HF Flourescent problems

[electric-ian]

OK, so here goes my first post.

I just installed 6 extra HF 5' flus in a large commercial greenhouse.
All was fine (for about 3 mins) then one went off and came back on again, then another.. can you see where this is going?
There are 20 existing switch start flu's on the same circuit, all of which are fine.

I spoke to the donkey at the manufacturers who alleges himself to be their technical dept who said

HF's sometimes do this on an inductive circuit... Maybe you could try putting a capacitor in.

What size?

Dunno.... small 2, .02 not sure.

So thanks a bunch tech guy....

Well, anyone out there have experience of this problem or know how to get round it?
Perhaps I'll just have to bite the bullet and change them for a better make.

As switch starts dissappear from the shelves I guess tis is going to get more & more common.

Any suggestions would be appreciated.

Cheers,

Ian

 

[bugsy]

who made them

 

[MarcT]

Hi Ian,

I've had one similar episode in the past, with a philips 2x58w ballast, I converted 8 SS fittings to HF in a unit that was full of them, the power factor was lousy too. I couldn't understand why it was this particular fitting though when all the others were ok. Anyway I added a 100µf cap and the problem went away.

hope this helps

 

[electric-ian]

who made them

Hi Bugsy, They were made by Eterna...

Hi Ian,

I've had one similar episode in the past, with a philips 2x58w ballast, I converted 8 SS fittings to HF in a unit that was full of them, the power factor was lousy too. I couldn't understand why it was this particular fitting though when all the others were ok. Anyway I added a 100µf cap and the problem went away.

hope this helps

Hey thanks MarcT.. at least that gives me a value to try..

better check to see if Ive got any that'll take the voltage...

Will update you when I've tried it.

Ian