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Old Advance 2xF40T12 Ballast - RQM-2S40-3-TP

An Advance 2xF40T12 Rapid Start Ballast.
This is fairly old but it still works. 2 of these originally came out of a junky fixture that i gutted LOL then were used on my fishtank for years.

Today I removed 2 of these from that tank's light (one was simply removed since i'd disconnected it a few years ago anyway)
And DieselNut won't approve of this...the other was changed out for one of these F32T8 things ...The reason had nothing to do with "saving energy" but rather the fact that the Advance gets extremely hot - you could probably burn yourself on it LOL or maybe cook lunch??

The other lamps/ballasts on the light remain as F40T12 :)

No mention of "No PCB's" on these so the probably have 'em :( and after removing them i noticed that the wire insulation has a few cracks/is beginning to rot alittle :(

Light Information

Lamp
Manufacturer:	Advance
Model Reference:	RQM-2S40-3-TP
Lamp Type:	Linear Fluorescent
Base:	Medium Bi-Pin
Shape/Finish:	T12
Fixture
Ballast Type:	Rapid Start Magnetic
Socket Type:	Medium Bi-Pin
Location:	(laying on the floor)
Electrical
Wattage:	2x40
Voltage:	120
Current:	.77a
Optical
Lumen Efficacy:	High Power Factor
Physical/Production
Dimensions:	8.5x2.5x1.5
Factory Location:	USA
Fabrication Date:	11/1974
Application/Use:	General Lighting (and maybe cooking something??)

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Filename:	A_RQM2S4.jpg
Album name:	xmaslightguy / Fluorescent Ballasts - Electromagnetic Rapid Start
Keywords:	Gear
File Size:	72 KB
Date added:	Mar 11, 2011
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Comments

DieselNut
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John

You are so damn crazy! Love it!

Preheat Fluorescents forever!
I love diesel engines, rural/farm life and vintage lighting!

xmaslightguy
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^homebuilt fixture

LOL yep true

at one time i even had 'crazy' as part of my username on MySpace

---------
Even tho these aren't in the best of shape anymore, I can't dunp 'em LOL because "they still work" (and the fact that F40 magnetic RS ballasts have been banned is all the more reason to save them)

Colored Fluorescent's such as F40T12 Red or Green or Blue are awesome...

DieselNut
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John

It does not look like it says anything about energy saver lamps, so it is probably also full power. Definitely a keeper!

Preheat Fluorescents forever!
I love diesel engines, rural/farm life and vintage lighting!

xmaslightguy
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^homebuilt fixture

Nope, no mention of ES lamps

... I bet this would get blazingly hot running that junk LOL

Colored Fluorescent's such as F40T12 Red or Green or Blue are awesome...

DieselNut
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John

Yep! If you wanna see it spit tar, stick in a pair of 34 watt junkers!

Preheat Fluorescents forever!
I love diesel engines, rural/farm life and vintage lighting!

TheUniversalDave1
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I have one of these ballasts. It too runs extremely hot. It woefully underdrives 40 watt lamps and pulls about .95 amps even though it's rated for .77 amps.

"If people only knew how much I secretly hated them, they'd love me for holding it in." -Matt Groening

xmaslightguy
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^homebuilt fixture

Interesting. I might have to dig one of these out sometime & test its current draw.

Colored Fluorescent's such as F40T12 Red or Green or Blue are awesome...

TheUniversalDave1
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I hear that Advance ballasts from this era are extremely unreliable. I actually have a 1990 Mark III ES running 1985 Sylvania Supersaver lamps right now. I have seen my fair share of Mark III's (which seem to be the most unreliable) that run lamps under 250 MA.

"If people only knew how much I secretly hated them, they'd love me for holding it in." -Matt Groening