This is the only single pin instant start ballast I can get. Can I use this to finish off various EOL tubes, without damaging the ballast?


I just lit an EOL lamp on this for a second, the characteristic orange glow is there.

Well no one will tell you for sure. I bet every ballast (at least from respectable mfg) is designed minding it has to survive working with EOL lamp for some time. But of course you stress resonant circuit (capacitor and inductor) at the output.

BTW what is that especial fun with forcing EOL fluorescents? Orange light probably goes from stem glass melting and releasing some sodium ions into the discharge. Until it finally cracks or gets sucked in by vacuum. So the lamp momentary works LPS style I did it may be a couple of times in school age, though electronic ballasts were still not widespread and effects on the magnetic were not that spectaculars. Typically, electrode support wire just melted to a ball and then lamp extinguished, but did not typically lose vacuum.

 



 

If ballast magnetic is beat not to EOL fluorescent on them
 That how many magnetic  T12 slimeline ballast dies because
They EOL tubes

Have no idea on that particular ballast, but with GE instant-start electronic ballasts (F32T8 type), I've had mixed results when it comes to EOL lamps:

There are a few models out there with EOL-protection...with those the bad lamp will come on full brightness, flicker some & maybe a bit of orange glow, then after a few seconds it'll just fade out & remain very dim (while other good lamps stay full brightness)

Most seem to fry an EOL lamp to vacuum-loss with the orange-end glow & all that stuff, and no issues.

But I've also had some where the ballast EOL's itself on the first EOL lamp it sees. What pure junk! Any ballast should be able to handle a lamp going EOL.

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If you do risk frying EOL lamps with this (or any for that matter) ballast, make sure the 2nd lamp is good.