Are Electric Ballast the same for T5, T6, T8 & T12 Lights?

[r0n]

I purchase one of those cheap 48" hood with 4x54w T6 lighting. From all the research I've done, the ballast that come with the cheap hoods are a fire hazard so I'm going to replace it with a good electronic ballast. The 48" hood including the blubs is only $79 brand new + shipping and buying new quality ballast replacements... I would still be on top compaired to the expensive name brand hoods.

I've searches and could not find a direct answer if the Electric Ballast are the same ballast for all the T5, T6, T8 & T12 Lights? or is it a special ballast for each one. I know T8 and T12's are using the same ballast.

Thanks.

 

[Avalon]

Yes they are all the same, but as you've noticed, not all electronic ballasts are worth a darn. With many T8 & T12 fixtures (shop lights), they use really cheap ballasts that wear out over time. You simply go by the power rating. You can find Fulham Workhorse ballasts on ebay for cheap; they are a good ballast to use.

 

[r0n]

Thanks Avalon. I'll search on those ballast. I had a feeling they were the same but need confirmation.

I also know not all ballasts are made the same quality. I may even look for a ballast that allows you to lower the current so I have more light control.

 

[r0n]

I've doing more research and found you do not want to over drive your lights too much. I found a couple of good inexpensive UL rated electronic ballast while researching. I running a 2 x 54w T5 / T6 lamp. Actually 4 light total but want to keep 2 lights on a seperate circuit so I don't have to run all 4 so I have to purchase 2 ballast.

I see a lot of post on IceCap but don't want to pay that much and don't need the dimming capability. Here's what I've found. Btw I didn't post the link because I'm sure if that's allowed. If google the part # with the same price then you will find other good deals with lower or higher watts...

The Falham are the cheapest with a 2 year warranty. I was going for the warranty.

- Advance (A division of Philips) ICN-2S54 run up 2 x 54w $38 up 3 to 5 year warranty.
- GE 47542 run up to 2 x 54W. $31.41 Has a 5 year warranty

 

[Avalon]

I've heard good things about the Advance ballasts, but I don't know anything about the GE ones. With lights, you can use any ballast regardless of power, as long as you don't use a smaller ballast than the bulb's rated current draw. The light bulb creates a load for the ballast and depends upon how you wire it. The ballast doesn't provide a steady full-blast output current...for example, you could have a 300w rated ballast drive 2 54w (108w total current draw) bulbs with no problem; the bulbs are only demanding 108w of the 300w capacity. You could add more bulbs up to the rated 300w. The difference is in how you wire them. Parallel wiring compounds the load (bad for lighting, but that's how you overdrive lights), while series wiring only totals it. The ballast is reactive towards the load which is the light bulb(s) itself. Hope that helps make your decision a bit easier.