Hi all,

I wanted to ask how I could follow through with one of @Multisubject 's designs. I want to run multiple lamps with one ballast, but a switchable ignitor.

I've never actually "seen" a switch in that part of a circuit- how does one go about doing that?

Thank you.

Also @Multisubject -- who taught you the physics associated with transformers, electrical grid layouts, etc. I'm your age and I feel like a moron in comparison.

@Maxim
No, no, no, please. You are not a moron! You wanna know who taught me 95% of this stuff? Tons of Youtube. And lots of Reddit. And quite a bit of hands-on messing around with electrical stuff in my basement. All of this knowledge is available to everyone, you just have to be so insanely curious and obsessed that you actually want to learn about it. It is no secret that I spend an absolutely absurd amount of time on my computer and in my basement (maybe why I don't have a social life lol). Everyone has their skills, I might know a lot more about electricity and other things than most people my age, but from what I hear you are much much more academically and socially skilled than me! This kind of stuff is always on my mind, and practically consumes my life, be careful what you wish for!

Anyway, with the ignitor thing. The plan drawing that I made a while back (I assume that is what you are talking about) was made for European-type ballasts, working with the weird ignitors they have over there. What materials do you have, and what specifically are your needs/lamps that you want to run? I will probably come up with a drawing of it for ya that explains it all.

@Multisubject - it was this.

Also, thank you. I appreciate the kind words.

@Maxim
Ahh I see, not the European one. So, you could use pretty much any mains-voltage switch, as there is very little current. Are you planning on putting this in a box, or mounting it on a wooden board?

If you want to make it on a board, I personally would use something like this:
12V-220V/10A SPST Paste Type Button Switch
This is rated at 220V 10A, which is a little low for an HID ballast, but considering that the load it will be breaking is derated down to 1A, I would completely trust this switch for use with this very small load. It is all enclosed with plastic, and keeps any live parts away form you, which is nice when you will be inevitably touching it.

So here is a drawing as promised:


Instead of connecting the "COM" wire of the ignitor directly to the "COM" of the ballast and lamp socket, it will go to one of the wires of the switch, with the other switch wire going to the "COM" of the ballast and lamp socket.

Let me know if you have any more questions regarding this!
 

@Multisubject - this is amazing, thank you!!