"RBM" rmottola1(remove wrote in message
...
electronic ballasts for four foot fluorescent lamps commonly are made to
control up to four F32 T8 lamps. The newest generation of these ballasts
works much better than old magnetic ballasts

RBM many thanks for your comments/information.
Several follow up Qs, if I may?
So, with an electronic ballast I would need to buy F32 lamps and use them
instead of F40s?
Do F32s use the same 'end sockets' as conventional tubes?
I ask is because many of my 'spare' parts (and tubes) were free, thrown out
following a local school lighting renovation job and several hundred
perfectly good traditional two contact (mainly white plastic) sockets, still
with wires attached were thrown out. Gave me a big box of em, wire nuts and
all!
This made me wonder if an 'electronic' tube use a different socket; or maybe
was it something to do with the spacing/clearance of the slimmer?
'electronic' tube requiring sockets of a different height?
Because I also noticed that doing the renovation job, while basically
retaining the fixtures themselves a chrome reflector was added 'behind' the
new tubes, for greater efficiency I guess?
BTW the electronic ballast is much the same weight as a conventional one;
but if the electronics work at a higher frequency? than the 60 hertz line
they presumably wouldn't need as much metal in the core and should be not as
heavy?
Except for our bought new conventional two tube fluorescent in the kitchen
all our 'renovated/rejuvenated/mainly got for free' fluorescents are used in
our workshop and garage and therefore not used every day or continuously for
long periods as they would be in store, s.market or school etc.
Electricity consumption is not a major factor given that fluorescents are
more light efficient than incandescent bulbs.
At this time of year we heat with electricity so any 'wasted' heat, from
lighting, particularly incandescents, merely offsets electric baseboard
heating!
Your comment and input is much appreciated. Terry.
PS. It's about mid 40s Fahrenheit and damp today, with three days til
Christmas! Small amount of snow we've had is all gone. Last week I planted
about 60 spring bulbs! So much for "The Great White North" eh? Christmas day
forecasted to be +9 degrees Celsius which equals (2 x 9) + 32 = 50 degrees
Fahrenheit! Yup it's green one!
From the most easterly point in North America, Seasons Greetings.