

 

[hubsy]

you get a voltage output with no tube / starter in circuit.

In 43 years I've only ever had one ballast where the internal wire had shorted together without shorting to earth.

never checked what resistance is across terminals for various sizes.

 

[i=p/u]

It's a nightmare in outside lights up high when ballast blows and takes out all lights , sort cables in contactor, changing one at a time then eventually split the circuit and work from there, sometimes over the years they just add into out going side of contactor , sick of lights lol

 

[hubsy]

They still warm if working too...

and they are very very hot when faulty, found out the hard way. LOL

 

[i=p/u]

So you saying Hubsy if no tubes and starters in, I'd get voltage on out going of ballast if working??

 

[i=p/u]

Still stuck to you

 

[hubsy]

I know what you mean,
I have one store which has facia lighting consisting of 3 units of 4 fittings, and about 12 single units.
Split into 3 separate circuit breakers. at least I can eliminate the good circuits when a fault arrises.

 

[hubsy]

So you saying Hubsy if no tubes and starters in, I'd get voltage on out going of ballast if working??

yes, its just a coil of wire, be it long and thin.

I have used another trick.
disconnect the neutral, if the ballast, starter, element in tubes, and end caps are all good, you will get a live back on the fitting neutral.
No live then trace back through the circuit till you find where the live ends.
thats working live on the circuit, resistance check on dead circuit.

 

[hubsy]

Still stuck to you

yep a reverse 65Watt burnt into my palm.....

 

[i=p/u]

Tridonic tattooed for free