Lights question

[mariner]

Guys,I have a 4ft which holds 2 30W normal ballast.If I were to put 2 36WPL lights,what is the output?Thanks[]

[mariner]

Guys,I have a 4ft which holds 2 30W normal ballast.If I were to put 2 36WPL lights,what is the output?Thanks[]

[mariner]

Guys,I have a 4ft which holds 2 30W normal ballast.If I were to put 2 36WPL lights,what is the output?Thanks[]

[mariner]

Guys,I have a 4ft which holds 2 30W normal ballast.If I were to put 2 36WPL lights,what is the output?Thanks[]

[turaco]

Never try that before. I guess either you get dimmer light or nothing. Not a good idea, if that was not meant to be, don't do it. You might get an explosion![] [] []

[PeterGwee]

You need to change the ballast or else ...I really dunno what will happen..probably no light coz too low power liao.

[zac08]

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On 9/28/2002 8:34:36 PM

Guys,I have a 4ft which holds 2 30W normal ballast.If I were to put 2 36WPL lights,what is the output?Thanks[]
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This will result in a lower powered lighting, thus the light will be dimmer or less strong as compared to using a 36W ballast.

But remember never to try it the other way around, i.e. using a higher ballast with a lower wattage light tube. The tube WILL blow...

[sherchoo]

Sorry Zac but I beg to differ. My tubes are often undersized (means the ballast are rated bigger than the tubes) and they work fine. No explosions......

If the ballast is undersized, and if the light do start, the light will not be dimmer. My concern is only if the tubes are not be able to start.

[zac08]

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On 10/4/2002 1:15:00 PM

Sorry Zac but I beg to differ. My tubes are often undersized (means the ballast are rated bigger than the tubes) and they work fine. No explosions......


If the ballast is undersized, and if the light do start, the light will not be dimmer. My concern is only if the tubes are not be able to start.
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real interesting.... Coz I was trained in Electrical and I was told never to try that. Can you tell me how much wattage is your ballast? Wat type? And how much wattage is your tubes??

[logan]

Actually, the real purpose of the ballast (from what i have been learning) is to make way for a suitable voltage. As long as you have the right potential diff (EMF), then there will always be the right amount of electric charges flowing...which means enough current,I.

Thus, when you use a ballast rated at 30 W but the light is, say, 20 W, then the light would only be drawing its working current. (Assuming that this ballast is servicing only this single bulb. Thus, an 'explosion'is unlikely. We arnt likely to have a over-current effect as, in the very end, the electricity-consuming light is only going to consume what current it needs...keep in mind that the ballast only serves to support in the conversion of voltage but does not actually provide the emf or the current.

But now, lets say we have a 30 W ballast servicing a 40 W light...then, the amount of currentbeing drawn by
the light is going to exceed the specs of the balast...we will then have a melt down in which a short-circuit or a fire may occur...well, thats the theory aniwae!!!

[dominik]

So wat are the conclusion? Can a high watt ballast use on a low watt PL? Or a low watt ballast on a high watt PL?

[logan]

It would be SAFER to use a higher wattage ballast with a lighting that has lower wattage...but not a higher wattage light with a lower wattage ballast...then, you would be asking for it.....!!!

But, its still better to spend yr money and buy the ideal ballast for your lights.

[ZeRoC00l]

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Sorry Zac but I beg to differ. My tubes are often undersized (means the ballast are rated bigger than the tubes) and they work fine. No explosions......

If the ballast is undersized, and if the light do start, the light will not be dimmer. My concern is only if the tubes are not be able to start.

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Yeah, I agree.

Using higher watt ballast w/ lower watt lamp = no problem

lower watt ballast w/ higher watt lamp

= longer time to light up, flicker longer when starting up
OR worst case, lamp will not light up at all

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Been there, done it []