Readership,
What are the pros/cons of running two(2) F20WT12 fluor bulbs on an electronic ballast suited for two(2) F40WT12 bulbs.
The 'reason' I ask is that the only 'type' of replacement ballasts I can find are magnetic-trigger ballasts for F20WT12 bulbs ... less than 'good'.
Replies appreciated, Ed.
I have always been adverse to using equipment other than what it was designed for.
Most electronic ballasts I have dealt with use T-8 lamps not T-12.
What does your ballast manufacture say for the one that you have. (assuming)
Andrew Gabriel wrote: ...snip...
2' fluor t12-bulbs/ballast/fixtures "seem" generally on the wain 'here' .As you 'suggest' ... time to move on.
Thanks for the advisory. Ed
If these are the 2' 20W tubes, and the ballasts are ideal current sources, it should work as the F20WT12 and F40WT12 tubes run at the same arc current. However, if you operate the ballasts outside their designed operating area, it's quite possible their current regulation will not operate correctly and you might operate the tubes outside their design or even safe operating area, and likewise the ballasts. An example resulting failure could be that the ballast will fail to detect end of lamp life when the electron emitting coating is all sputtered off, and continue operating the tubes in cold cathode mode, resulting in excessive overheating of the tube ends with possible bad consequences for nearby materials. Really you will need to put this question to the ballast manufacturer.
Those tubes are long obsolete in the UK (you might still find them if you really hunt around). They were replaced with F18WT8 tubes around 20 years ago. Given what you say about availability of ballasts in the US, it sounds like something similar may be true for you too. Why not take the opportunity of changing ballasts to change over to current issue lamps?
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