Honestly though, 79 US for a new old stock SOX18 ballast is the best youre gonna get. Everyone else wants hundreds for a piece of metal that will be scrap in a few years because Philips just pulled the plug on orders for SOX. If the OP is interested I'll link him to the ballast, its his best option if he wants a real ballast. The fixture is a deal for sure, if you have lamps to spare and need a fixture

I probably have already seen the ballast you are referring to. The Fulham ballast I already have set up is fine for now. I have only ran it a couple times since I put it all together. I ran it for several hours at work a couple times while I was there at work by myself.

Glad to hear it is working out.

What price do you guys consider as a good deal on ballasts like that. Im thinking I may be off in my thinking and would like and respect anyones perspective. Im still happy with mine i really needed it

Glad to hear it is working out.

What price do you guys consider as a good deal on ballasts like that. Im thinking I may be off in my thinking and would like and respect anyones perspective. Im still happy with mine i really needed it

I'd say $79 was a good deal. They go for way more than that these days. I'd prefer to buy one if it was like $20 or less but the chances of that are slim lol.

Lots of good info in this thread. I'm considering grabbing one of those WH3 ballasts to run 18w SOX lamps with. I used to run them with a F17T8 instant start ballast but the WH-3 seems like it comes in a form factor similar to a electronic HID ballast.

I do have a real 18w SOX ballast which came with the NOS Goldeye I have but it runs rather hot for my liking.

I do have a real 18w SOX ballast which came with the NOS Goldeye I have but it runs rather hot for my liking.

Is yours the same one that is shaped similar to a small can ballast? Mine gets way too hot also, which is what made me buy the real HID sized HPF ballast for it, plus I know if i let that deal slip through, i'll only be seeing them again going for 300 or more as they tend too already

It's essentially the same as yours but I think mine is a older revision. It has a ink stamped label instead of a more modern printed one. I guess the ballast design just tends to run hot though. I have a NPF Advance 50w MV ballast that runs pretty hot too. I have it remote mounted in a vented enclosure so it runs slightly cooler.

I forgot i seen that lol yours looks brand new

Hi, does anyone know of a suitable ballast for an 18W SOX lamp in the UK..? We don't have the Fulham type here, and ordering one from the US would be too expensive once shipping and import/customs costs are added on. I have just acquired a lamp, but nothing to run it on  

Hi, does anyone know of a suitable ballast for an 18W SOX lamp in the UK..? We don't have the Fulham type here, and ordering one from the US would be too expensive once shipping and import/customs costs are added on. I have just acquired a lamp, but nothing to run it on  

An 18W T8 fluorescent choke...
230V should be enough to ignite it...

An 18W T8 fluorescent choke...
230V should be enough to ignite it...

Thanks, I'll look into that. I do have a few electronic ballasts for 18W tubes, but I'm guessing you mean a magnetic one. I don't have one of those spare, but I'll check on eBay.

Thanks, I'll look into that. I do have a few electronic ballasts for 18W tubes, but I'm guessing you mean a magnetic one. I don't have one of those spare, but I'll check on eBay.

With electronic it is not that simple. In Europe we do not have ballasts designed to work as instant start with a single wire for each lamp end. It is possible to short the filaments and make the instant start out of some ballasts, but then it may blow once the lamp fails to strike or is missing at all - the lamp filaments often serve as fuses protecting the ballast against faulty lamp.
The US instant start ballasts are designed for that, so usually have some form of protection inside.

I've found a magnetic ballast on eBay for a reasonable price, will post more details once I get it and try it out 

I've found a magnetic ballast on eBay for a reasonable price, will post more details once I get it and try it out 

Good luck Ria I hope it works out. I look forward to seeing pictures.

I've found a magnetic ballast on eBay for a reasonable price, will post more details once I get it and try it out 

Nice! Hope all goes well!

Nice! Hope all goes well!

We'll find out next week..! Thanks all