Do 28w Preheat Ballasts Exist? « on: March 08, 2023, 10:19:56 PM » Author: 108CAM
Asking this because I recently got an F28T5 cabinet light with an electronic ballast and would like to make a preheat fixture for the 28w tube. I've never seen a preheat ballast for 28w T5 tubes and don't even know if they exist. I probably could use an F30T8 ballast which will overdrive the tube by about 2 watts but would prefer an actual 28w ballast.
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Fluro starter chimes combined with a 50hz ballast hum and blinking tubes is music to my ears.

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Total incidents since joining LG: 12
Lamps accidently broken or smashed: 10
Ballast explosions/burnouts: 2

	Re: Do 28w Preheat Ballasts Exist? « Reply #2 on: March 11, 2023, 01:28:37 PM » Author: Medved
Quote from: 108CAM on March 08, 2023, 10:19:56 PM I probably could use an F30T8 ballast which will overdrive the tube by about 2 watts but would prefer an actual 28w ballast. No, it won't be 2 W, but it could be well above that. Plus the electrodes in these modern T5 (HE and HO) lamps do not handle the low frequency well. When their design was developed while optimizing the design of these lamps, the 50Hz ballast compatibility was just "thrown under the bus" in order to get the extra efficacy...
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No more selfballasted c***

	Re: Do 28w Preheat Ballasts Exist? « Reply #3 on: March 11, 2023, 04:57:17 PM » Author: 108CAM
So I'd be better off using something like this Osram Quicktronic multi wattage ballast which is designed for fluorescent tubes and CFL lamps between 26w and 42w. https://media.discordapp.net/attachments/770526034201411586/1084231557360910339/IMG_4081.jpg?width=781&height=586 The specs don't specifically say that it's compatible with F28T5 tubes but am assuming it will work
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Fluro starter chimes combined with a 50hz ballast hum and blinking tubes is music to my ears.

Rest in Peace Electronic Lamp Manufacturers of Australia
1925-2002

Bring back the AJF Zodiacs!

Total incidents since joining LG: 12
Lamps accidently broken or smashed: 10
Ballast explosions/burnouts: 2

	Re: Do 28w Preheat Ballasts Exist? « Reply #5 on: March 13, 2023, 12:43:57 AM » Author: xmaslightguy
I once managed to run a F54T5 HO lamp on a F40T12 RS ballast. (had a bit of trouble starting & was a kinda flickery til it warmed up, but ran fine after that) Lamp current is the same for a T5 HO and a F40T12, but the F54 really needs a higher voltage to start & run reliably (A F39T5 woulda been a better/closer match for that ballast .. but it was only a test not something I intended to put in use)
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