"Phil Allison" wrote in news:9mqvhnFst9U1
@mid.individual.net:


"Tegger"
"Phil Allison"
"Tegger"


But why the listing of three discrete wattages, rather than an
upper-and- lower range of wattages?


** Marketing reasons.


So I can safely use this multi-rated starter for my 15w fixture?


** Been using " 4-80 W " starters on my 15W desk lamp for decades.



... Phil







An update: It turns out that the failure was almost certainly /not/ due to
the starter, so it's a good thing I didn't blow $4 on a new one. I removed
the starter from the fixture for testing purposes, leaving bare wire-ends
on the bypass circuit.

I tried three bulbs, two brand-new. Plus I tested the tubes' filaments for
continuity. All tested good, and all worked in another fixture.

I also tested for continuity within the fixture where it seemed logical to
see it. I assumed I'd find an open through the ballast, which I did find.

But I guessed that when the ballast was fed with (a measured) 123VAC, I'd
see something similar across the wires where the starter was, but all I
found was 2.5VAC. That appears to be not enough to strike a spark, and no
spark was had, no matter how slowly I brought the wires together.

My guess now is that the ballast is bad. In any case, I went to Walmart and
bought a near dead-ringer of my old GE unit for a whopping $13. So this
matter is done. Thanks, Phil.


--
Tegger