On Sat, 21 Apr 2018 15:26:23 +0100, ARW wrote:

On 21/04/2018 08:33, Cynic wrote:
I wouldn't fanny about like that. Buy an led tube with dummy starter
and forget the flickering.


+1

-10 !

Unless you buy from a lighting specialist that can supply the latest
120LPW LED tube substitutes, you might be better off upgrading to a
microprocessor controlled electronic ballast.

I was considering an LED tube upgrade for our 4 foot 36W cheap
electronically ballasted B&Q fitting bought about two years ago now, when
the 2nd tube in 18 months (replacement to the original, presumed low
quality tube) started to give trouble. Switching the tube, end over end
in the fitting gave less than a week's relief from the starting failure,
culminating in the fitting 'going quietly Pop!'.

I wasn't impressed with either alternative of new ballast or a complete
re-lamp with the unimpressively inefficient and over-priced LED tube
options. However, persistence paid off and I bought a high quality Helvar
ballast for just under a fiver delivered postage free[1]. At that price,
it was the no brainer choice of repair.

However, the second tube had been so shagged by the Chinese ballast, the
Helvar ballast refused to even try starting it. I had slightly better
luck with the original but only in that it would light it up briefly
before aborting further starting attempts (fussy microprocessor
controller - I assumed).

My assumption proved to be correct but I did have to chance buying yet
another tube, from Toolstation this time rather than my local lighting
specialist from whom I'd bought the last one. In fact, I landed up buying
yet another, cool white this time rather than warm white - I'd forgotten
to take account of the kitchen's pale yellow colour scheme. At least I
have a working spare, even if it is a little on the warm side for the
kitchen's current colour scheme.

[1] https://www.amazon.co.uk/Helvar-EL1x...le-Electronic-
Ballast/dp/B07217Q8FF/ref=sr_1_5?
s=lighting&ie=UTF8&qid=1524354946&sr=1-5&keywords=helvar+ballast

Would seem to be the very same item but a penny cheaper! :-)

If your fluorescent light fitting is a single 36W T8 tubed 4 foot
luminaire, that should suit your needs nicely. It doesn't strike the
modern T8 tubes as slickly as the ancient but very effective Quickstart
ballasts did with the original T12 compatible tubes (250ms versus 900ms
of the modern life enhancing microprocessor controlled electronic high
frequency ballasts) but that's the price paid for a reduction from 52W
consumption down to the 36W exactly of an electronically ballasted 4 foot
T8 tube (I'd measured exactly 36W with both ballasts).

--
Johnny B Good