[SML] fluoro fixtures replacing

[e-mail frank.wood95]

I should be very surprised if your problem were due to the ballasts.
Inductors are almost immortal, and when they fail they do it in a
spectacular manner, and with what I call a "dark brown smell". There
is usually a power facto correction capacitor, and these can die of
old age. I assume that the tubes themselves have been replaced as
needed, and the starters.

The fixture in my garage is over forty years old, and has had one new
tube in that time. It is of an unusual design, in that there is no
starter. It is called a "resonant start" fixture, and strikes
immediately when powered. I do not really understand its working. I
assume that the inductor and capacitor are resonant at our 50Hz mains
frequency, to provide the strike voltage. Also, we have 230V to start
with, so this may not work with 120V supplise.

On 22 October 2014 19:39, Herrick Goldman via Stagecraft
<stagecraft at theatrical.net> wrote:
> Hey folks,
>
> The studio I'm in has several twenty year old fluorescent fixtures.  They are slowly dimming over the years probably due to the ballasts dying.  We've gotten quotes to replace the ballasts but they are high.  Any thoughts on best course of action?
>
> Will new fluorescent fixtures be less expensive? Or perhaps there are led tubes that aren't picky about being on old ballasts?
>
> Thoughts?
>
> Herrick Goldman 917-797-3624
>
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-- 
Frank Wood