The Other Mike wrote:
Currently got a remote observation site (wildlife) with no grid fed
power nor any prospect of it.

Half the site has a few modified 4ft T5's (36W) retrofitted with 12v
IOTA Ballasts (2D12-1-32) fed from a lead acid battery charged by a
solar panel. The other half of the site has 5ft T5's with magnetic
ballasts fed by a Honda EU20i generator which despite being a quiet
suitcase model and loads of additional soundproofing is still way too
noisy. Near silent operation is essential. Hauling fuel is also a
PITA as its a long way from the road.

So I need a way of powering the 5ft T5's (58W) from a low voltage DC
supply. IOTA only make ballasts up to 40W and they need a circa 50v
supply, realistically I need to keep to 12v to keep the solar array
price down.

So thoughts turned to an inverter fed from an uprated solar array and
battery.

A cheap modified sine wave inverter (circa 500W capacity) on a 100Ah
brand new battery fails to even kick even one 5ft tube into life. The
manufacturer says these inverters are not compatible with fluorescent
tubes but doesn't elaborate any further.

Does anyone have any ideas on how to get these lights working off
grid?

A change of ballast to an electronic type? (all indications are this
could won't work?)

Moving to a pure sine wave inverter (extremely expensive) ?

A different inverter supplier rather than 'one hung lo china inc' ?'

A ballast supplier that offers 12v ballasts that will drive a 58W
tube?

A homebrew 12V fluorescent inverter, running at high frequency that
will drive 5ft tubes and costs not a lot?




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