Bingo! Winner Winner steak dinner.Maybe I should just replace the whole thing with a LED version.
Replace the tubes with direct wire, dual ended power LED tubes. Eliminates the ballast and reuses the existing fixture with minor wiring changes.They are 48 inch . I will replace the whole unit with LED and without ballasts. I will probably have to reuse the casing if I cant find one that matches it.
You can use your existing tombstones.Can I assume that one of the pins at each end is only a supporting pin so I can reuse my shunted tombstones ? In which case I dont need to remove the fixture to redo the wiring. Its quite simple , I will need a few twist connectors and some lengths of black and white 18 ga wire.
Its really like connecting the 2 tubes in parallel . Since its a series connection I do have to cut the wire which shorts the two tombstones together (at one end )and splice a 3rd return wire to either hot or neutral. Same for the other end but in that case no cutting is needed just splicing a 3rd wire . Do the tubes indicate which end is hot ?You can use your existing tombstones.
Just make sure one end gets a hot and the opposite end a neutral.
Yes, its very easy and worthwhile to do.
Its really like connecting the 2 tubes in parallel . Since its a series connection I do have to cut the wire which shorts the two tombstones together (at one end )and splice a 3rd return wire to either hot or neutral. Same for the other end but in that case no cutting is needed just splicing a 3rd wire . Do the tubes indicate which end is hot ?
My old ballast only has 4 wires... 2 input and 2 output. I dont have a return wire at one end of the fixture. Just the 2 tombstones joined together at one end, which is why I need to cut and splice a 3rd wire .No you do not, just take all the wires from 1 end of the fixture and connect to the hot wire (I prefer to do this with the red/blues). Take all the wires from the other end and connect to the neutral (I prefer the yellows). This the method for double ended powered LEDs. It does not matter if the tombstones are shunted or un-shunted.
Some 4 tube fixtures with 2 ballasts have half the red/blues to 1 end of the fixture and the other half of the red/blues to the other. Doesn't matter, all the red/blues to the hot, all the yellows to the neutral.
Show me a picture of that, I am conflabbergated.My old ballast only has 4 wires... 2 input and 2 output. I dont have a return wire at one end of the fixture. Just the 2 tombstones joined together at one end, which is why I need to cut and splice a 3rd wire .
Yes you would have to run a wire from the jumpered tombstones to the neutral.see attachment View attachment 594563
As you can see , just a very high voltage from ballast secondary to the 2 tubes in series . no third wire to ballast .
I keep waiting for that to happen, and it keeps never happening. I agree, no earthly reason to invest in T12 tech.T12 tubes are being phased out. No sense going with something you cannot get bulbs for.
Yeah, instant start are a pain like that. Keep in mind, the reason they make them single-ended is to save a penny, which just reflects how cheap LED replacement "tubes" are.I could not find the double ended power T8 LED tubes in single or 2 pack at local stores to minimize tombstone mods or replacement.
Good for you. Sell your old fixtures on Craigslist. People like me love em (90% for LED conversions, but nevermind that lol).I got so frustrated that I simply bought a new fixture with fixed LEDs for slightly more than the cost of tubes and replacing tombstones . I simply removed the old and remount the new fixture . Simple to do . Its done and working fine
Yes, I am suitably impressed by both the maker and the price. Go ogle Earth says they're in a building that looks like a factory (big, loads of parking, awkward few truck docks). I'll stick a couple in my 24x7 lights and see how they perform. They'd be a good fit for the archival areas I mentioned.Here is a 2 pack of replacement singled ended tubes for $20. It includes the replacement non shunted ballast. Toggled is a very good brand.
I was looking for double ended powered LED tubes. Cant find them in small quantities.Here is a 2 pack of replacement singled ended tubes for $20. It includes the replacement non shunted ballast. Toggled is a very good brand.
https://www.homedepot.com/p/toggled-48-in-16-Watt-Daylight-Deluxe-T8-Dimmable-Linear-LED-Tube-Light-Bulb-2-Pack-D416-65321-2/308086234?modalType=drawer
