Author Topic: How to run my F125T12 tube?  (Read 1268 times)
108CAM
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How to run my F125T12 tube? « on: June 03, 2022, 03:06:58 AM » Author: 108CAM
A few weeks ago I posted pictures of my F125T12 fluorescent tube. It got a lot of comments and I learnt so much about how the tubes work and some history about the F125. I would like to try and get the tube working but have a few issues.
Firstly, What ballast do I use? Some people said to use a 125w MV ballast, some said an 80w MV ballast and some, a F96T12 ballast
Second, What do I do about a starter? I've never seen any glow starter that supports a 125w tube.
Lastly, Some people were talking about using capacitors but I thought the capacitors were just for correcting the power factor. What capacitor do I use and how do I wire everything up? Do fixtures for 125w tubes even exist? If so, buying one would be easier than building my own because all the parts would be correct.
Any ideas?
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Re: How to run my F125T12 tube? « Reply #1 on: June 03, 2022, 03:26:54 AM » Author: dor123
Regrading to capacitors, you don't needs them. They are required only for power factor correction, which is required only in large installations of fixtures. As I told numerous times here in the site, and some American members simply don't wants to understand: Power factor don't affects lamp operation, but the current that your fixture draw from your electricity supplier.
The F125T12 are indeed originally intended for 125W MV ballasts. I think they can work also on F96T12 110W rapid-start ballast (US rapid-start ballasts requires the capacitor as their ballasting element, compared to series chokes).
You can find a 4-125W starter at eBay or Amazon or British lighting websites.
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Re: How to run my F125T12 tube? « Reply #2 on: June 03, 2022, 07:48:04 AM » Author: funkybulb
 Dor123 these F125T12 lamps will not work on a choke by it self.  And no cap is not for PFC.   With out it the lamp cant stay lit.  And it will act like a EOL lamp. u need to scroll up and read all about this
It became very deep subject.   Number one arc voltage of Mercury
Is  way lower and higher current than F125 lamp so it a mis match
Second even if u put it on mercury choke it still would not strike up
And stay lit.   The cap is very esental to create a phase shift to bump
Voltage up.   Other wise it would need 277- 300 volt ocv to keep this
Lamp lit with out capcitors.
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Re: How to run my F125T12 tube? « Reply #3 on: June 03, 2022, 08:10:15 AM » Author: dor123
I didn't know about this.
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Re: How to run my F125T12 tube? « Reply #4 on: June 03, 2022, 08:27:53 AM » Author: funkybulb
@ 108CAM

  The best thing to do is get a 100 watt Fluoreescent
Choke from UK.  7- 7.2 cap from the UK in series with
The choke and S16 starter

   Or you can get a 80 watt mercury ballast and 7 uf cap in series
  It will bump arc voltage and current slightly to run this lamp. U still
  need use S16 starter

 Here in the US things are bit easier because we have to step
 Voltage up.  But some of our auto transformer ballast will have
OCV problem.  Except for 100 watt CWA mercury ballast


 The 95 watt HO and 100 watt tubes are nearly the same and I tested my 95 watt HO in my pop pack with out the cap and they do strike
And stay lit.


And Yes I do own a 125 watt pop pack.  But for now it 110 watt pop pack.   The F125 watt tubes are slightly higher current than F110 watt HO 8 footer.  And 125 watt tubes are non existant here in the US.  I only have a pair of F125 tubes once those gone,  that it for me
  But if u ever do find some F96T12 / HO  reduce the next cap value
  Down.
 
« Last Edit: June 03, 2022, 08:31:40 AM by funkybulb » Logged

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Re: How to run my F125T12 tube? « Reply #5 on: June 04, 2022, 09:15:30 PM » Author: joseph_125
The electronic F96T12 HO ballast is another option too. They're rated for 120v to 277v dual frequency which should run fine on your mains power. I believe to wire for single lamp, you wire red to one end, blue to the other end and cap the yellow wires with a wire nut individually.
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Re: How to run my F125T12 tube? « Reply #6 on: June 30, 2022, 05:06:18 AM » Author: ultraviolet
Second, What do I do about a starter? I've never seen any glow starter that supports a 125w tube.

you can always rig up a switch-start setup. it would help to know the proper voltage to preheat the filaments at before you begin, though.
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applying obsolete lighting technologies for the enjoyment of the masses; why not use a magnetic ballast for a new installation? and when they tell you you can't run a t12 off that "t8" ballast.... just look back to the old preheat systems where wattage was the only spec listed.

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Re: How to run my F125T12 tube? « Reply #7 on: June 30, 2022, 05:08:54 AM » Author: ultraviolet
I think they can work also on F96T12 110W rapid-start ballast

this is honestly where i would start. you're not going to harm the tube by running it at lower than its rated maximum current. i've seen countless f96t12ho 110w tubes rigged up to run off a magnetic slimline ballast for a standard f96t12 and they just run at the lower output, with much longer lifespan at that.
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applying obsolete lighting technologies for the enjoyment of the masses; why not use a magnetic ballast for a new installation? and when they tell you you can't run a t12 off that "t8" ballast.... just look back to the old preheat systems where wattage was the only spec listed.

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Re: How to run my F125T12 tube? « Reply #8 on: June 30, 2022, 05:11:17 AM » Author: ultraviolet
i suppose it depends on the ballast but i've seen a number of them that indicate you should always use the yellow leads, then cap the unused blue or red leads. best to consult the label on the ballast, assuming it's intact, as they usually have good wiring instructions. also remember that some ballasts are not intended for n-1 operation and will fail relatively quickly when used in such a configuration. i've encountered a number of those that failed due to neglected relamp after one of the two tubes died.
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applying obsolete lighting technologies for the enjoyment of the masses; why not use a magnetic ballast for a new installation? and when they tell you you can't run a t12 off that "t8" ballast.... just look back to the old preheat systems where wattage was the only spec listed.

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