HF fluorescent fittings

[Evans Electric]

This may be of help to some of you guys.

Forgive me if stating the bleedin' obvious.

Three things you may not know about High Frequency fluorescent fittings.

1. The control gear dosn't last too long.

2. Must not be connected to the same circuit as switchstart.

3. On a twin fitting, if one tube packs up both go out.

 

[Nicky Tesla]

i like the starterless ballast

 

[Mr Sworld]

This may be of help to some of you guys. Forgive me if stating the bleedin' obvious.

Three things you may not know about High Frequency fluorescent fittings.

1. The control gear dosn't last too long.

True. A bit like the difference between LV transformers. The 'proper' wound transformers last a lot, lot longer than the electronic transformers.

2. Must not be connected to the same circuit as switchstart.

Didn't know that. Is because of the back emf a switchstart ballast creates?

3. On a twin fitting, if one tube packs up both go out.

Some of the HF ballasts are single tube versions, some of them twin tube. If you pay the extra for a double fitting you will get two single tube ballasts instead of one double.

 

[Evans Electric]

Same circuit as switchstart, I believe its the spikes when the starters strike

I used a load of HF fitts at one of my customers new premises, in 2001, they have been carping out ever since.

On a simlar job this summer I went back to switch start.

Deke

 

[Mr Sworld]

I like the HF fittings when they are at high level and difficult to get at without having to build towers. The lamps last longer than in switch-start fittings and they are more energy efficient.

 

[Nicky Tesla]

yes but wot about starterless ballasts, they last forever, the rest of the fitting and the capacitor usually go before the ballast, and they strike straight up. These are my personal favourite.

 

[septiclecky]

Electronic ballasts also shut themselves down if the is a problem with the lamps. After switching power of and replacing lamps they come back on again.