Choosing the correct ballast?

[Simon Burton]

I have a job to repair a light in office, 1200x600 grid tile fitting, I am under the impression it's the ballast that has gone, I couldn't get access to the fitting at the time but believe the lamps to T8 lamps 4x 30w (3ft) what ballast would I need for this??? Assuming it's the old magnetic ballast that is, however out of curiosity if I went for the high frequency ballast which one would I need is this?

 

[Marvo]

I'd remove the ballast and fit an LED T8 retrofit tube....especially if the light is awkward to access.


MASTER LEDtube InstantFit HF LED Tubes - Philips Lighting - http://www.lighting.philips.co.uk/prof/led-lamps-and-tubes/led-tubes/master-ledtube-instantfit-hf#p-image-1

 

[Simon Burton]

I'd remove the ballast and fit an LED T8 retrofit tube....especially if the light is awkward to access.


MASTER LEDtube InstantFit HF LED Tubes - Philips Lighting - http://www.lighting.philips.co.uk/prof/led-lamps-and-tubes/led-tubes/master-ledtube-instantfit-hf#p-image-1

No it's not awkward to do just couldn't gain access at the time on inspection, I see what your saying but he has lots of light in his office, so and this would stand out unless I changed them all, I know he wouldn't want to go down that route, just looking for the ballast really that would be suitable for this,

 

[Richard Burns]

Welcome to the forum.
The specification you give is somewhat unusual; a 1200 x 600 would usually take 4*x 36W T8 in an old fitting.
If you have not seen the light, tested the light or got the specification for the ballasts and lamps required then it is probably a bit early to have identified the fault and be deciding on which ballast you need.
Often these lights have two ballasts, one for each set of two lamps, but you would need to verify this before planning your replacement.
The choice of magnetic or electronic ballast would be up to you but often the mounting holes will not line up with whatever you buy, so prepare for having to fix the ballast in place securely in the often limited space available.
Alternatively, Marvo's suggestion eliminates a lot of these problems and just requires rewiring of the fitting to bypass the ballast.

 

[snowhead]

As above, you need to see it close up, there's too many variables.

Is there a working module somewhere less noticeable you could swop and put Led in it's place.?
Whatever you put in it'll stand out to some extent even if it's like for like ballasts and new tubes. HF will stand out over non HF.

 

[Pete999]

I have a job to repair a light in office, 1200x600 grid tile fitting, I am under the impression it's the ballast that has gone, I couldn't get access to the fitting at the time but believe the lamps to T8 lamps 4x 30w (3ft) what ballast would I need for this??? Assuming it's the old magnetic ballast that is, however out of curiosity if I went for the high frequency ballast which one would I need is this?

Simon , what has given you the impression that the ballast is U/S?

 

[Simon Burton]

Welcome to the forum.
The specification you give is somewhat unusual; a 1200 x 600 would usually take 4*x 36W T8 in an old fitting.
If you have not seen the light, tested the light or got the specification for the ballasts and lamps required then it is probably a bit early to have identified the fault and be deciding on which ballast you need.
Often these lights have two ballasts, one for each set of two lamps, but you would need to verify this before planning your replacement.
The choice of magnetic or electronic ballast would be up to you but often the mounting holes will not line up with whatever you buy, so prepare for having to fix the ballast in place securely in the often limited space available.
Alternatively, Marvo's suggestion eliminates a lot of these problems and just requires rewiring of the fitting to bypass the ballast.

Well I did look into this and the 4ft lamps are around 1215mm in length, wouldn't this be to big for the 1200mm x 600mm module? Well the guy has changed the lamps he said and the starters and still doesn't work. Can only assume it's will be the ballast, there are 2 ballasts as you said 2 lamps per one, if they are 3ft 30watts each what wattage ballast would i need and same with the 4ft 36watts? (But surely the lamps would be to long for the fittings itself?

 

[Dillb]

All the info you need regarding the ballst will be printed onthe existing ones.

 

[telectrix]

the fittings are > 1200 in length as they overhang the grid by a bit.otherwise they.d fall through..

 

[Zdb]

Simon , what has given you the impression that the ballast is U/S?

What does U/S stand for?

 

[rapparee]

What does U/S stand for?

Unsatisfactory?

 

[Pete999]

What does U/S stand for?

UB SERVICABLE

 

[Pete999]

What does U/S stand for?

United States, no mate joking Un Servicable

 

[telectrix]

or FUBAR

 

[Pete999]

or FUBAR

SNAFU?