You might try a .5 mf cap across the ballast. That will improve the
powerfactor issue. Be sure to use one designed for 250 ac.
Steve

"Proctologically Violated©®" wrote in message
...
Awl--

Some time ago on rcm, the subject of fluorescent lighting came up, and I
gushy-gushed about the great $7.99 deal for HDs 4-foot *electronic* 2-buhb
*T-8* (thinner style buhb) fixtures--replete w/ cord, chain/hooks, budget
reflector, etc.

Vs. my local lite guy, who does nuthin but *make* these fixtures, and
charges $20+ bucks for a non-electronic older T12 (thicker buhb), w/ no
cord, chain, reflector...
W/ no *apparent* diff. in quality. Boy, was I ****ed, just having bought a
load from him!!

OK, so where's the catch?? Ready??

Hint 1: W/ my effing new-found neutral/ground problem, ahm amp-probing
everygoddamthing in sight....
Hint 2: a guy on rcm echoed the typical, you get whachoo payfer, HD is
****, etc. etc. Ahm fence-straddlin, bleating, Not necessarily...
He wuz right....

OK, here it is:

The current draw of the HD special is *more than DOUBLE* that of my local
guy's OLDER T12 fixture!!!! More than double!!! About 1.1 vs. about .5.
Goodgawd....

So, fer allayou payin CA electric rates (which proly have just caught up
to
fukn NYC rates!), a shopful of these goddamm HD lites could show up
mightily
at the end of the year, electricity-wise.
Not to mention the added heat load, and proly accelerated wear of the
proly
very cheap ballast, ekc.

Now, admittedly, I didn't compare HDs T-8 w/ my local guy's T-8, but part
of
the *whole point* of electronic T-8s is in fact energy conservation, which
should make the difference even more, uh, glaring.
I will, when I buy another fixture, spend the bucks on my local guy's
version, and report back, but almost guarownteed that the comparison will
be
even worser.

PV'd again...
Ceptin who would know, ceptin a neutral-plagued chronically PV'd asshole
runnin around w/ an Amprobe?? In diapers, bunny slippers, w/ a ceegar....
----------------------------
Mr. P.V.'d
formerly Droll Troll