"Edwin Pawlowski" wrote in message
m...

"Don Klipstein" wrote in message
It is the bulbs rather than the ballasts that are
impaired by low temperatures.

- Don Klipstein )

If that is true, why do low temp fixtures have different ballasts and use
the same bulbs?


At work the bulb makers came in and gave a talk on them. Due to the
government regulations to reduce or change the materials in the bulbs
(thinking mercury but not sure) the tubes become harder to light off cold.
That makes them require a differant ballast if they are used in a cold area
instead of in a heated building.
If you had some 20 or 30 year new / old stock bulbs they would fire where it
is colder than the newer bulbs will with a standard ballast.