Under/Over powering a PL light.

[axcorp]

Friends, My original iron core ballast was rated 11W and has a 2 pin 11W PL tube (long type). I substituted the tube with an 18W 2 pin PL tube (normal type). Qns is, u guys see any potential probs?

Another scenario, wat if I change the ballast to an 18W and instead use an 26W bulb?

Last one, could i run two 11W tubes on a 18W or 26W ballast?

Thanxs a mill!

[tawauboy]

it is not advisable to run higher wattage tube using a lower wattage ballast. chance are that the ballast will not be able to drive the light tube. even if it does, it may over heat and eventually breakdown due to operation beyond normal limits.

you can drive 2 light tubes from a single ballast if the ballast has sufficient power handling. ie a 40w ballast can drive 2x18w light tubes. not the other way round.

try putting a 2.0l motorcar engine into a bus..........

[axcorp]

Oh. Ok! Thanxs Mod, really appreciate it.

[kadios]

Hi all!

I got a question, since PLs are also a form of fluorescent, so can I use a 36W E ballast(Elbiru type) on a 30W FLs?

I was thinking of getting those lightbulbs with built-in E ballast and "harvesting" the E ballast for my FLs which are using normal ballast. Can anyone advise me on it? I am concerned with setting up a fire or creating an explosion if I experiment it in my HDB estate.

Thanks in advance for any tips and advice!

Cheers!

[tawauboy]

yes. you can use 36w e-ballast on a 30w fl.

how do you 'extract' the built-in e-ballast?
do you know the required connections?
are those e-ballast rated for your fl tubes?
if you are not sure, it is not advisable for you to do what you have planned.

[axcorp]

I'm quite interested in DIY fixing the e-ballast and FL/PL too. Anyone care to point to any relevant/useful sources? It'd be greatly appreciated.

[kadios]

Actually, I got the idea from one of the threads in the killies forum website. What that guy did was to purchase those PL lights(household type) from the lights store and remove out the E ballast. But he used it for T8 lightings. So I thought PLs, FLs and T8 are all fluorescent, so the E ballast should work for either one of them.

I had removed out the E ballast from one of those old light tubes. As for the connections wise, the concern is in connecting to the right ends of the FL tube as well as how to add in an earth wire to make it safer.

Cheers!

[kadios]

"are those e-ballast rated for your fl tubes?"

Hmm... I thought the wattage is the only requirement to see if the E ballast works for the light tube. Pls correct me if I'm wrong as I am still quite new to this DIY business. Thanks!

[tawauboy]

[quote:2e92bdaaff="kadios"].................. So I thought PLs, FLs and T8 are all fluorescent, so the E ballast should work for either one of them.

...................... As for the connections wise, the concern is in connecting to the right ends of the FL tube as well as how to add in an earth wire to make it safer.

Cheers![/quote:2e92bdaaff]
you are correct. pl, fl and t8 are different forms of fluorescent tubes.
you can check you connections based on the connection diagram printed on the ballast (if there is one).
earth wire can be connected to the chassis.

[tawauboy]

[quote:a22fd3ae75="kadios"]"are those e-ballast rated for your fl tubes?"

Hmm... I thought the wattage is the only requirement to see if the E ballast works for the light tube. Pls correct me if I'm wrong as I am still quite new to this DIY business. Thanks![/quote:a22fd3ae75]

you can't expect a 11w ballast being capable of driving a 36w light tube.
so check the ballast power rating.