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Thread: Any PL lights can use either normal ballast or electronic b

  1. #1
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    Any PL lights can use either normal ballast or electronic b

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    Is it true that any PL lights can use either one of the above?

  2. #2
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    Yes as long as the wattage of the PL tube is < or = to the amount the ballast can handle

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    Correct me if wrong:

    1) If using normal ballast, I believe a starter is needed. No need in case of e-ballast.
    2) If light wattage is much less that ballast wattage, the life of the tube will be shortened.
    koah fong
    Juggler's tanks

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    PL tubes come in either 2-pin or 4-pin.
    The 2-pin ones have integrated starter and can only be used with iron core ballast.
    The 4-pin ones can be wired to an external starter and iron core ballast or to an electronic ballast.

  5. #5
    I did DIY PL tube setup, using iron ballast but found the heat produced by 40W ballast (for a 36W PL tube) was too high for my liking, couldn't even touch my light casing, so switched to electronic. I suggest if you are looking at PL wattage higher than say 20W you should use electronic ballast, less heat, easier to wire up and place.

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    E ballast much more fuss free.

    Also, i cannot figure out how to connect starters to 4pin PL tubes?

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    LSZ , you see the ballast on top got a mini diagram ?
    Just follow that connection.
    I believe normally the diagram will be illustrated with an example of connecting up 2 FL ( if yours is a 2 x XXW Eballast ) , so 2 wires will go to each end of the tube.
    In the case of PL , just connect the 2 wires to the first 2 pins and the other 2 wires to the next 2 pins.
    Not sure if u understand me

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    Here's a website that shows how to fix up a PL light with e-ballast.

    http://www.ervine.per.sg/articles/upgradelights.asp

    I believe doing that fixing e-ballast to FL lights is very similar.
    koah fong
    Juggler's tanks

  9. #9
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    I mean how to connect 4pin PL tubes to NON_E ballast?

    the starter has got to go somewhere.

    Or issit impossible ?

    I know how to connect 4pin PL to E-ballast lah ! i do my own lights!
    [:]

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    OH haha paiseh , never see carefully
    Check this out bro:
    http://www.howstuffworks.com/question337.htm

  11. #11
    ISZ: check out
    http://misty.com/people/don/f-lamp.html

    basically the 4pin pl tube is the same as a normal FL tube bent into half. first 2 pins belong to one end and the other belong to the other end. idea is to connect the power source in parallel with the starter. so just make sure the 1st and 3rd pin go to the power source and 2nd and 4th pin go to the starter. see the url above to get a better pic.

  12. #12
    ISZ: check out
    http://misty.com/people/don/f-lamp.html

    basically the 4pin pl tube is the same as a normal FL tube bent into half. first 2 pins belong to one end and the other belong to the other end. idea is to connect the power source in parallel with the starter. so just make sure the 1st and 3rd pin go to the power source and 2nd and 4th pin go to the starter. see the url above to get a better pic.

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    Ok Hippo i understand what you said!

  14. #14
    good luck with your lighting project!!! must be careful! if possible wear rubber gloves, the washing kind also better than nothing!

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    haha no lah i not trying to set up PL lights with normal ballast when E-ballast is so much better!

    just curious whether what i said can be done

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    My Ocean Free lighting do not light any more. Tried replacing starter and tube also cannot work. I dismantle the lighting and I found out that the ballast is only 32W whereas my lighting is 72W......
    Anyone can reccommend better brands?????????
    Regards
    William

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    is it? i also got a ocean free 2x36watts so far so good still running well hope i will not get the same problem, if it does guess i got to ask people to help me change the ballast and it will be ok.
    Cheers!

    Benetay

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    Oh....found the 2nd ballast hidden in the other corner but still cannot manage to find the fault.......Hopefully, I need not buy a new light........

    Sigh........
    Regards
    William

  19. #19
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    change the ballast heard alot of time the ballast gave problems.
    Cheers!

    Benetay

  20. #20
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    Faulty lighting is also caused by poor connections or broken wiring. Suggest you check that first before replacing parts. Cheaper this way.......
    Cheers!!

    Sherwin Choo
    [email protected]

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