Author Topic: Best way to overdrive a F20T12?  (Read 1465 times)
RyanKorponay12
Member
***
Offline

Gender: Male
View Posts
View Gallery


Ryan Korponay The Ballaster
Best way to overdrive a F20T12? « on: May 11, 2017, 09:13:56 PM » Author: RyanKorponay12
I have some F20T12s running outside and they are running on a f40t12 ballast but there not much brighter so what is a better way to overdrive a F20T12 I don't care about lamp life because I have more cheep Philips alto lamps then I know what to do with
Logged

The Ballaster!!! *Poof*...

sol
Member
*****
Offline

View Posts
View Gallery

Re: Best way to overdrive a F20T12? « Reply #1 on: May 11, 2017, 09:50:47 PM » Author: sol
Maybe several F20 ballasts in parallel ?
Logged
Lodge
Member
*****
Offline

View Posts
View Gallery

18W Goldeye / 52W R&C LED front door lighting


Re: Best way to overdrive a F20T12? « Reply #2 on: May 11, 2017, 10:46:54 PM » Author: Lodge
how many hours are you looking at realistically getting out of them ? do they have to last the night or do you want to see if you can get them to output as much light as a four foot xenon strobe tube (they won't last long)
Logged
RyanKorponay12
Member
***
Offline

Gender: Male
View Posts
View Gallery


Ryan Korponay The Ballaster
Re: Best way to overdrive a F20T12? « Reply #3 on: May 11, 2017, 11:21:45 PM » Author: RyanKorponay12
they run every single night so at least 3,000-4,000 hours they dont need to be crazy bright but just brighter then what they are now
Logged

The Ballaster!!! *Poof*...

Ash
Member
*****
Offline

View Posts
View Gallery


Re: Best way to overdrive a F20T12? « Reply #4 on: May 12, 2017, 01:41:39 AM » Author: Ash
Add sleeves on the lamps for a start. That would rise their working temperature without rising the cathode load, so with minimum effect on lamp life

Then if still not enough try to up the current with something like 7/9W PL choke in parallel to the 20W choke, or use 2..3 7/9W PL or 2 13W PL chokes in parallel. But dont go too hard on it if it needs to last a while - I dont think a 370mA lamp would like anything above ~450mA
Logged
xmaslightguy
Member
*****
Offline

Gender: Male
View Posts
View Gallery

Somewhere There Is Light(ning)


GoL ATL
Re: Best way to overdrive a F20T12? « Reply #5 on: May 13, 2017, 10:28:37 PM » Author: xmaslightguy
T12's don't seem to be able to take as much abuse as far as overdriving goes.

If F17T8's are anything like F32T8's as far as construction goes, they would be the better choice, F32's seem to pretty tough, overdriving (being reasonable about it ofcourse) doesn't really seem to harm them.
Logged

ThunderStorms/Lightning/Tornados are meant to be hunted down & watched...not hidden from in the basement!

sol
Member
*****
Offline

View Posts
View Gallery

Re: Best way to overdrive a F20T12? « Reply #6 on: May 14, 2017, 06:13:50 AM » Author: sol
What about European F18T8 ? They're a drop in replacement for F20T12 on preheat start. They work on North American 120V preheat, just like the T12.
Logged
RCM442
Administrator
Member
*****
Offline

Gender: Male
View Posts
View Gallery

rcm442 UC1Q-wYhi9O-1q4ugOaOZ9dA rcm442
WWW
Re: Best way to overdrive a F20T12? « Reply #7 on: May 14, 2017, 03:15:22 PM » Author: RCM442
T12's don't seem to be able to take as much abuse as far as overdriving goes.

If F17T8's are anything like F32T8's as far as construction goes, they would be the better choice, F32's seem to pretty tough, overdriving (being reasonable about it ofcourse) doesn't really seem to harm them.
I overdrive my F32T8s and they don't seem to care at all! Running them on a 2 lamp ballast with both outputs tied together. Haven't noticed any reducer life either.
Logged

LEDs need to stop taking over everything
Administrator #4
Need help with something on the site? Let me know!

Ash
Member
*****
Offline

View Posts
View Gallery


Re: Best way to overdrive a F20T12? « Reply #8 on: May 14, 2017, 03:24:53 PM » Author: Ash
European 18W T8's are very similar to the T12s, though atleast for 36W vs 40W it looks like the 36W have sturdier cathodes (unfortunately to some extent, because this means that an EOL lamp will glow in the ends for long periods without breaking a cathode and so let the ballast burn up)

Up to 400mA they will be fine, up to 450ish mA probably still not too bad
Logged
suzukir122
Member
*****
Offline

Gender: Male
View Posts
View Gallery


suzukir123
Re: Best way to overdrive a F20T12? « Reply #9 on: May 16, 2017, 05:27:45 PM » Author: suzukir122
I have cold temp rapid start ballasts that run lamps ranging from 40 watt T12 to 22 watt circlines. I wonder if these
ballasts can safely run F20T12's with no problem? I'm pretty sure lamp life would be reduced (and EOL could
be entertaining) but this is something that's been on my mind for quite some time.
Logged

Interests:
1. Motorcycles, Cars, Women, and Lighting (especially fluorescent)
2. Weightlifting/staying extremely athletic
3. Severe Thunderstorms of all kinds
4. Food and drinks. So gimme them bbq ribs
Lighting has ALWAYS been a passion of mine. I consider everyone on here to be a friend

Print 
© 2005-2024 Lighting-Gallery.net | SMF 2.0.19 | SMF © 2021, Simple Machines | Terms and Policies