what's the proper way to connect a 25W eBallast with 4 output pins to a 27W PL with only two pins?
the eBallast is formerly used to drive a 25W FL light. from my understanding that for FL light, the two pins on each end is actually short-circuit by a heating coil, can I simply connect pin 1 & 2 of my eBallast to one pin of the PL light and pin 3 & 4 to the other?
kindly advise.. before I blow myself up...
cheers.
hi bingyan,
the thread you refer me to didn't talk about the connection for 4pins ballast to 2 pins PL light..
in fact, i just talked to juggler.. he also not too sure about the connection..
oops
to 2pn Pl arr?
sorry, I didn't read properly
don't see how you can connect a 4 pin e-ballast to a 2 pin pl.
no doubt that the 2 pins on each end is short-circuited by a coil but that is a dc short. in ac that coil is a load and is not a short-circuit.
thomas liew
Hi dragon,
ur 2ft PL already has a built-in starter. in normal usage, u only need an iron-core (normal) ballast to connect to the 2 pins. Not sure if u know the circuitry of FL lamp using normal ballast and starter. The starter basically connects to one pin on one side and another pin at the other end.
Anyway, the e-ballast also has a built-in starter. If u know how to read the circuit diagram on the e-ballast, ignore the 2nd and 4th pin. connect pin 1 and 2 to each of the two pins of the PL.
However, please do this at YOUR OWN RISK and ONLY IF YOU ARE ELECTRICALLY PROFICIENT. (Sorry for the caps). I have not tried this but basically that is the theory of the e-ballast and your 2-pin PL.
[:]
Zulkifli
Dragon, I'm also working on the similar project, I'm stuck, shop tell me cannot be done?
not sure you have succeeded,
Can share experience not???
thanks
Hi Eric,
I did not tried out the method recommended by zmzfam, still got family to take care!
In the end, got the normal ballast instead.
From you other thread, seem like Sherwin know how to do it.
Sherwin,
Kindly share your connection with us.
Cheers.
I think Sherwin was also talking abt connecting the e-ballast to the normal 4-pin PL. I'll try my method tonite and see whether it works. Will post result after that.
Zulkifli
Sorry, but I've yet to try the 2pin tubes myself. I'm waiting for my table lamp to kaput so I can do a post-mortem.
zmzfam, you want to try eballast on 4pinPL???
No need to try lah, already confirm can, most of the shop I ask say can....so sure can one....
The challenge is to drive 2pinPL, try also leh, more people try...more chance to succeed.
Technically it seems possible.
Sorry for asking....I'm new here...
eh.... sherwin and sherchoo..are they the same person or not huh?
of course e-ballast to 4 pin will work, i've diy'ed my lights using PL and e-ballast.----------------
On 6/5/2003 4:07:17 PM
zmzfam, you want to try eballast on 4pinPL???
No need to try lah, already confirm can, most of the shop I ask say can....so sure can one....
The challenge is to drive 2pinPL, try also leh, more people try...more chance to succeed.
Technically it seems possible.
----------------
Well, I've tried it and it lighted up. I connected the 2-pins to pin 1 and pin 4 on the e-ballast.
Recommendation is : For 2 pin PL, use the iron-core ballast.
Reason : the lights will flicker before lighting up, and worse is if you try switching on the lights again after you have just switched it off, flicker like hell.
The e-ballast is simulating both the iron-core and the starter using power electronics circuit, to start the lamp, and the 2-pin PL already has a built-in starter. That is why you only need to connect an iron-core ballast to the 2-pin.
Will try to post pics once I can grab a frame from the video.
Cheers
Zulkifli
zmzfam's explaination sounds about right. Do give a try, the worst thing that can happen is the light don't light up.
OK, below is the link to the pics of my experiment
Click here
Zulkifli
zmzfam,
I saw your experiment pics, so the connection is Output 1 and 4 connect to the pl light? and leave the output 2&3 untouch? is that right? can you confirm that?...
Please share your experience, is there any side effect, like flicker, slow to start, bulb blow, funny fumes, poor cold start, poor hot start, not bright, flicker etc...
thanks
ZMZfam,----------------
On 5/14/2003 11:21:28 PM
Hi dragon,
ur 2ft PL already has a built-in starter. in normal usage, u only need an iron-core (normal) ballast to connect to the 2 pins. Not sure if u know the circuitry of FL lamp using normal ballast and starter. The starter basically connects to one pin on one side and another pin at the other end.
Anyway, the e-ballast also has a built-in starter. If u know how to read the circuit diagram on the e-ballast, ignore the 2nd and 4th pin. connect pin 1 and 2 to each of the two pins of the PL.
However, please do this at YOUR OWN RISK and ONLY IF YOU ARE ELECTRICALLY PROFICIENT. (Sorry for the caps). I have not tried this but basically that is the theory of the e-ballast and your 2-pin PL.
[:
----------------
I need your confirmation because you first instruction was a bit unclear, as you mention
'...ignore the 2nd and 4th pin. connect pin 1 and 2 to each....'
You say ignore 2nd pin and later say connect pin2 ??? please clarify....can?
thanks
Ooops, sorry lah bro....dun be angry har
OK, in my experiment, i connected pin 1 and pin 4 to the 2-pin PL light. I found that
1) PL light flickers before lighting it up when u switch it on.
2) after lighting for a while, I switch it off and switch it on again. The light flickers for some time (quite long to me, didn't time it though) before it lighted up again.
The PL did not seem to suffer anything as when I connect it back using the iron-core ballast, it lights up normally without the flicker.
Hopes this helps.
Zulkifli
Ai yoh.....so much ill syndrome....
One suggestion for everyone, I just found out...
Change the socket and clip to PLL, ie 4pinPL light.
Cost very minimum and a big variaty of tube to choose from.
This way it will work well with eballast, guarantied one!
And I am going to do exactly that....ha ha...save all the sweating trouble.
Thanks everyone for helping and experimenting,
Luckly nothing blew up...no accident reported....pew....
bye[]
Hi everyone, need some help!
I plan to buy PLL light (with 4pin), likely 24Watts (due to length constraint)
And to buy a eballast, hopefully this eballast can also support 2tube and higher wattage, so that when I get bigger tank next time, I can still make use of the old eballast.
My question will be:
1. What watt eballast should I buy, (I like to buy 40watt for future upgrading proof) advisable?
2. Some say not matching Watt can kill the PLL too, is that true? (eg. 40watt
eballast on 24watt PLL)
3. Some say should buy slightly low watt (like 10W eballast on 13W PL), then bulb can last longer, true?
4. Some say eballast die very fast, like 1 year life, true?
5. Lastly, where to buy good and cheap ballast? What brand and How much? pls don't recommend china made one, ($4.5 only), DOTS (die on the spot)
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