At the time I filmed this I thought the ban also applied to all electromagnetic T12 ballasts. The reason I asked if people throwing them out could send them to me rather than toss them was so that I could stock up. I actually like the flicker and hum of preheat and rapid start fluorescent ballasts as well as the way they don't put holes or cracks at the end of the bulbs when they burn out. My camera ran out of juice so I ended it with just a simple request for people throwing out ballasts to send them my way but I would have liked to have talked more about how all HID and fluorescent bulbs have mercury in them and how they are all much more efficient than incandescent bulbs. Still its just my two cents on the matter. Enjoy

Oh I agree on the whole magnetic ballasts thing!  I actually sometimes pick them out of trash cans and such and I do have a bunch of F40T12 rapid start ballasts.

I even took a F40 fixture and put two shunted ballasts in it so I can have independent lamp operation (when one dies other stays lit).  Added benefit is these ballasts wont completely kill the lamp to the point where it cracks and loses vacuum.  An experimental fixture if you will...

BTW my Youtube name is jfrog1983

Just becareful picking out trash...me and Jeremiah once almost got in trouble  it was the whole misunderstanding thing!

Havent seen much in the local trash yet but if I do, I  usually check the area first. What I've done in the past is talk to construction workers and be nice and friendly about it. That usually works. I just discovered an old flower shop that went out of business nearby. It two 4 tube half pipers and one wraparound where a half piper used to be as well as three 2 tube half pipers in the windows. I wrote down the address and name and number of the real estate agent. I'm going to see if I can get any of the half pipers.