Apparently I need to replace the ballast in one of my F96T12HO 2 lamp
overhead fixture. Don't want to change the fixture, as it's very nice,
sparkproof, and currently have 8 of these in my garage. They all have 95
watt bulbs in them. Went all around town, SOL, only 110 watt bulbs with
the correct ends.

So I bought those and installed. They light up bright, but flicker
badly. Ballast buzzes slightly, but the same as all the other good
lights. Garage temp was 35 degrees F.

Have not tried installing the 110 Watt bulbs in a good fixture yet. I
have been told that 110 watt was the only option for the HO until they
came out with the 95 watt energy saving bulbs, which are locally
unavailable to me, and that my ballast should handle the 110 watters.

Is it possible my ballast is good, and cannot handle the higher output
bulbs? What kind of rating should I look for on the ballast in the
fixture? I looked at it earlier, but don't remember. If I am SOL on the
95 Watt bulbs, can someone recommend an inexpensive replacement
electronic ballast, and a source, as I will be changing all eight
eventually, as they expire?

Steve Walker fired this volley in news:-
:

Is it possible my ballast is good, and cannot handle the higher output
bulbs? What kind of rating should I look for on the ballast in the
fixture? I looked at it earlier, but don't remember. If I am SOL on the
95 Watt bulbs, can someone recommend an inexpensive replacement
electronic ballast, and a source, as I will be changing all eight
eventually, as they expire?

It's very possible that the ballast cannot hold the voltage on the higher
load current. Electromagnetic ballasts are intended to 'swing' with load
-- that's how they regulate, especially when starting the arc.
Essentially, they deliver (about, nearly, almost) constant power to the
load, instead of constant voltage.

T12 bulbs in a lot of lengths and wattages are being phased out in favor
of much more efficient T8 bulbs. In a 96" fixture, I don't know if they
have those in T8s. There might be physical support issues with a 1" o.d.
lamp 8' long. But in all my 48" fixtures, whenever a ballast needs
replacing, I go with a T8 electronic ballast and new T8 bulbs. I get a
LOT more light for considerably less consumption, and longer bulb life.

LLoyd

In article , Steve
Walker wrote:

Apparently I need to replace the ballast in one of my F96T12HO 2 lamp
overhead fixture. Don't want to change the fixture, as it's very nice,
sparkproof, and currently have 8 of these in my garage. They all have 95
watt bulbs in them. Went all around town, SOL, only 110 watt bulbs with
the correct ends.

So I bought those and installed. They light up bright, but flicker
badly. Ballast buzzes slightly, but the same as all the other good
lights. Garage temp was 35 degrees F.

Have not tried installing the 110 Watt bulbs in a good fixture yet. I
have been told that 110 watt was the only option for the HO until they
came out with the 95 watt energy saving bulbs, which are locally
unavailable to me, and that my ballast should handle the 110 watters.

Is it possible my ballast is good, and cannot handle the higher output
bulbs? What kind of rating should I look for on the ballast in the
fixture? I looked at it earlier, but don't remember. If I am SOL on the
95 Watt bulbs, can someone recommend an inexpensive replacement
electronic ballast, and a source, as I will be changing all eight
eventually, as they expire?

Sounds like the fixture isn't designed for 35 F. If you let it run a
while, does the flickering subside and stop? I have such fixtures in
my unheated attic, and the lamps do flicker for a while.

Joe Gwinn

Steve Walker wrote:
Apparently I need to replace the ballast in one of my F96T12HO 2 lamp
overhead fixture. Don't want to change the fixture, as it's very nice,
sparkproof, and currently have 8 of these in my garage. They all have 95
watt bulbs in them. Went all around town, SOL, only 110 watt bulbs with
the correct ends.

So I bought those and installed. They light up bright, but flicker
badly. Ballast buzzes slightly, but the same as all the other good
lights. Garage temp was 35 degrees F.

Have not tried installing the 110 Watt bulbs in a good fixture yet. I
have been told that 110 watt was the only option for the HO until they
came out with the 95 watt energy saving bulbs, which are locally
unavailable to me, and that my ballast should handle the 110 watters.

Is it possible my ballast is good, and cannot handle the higher output
bulbs? What kind of rating should I look for on the ballast in the
fixture? I looked at it earlier, but don't remember. If I am SOL on the
95 Watt bulbs, can someone recommend an inexpensive replacement
electronic ballast, and a source, as I will be changing all eight
eventually, as they expire?


https://www.1000bulbs.com/category/t...rescent-tubes/

Or the better option

Do a few changes and use these in those fixtures.
https://www.1000bulbs.com/category/t8-led-bulbs/

I swapped all my shop over to
https://www.1000bulbs.com/product/11...l#BVRRWidgetID
It's like walking into an operating room now.

--
Steve W.