The illustrious Ballast Killers- Phillips Alto! « on: December 29, 2008, 02:10:18 PM »
Phillips alto flourescent lamps are bad because of the reduced mercury content. While regular bulbs have 7-8 grams of mercury altos have only 1.2 grams. Since there is not much mercury, it takes a higher power starting pulse (mainly on instant start, but other ballasts can be killed too)it ignite the lamps that soon the ballast goes bad because of the strain on itself. Cold Cathode and rapid start might not suffer as much but still can be killed. Please save yourself and don't fall into a trap like i did!
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The future of street lighting is Induction, not nasty HPS lights or cr@ppy LED lights!
Preheat CFL's should make a comeback!

	Re: The illustrious Ballast Killers- Phillips Alto! « Reply #2 on: December 29, 2008, 04:09:54 PM »
that was before i joined this amazing site. i was just telling a story, tring to save any newbies who might come across this post and be fans of Altos!
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The future of street lighting is Induction, not nasty HPS lights or cr@ppy LED lights!
Preheat CFL's should make a comeback!

	Re: The illustrious Ballast Killers- Phillips Alto! « Reply #4 on: December 29, 2008, 04:35:00 PM »
wow! bet you were worried! anyways, what kind of ballast was in the fixture?
« Last Edit: December 30, 2008, 10:36:12 AM by lightman64 »		Logged

The future of street lighting is Induction, not nasty HPS lights or cr@ppy LED lights!
Preheat CFL's should make a comeback!

	Re: The illustrious Ballast Killers- Phillips Alto! « Reply #6 on: January 01, 2009, 06:26:27 PM »
Most ballasts in my house are advance brand.
« Last Edit: February 14, 2010, 08:19:21 PM by lightman64 »		Logged

The future of street lighting is Induction, not nasty HPS lights or cr@ppy LED lights!
Preheat CFL's should make a comeback!

	Re: The illustrious Ballast Killers- Phillips Alto! « Reply #7 on: January 25, 2009, 02:10:03 PM »
if they are so bad, then why in places where there is a whole bunch they don't die and people LOVE them? and is it better to use one on a preheat or rapid start if you have to?
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The future of street lighting is Induction, not nasty HPS lights or cr@ppy LED lights!
Preheat CFL's should make a comeback!

	Re: The illustrious Ballast Killers- Phillips Alto! « Reply #8 on: January 27, 2009, 04:36:22 PM »
When I find empty boxes that had fluorescents, it's always ALTO! I installed a F30T12 striplight in october 2008 and I prefered buying a GE tube instead of using one of my 2 Altos from Philips. I also did a test with another F30T12 strip I found in the dumps (it works): Test 1: The Philips ALTO -> Didn't start at all. I successed later in 20 tries! Test 2: The GE -> Started in one shot! It was also brighter, go figure.... I think even if all fluorescents loss of their quality today, GE and Sylvania tubes are still good, but Philips ALTO are garbage! The ALTOs II are a pure disaster...
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I'm also known as Vince the fox.

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I still use old lighting technology, it has absolutely no environmental impact, because my house is fed by hydroelectricity. ^_^

	Re: The illustrious Ballast Killers- Phillips Alto! « Reply #10 on: January 27, 2009, 09:03:55 PM »
I find them cool! But yeah they look bad in most fixture. The green etches of Philips ALTOs are worse!
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I'm also known as Vince the fox.

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I still use old lighting technology, it has absolutely no environmental impact, because my house is fed by hydroelectricity. ^_^

	Re: The illustrious Ballast Killers- Phillips Alto! « Reply #12 on: January 28, 2009, 12:30:25 PM »
So far I've been lucky,my ALTO's haven't killed any ballasts yet,and I've been using them for a good number of years now.I use them because they are the only cool white F40T12 lamps available here that are 40W and not the dim energy saving 34W lamps.
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The brighter the better.

	Re: The illustrious Ballast Killers- Phillips Alto! « Reply #13 on: January 28, 2009, 09:04:01 PM »
Darren: F40T12/CW? Aren't they banned?
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I'm also known as Vince the fox.

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I still use old lighting technology, it has absolutely no environmental impact, because my house is fed by hydroelectricity. ^_^

	Re: The illustrious Ballast Killers- Phillips Alto! « Reply #14 on: January 28, 2009, 10:41:35 PM »
Yes they are banned,just the ALTO cool white HomeLight are still 40W.
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The brighter the better.