"Bill Moinihan" wrote in message
...
Bill Moinihan wrote:

Where's the ballast?
Will these bulbs work in these lights?
What type of lights do I have anyway (T2?, T4?, T8?)

Probably in the top of the case.

Not if the ballast is bad

Measure them. The "T" = 1/8; eg, T-12 = 12/8 = 1 1/2" diameter.

On Monday, October 31, 2016 at 10:11:46 AM UTC-4, Gary wrote:
Anyone notice how we've been totally ripped off with all this lightbulb
nonsense? Save the earth, my ass!

I used to buy a 4-pack of incandescent bulbs, generic brand for $1.00.
Now I buy a 4-pack of halogen bulbs for approx. $6.00

Guess what? The halogen ones don't last any longer than the old ones.
My electric bill is still the same so no savings there.

Thanks to all the whiny environmentalists.

This little piddly lightbulb nonsense when people are still driving
their cars everywhere, constantly...just can't stay at home for even one
day.

I quit! I just quit. ;-[]

you are completely right about this

its due to politicians trying to solve an engineering problem

m

wrote:

Just replace them one at a time with LED fixtures. Replace the worst one
first!!! Eventually they will pay for themselves in saving on the
electric bill and not having to buy more bulbs.

I bought these yesterday, from Costco, on sale.
https://s21.postimg.org/qei7hifs7/1_..._at_costco.jpg

The price was $7 per tube:
https://s21.postimg.org/8pqgpw413/2_..._at_costco.jpg

All is done, except for the last most problematic lamp, which has a buzzing
ballast out of the two ballasts (and the other one is only lighting one
lane).

So, now, my only decision is to repair or replace the one bad fixture.
https://s13.postimg.org/kekhhvot3/04...0_ballasts.jpg

HerHusband wrote:

The noise and flicker are probably caused by a failing ballast.

If the fixtures are in good condition (no metal rust and the plastic cover
still in good shape), you could simply replace the bulbs and install new
electronic ballasts. If your existing fixtures use the old T12 bulbs, you
might see if you could convert them to T8 bulbs. You can probably find
everything you need at the local home center, or shop online.

Thanks for that advice.

I took off that center plate and found two old (made in usa!) ballasts, one
of which was buzzing badly, the other of which I'm not totally sure if it's
working because I could only get 1 lane to light up consistently.

I'll test the second ballast more thoroughly today as I couldn't figure out
which two lanes went to each ballast, so I was getting confused as I put
bulbs in and out.

If it turns out just one ballast is bad, can I just cut it out of the
equation? I would think all I have to do is cut the black and white power to
the bad ballast, and then cap it off with a wire nut.

Then I could either use the fixture with just two bulbs on the good ballast,
or, I could pick up one of those T8 "electronic" ballasts, and run the T8
LED bulbs in them.

Does the fixture work fine with one ballast power line cut?

dadiOH wrote:

Probably in the top of the case.

Not if the ballast is bad

Measure them. The "T" = 1/8; eg, T-12 = 12/8 = 1 1/2" diameter.

Thanks for the T measurements.
After noting that the 16 bulbs were all 40 watts, and that the ballasts all
said T12, they're the 12/8ths of an inch type, although they sure don't seem
to be an inch and a half in diameter. They're about an inch, but they're
definitely T12 lamps, so, that 12/8ths has to be taken with a grain of salt.

Likewise, the LED replacements are not a half inch either, but they're
certainly smaller than the bigger fluorescents, so, I now know that I
definitely have T8 LEDs replacing T12 fluorescents.

In each fixture there are apparently two ballasts:
https://s13.postimg.org/kekhhvot3/04...0_ballasts.jpg

Both ballasts were of the same type, with a sticker on each saying
Universal Therm-o-matic rapid start ballast
For two F40W T12/RS lamps, high power factor
Cat No 446-LR-TC-P, 120V, 60Hertz, 0.8Amp line
Universal Mfg. Corp, Paterson NJ, Made in USA
Class P Automatic resetting thermal protected
https://s11.postimg.org/orqbysecj/02...s_40_W_T12.jpg

One ballast is humming badly, so I have identified that one bad ballast.
However, the other ballast must also be bad though, because only one lane
lights up well in that humming fixture, so, that entire fixture is bad it
seems.

I think I have these options:
1. Replace the two ballasts with T8 ballasts and put the T8 LED bulbs in.
2. Remove just the one humming ballast & see if the other lights 2 bulbs.
2. Replace the entire fixture

Recommendations on how to proceed on the one bad fixture is asked.

"Bill Moinihan" wrote in message
...
dadiOH wrote:

Probably in the top of the case.

Not if the ballast is bad

Measure them. The "T" = 1/8; eg, T-12 = 12/8 = 1 1/2" diameter.

Thanks for the T measurements.
After noting that the 16 bulbs were all 40 watts, and that the ballasts
all
said T12, they're the 12/8ths of an inch type, although they sure don't
seem
to be an inch and a half in diameter. They're about an inch, but they're
definitely T12 lamps, so, that 12/8ths has to be taken with a grain of
salt.

If they are one inch in diameter they are T-8, not T-12

Algeria Horan
Tue, 01 Nov 2016 02:38:43 GMT in
alt.home.repair, wrote:

I also unplugged the dryer, but I wonder, are 220VAC appliances as
vulnerable? Or does the offset phase confer any protection?

AFAIK, the offset phase doesn't offer protection from surging
power/lightning strikes and/or component failures with the power
company that causes incoming current to exceed what your appliance is
rated for, no.



--
Make yourself sheep and the wolves will eat you.
Benjamin Franklin

dadiOH wrote:

If they are one inch in diameter they are T-8, not T-12

The LED T8 bulbs were almost exactly 1 inch based on measuring with a ruler.

The T12 fluorescent bulbs were definitely NOT 1-1/2 inches, but they were
1-3/8ths inches, which, I guess, is either a T11 or close enough to be a T12
(since they say they are 40 watts).

I bought these yesterday, from Costco, on sale.
https://s21.postimg.org/qei7hifs7/1_..._at_costco.jpg

According to your package photo, the light output of your bulb is 1700
lumens.

A standard T8 fluorescent bulb provides about 2800 lumens.

So, you may notice a bit less light from your fixture after installing the
LED replacements.

All is done, except for the last most problematic lamp, which has a
buzzing ballast out of the two ballasts (and the other one is only
lighting one lane).

LED bulbs usually don't need a ballast at all. You might read through the
bulb instructions to see if you can do away with the ballast.

Anthony Watson
www.watsondiy.com
www.mountainsoftware.com

On 11/2/2016 8:01 AM, wrote:
On Monday, October 31, 2016 at 10:11:46 AM UTC-4, Gary wrote:
Anyone notice how we've been totally ripped off with all this lightbulb
nonsense? Save the earth, my ass!

I used to buy a 4-pack of incandescent bulbs, generic brand for $1.00.
Now I buy a 4-pack of halogen bulbs for approx. $6.00

Guess what? The halogen ones don't last any longer than the old ones.
My electric bill is still the same so no savings there.

Thanks to all the whiny environmentalists.

This little piddly lightbulb nonsense when people are still driving
their cars everywhere, constantly...just can't stay at home for even one
day.

I quit! I just quit. ;-[]

you are completely right about this

its due to politicians trying to solve an engineering problem


No, it's due to industry demand for improved efficiency and longer
life. The lighting industry is constantly developing new lighting to
meet that demand, and it eventually makes it onto the
retail/residential market.

When you're running an airport, or shopping mall, or manufacturing
plant, or doing the lighting for miles of roadway, reducing cost and
increasing service life are paramount concerns. To meet that demand,
the lighting industry came out with improved-efficiency fluorescents,
halogen lights, compact fluorescent bulbs, and now LEDs.

Thing is, as with everything, the quality of the product is only as
good as its manufacturer. If you're buying generic Chinese
manufactured lights, they will not perform as claimed. There's no
'company' per se. It's just a bunch of rebranders marketing the same
cheap light under their own labels, but the lights all come from the
same knockoff factories.

My brother was in the commercial/industrial lighting division of GE
his entire career, so for decades I've been stuck with listening to
him on this subject. On the other hand, he also supplied me with
retail versions of the different kinds of new lighting in their
earliest stages, which was interesting. But in the end, it's the same
ol' same ol' - cost concerns drives innovation.