In need of a decent two-tube F20T12 ballast « on: March 16, 2024, 02:01:51 AM » Author: HomeBrewLamps
Hey guys! Recently getting around to moving into a new place and the kitchen sink light is out. It had one of those crappy electronic F20 ballasts and it's burnt up. I tried swapping in one of my magnetic dual F20 ballasts and it's just making the tubes flicker. So I guess that one is bad too. Even though when I put it away it was good  I'm wondering if anyone has a good one or two they'd be willing to part with. If not I can maybe find something at Lowe's.
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~Owen

Scavenger, Urban Explorer, Lighting Enthusiast and Creator of homebrewlamps

	Re: In need of a decent two-tube F20T12 ballast « Reply #1 on: March 16, 2024, 02:18:08 AM » Author: WorldwideHIDCollectorUSA
Are you looking for trigger start ballasts? Additionally, tubes can start more reliably if you convert the fixture to preheat. One method of doing so is to use a single lamp F40T12 preheat ballast to run both tubes in series or use 2 individual F20T12 preheat ballasts.
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Desire to collect various light bulbs (especially HID), control gear, and fixtures from around the world.

DISCLAIMER: THE EXPERIMENTS THAT I CONDUCT INVOLVING UNUSUAL LAMP/BALLAST COMBINATIONS SHOULD NOT BE ATTEMPTED UNLESS YOU HAVE THE PROPER KNOWLEDGE. I AM NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR ANY INJURIES.

	Re: In need of a decent two-tube F20T12 ballast « Reply #2 on: March 16, 2024, 04:18:33 AM » Author: HomeBrewLamps
Rapid start or preheat. Doesn't matter to me. It's technically not my fixture (it's my father's). I just don't want to be forced to convert it to LED and I want it to last virtually forever. I'd also like to avoid the junk electronic ballasts if possible (that's what was in it in the first place). The fixture is wayyy too small to fit an F40 ballast. It barely fits a magnetic F20 ballast and tubes. There is about 7mm of space between the tube and the ballast. It's one of those compact wrap around things.
« Last Edit: March 16, 2024, 04:22:32 AM by HomeBrewLamps »		Logged

~Owen

Scavenger, Urban Explorer, Lighting Enthusiast and Creator of homebrewlamps

	Re: In need of a decent two-tube F20T12 ballast « Reply #3 on: March 16, 2024, 10:54:26 AM » Author: Maxim
I'll see if I have any. I have one in use currently, but I may have gotten a few spares from a ballast lot I won at auction.
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	Re: In need of a decent two-tube F20T12 ballast « Reply #4 on: March 16, 2024, 01:00:31 PM » Author: Patrick
Are you sure your lamps are good and the sockets aren't shunted?  I have a few ballasts I'm not using, including one that's HPF.  That one is nice and bright might not fit.  The NPF ballasts are dim with F20s.  I did the two preheat choke setup in this fixture. Another good option for keeping it fluorescent would be to get a decent name-brand F17/F32 electronic ballast and install F17T8 lamps.
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Lighting-Gallery.net

	Re: In need of a decent two-tube F20T12 ballast « Reply #5 on: March 16, 2024, 03:12:18 PM » Author: HomeBrewLamps
I could try the preheat choke idea... I think they actually still sell those at Lowe's.. I'm not sure though. Yeah that HPF ballast looks way too big unfortunately. I wish the existing fixture wasn't so puny but I don't have anything to replace it with and on top of that it is held in by those weird spider dry wall anchors that just sit inside the ceiling. So If I try to take it down I won't be able to get anything back up easily
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~Owen

Scavenger, Urban Explorer, Lighting Enthusiast and Creator of homebrewlamps

	Re: In need of a decent two-tube F20T12 ballast « Reply #6 on: March 16, 2024, 04:51:05 PM » Author: Patrick
If you want to simply grab something from Lowes or the like, I'm pretty sure you're stuck with electronic.  At least Lowes does carry GE electronic ballasts that'll operate F20T12, and of course they have F17T8 as well.
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Lighting-Gallery.net

	Re: In need of a decent two-tube F20T12 ballast « Reply #7 on: March 17, 2024, 02:49:12 PM » Author: WorldwideHIDCollectorUSA
If you want ballasts that drive tubes at full power, here is one that you might find useful: https://www.ebay.com/itm/304723069390 But in that case, you will need 2 of them. Here are some small single lamp 110V 60Hz and 120V 60Hz F40T12 preheat ballasts, I think they are smaller than a typical North American single lamp F40T12 preheat ballast: https://www.ebay.com/itm/166282314675 https://www.ebay.com/itm/126004978786 You could certainly use them for running a pair of F20T12 tubes in series.
« Last Edit: March 17, 2024, 02:58:51 PM by WorldwideHIDCollectorUSA »		Logged

Desire to collect various light bulbs (especially HID), control gear, and fixtures from around the world.

DISCLAIMER: THE EXPERIMENTS THAT I CONDUCT INVOLVING UNUSUAL LAMP/BALLAST COMBINATIONS SHOULD NOT BE ATTEMPTED UNLESS YOU HAVE THE PROPER KNOWLEDGE. I AM NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR ANY INJURIES.