Rapid Start Ballast Troubleshooting

Eliminate other possible causes and replace the ballast if necessary.

Rapid start ballast troubleshooting. Using a screwdriver remove the protective covering. Before beginning you will need to shut off the electricity. Electronic ballasts generally provide starting voltages. To perform the tests outlined above on 2 lamp hybrid ballasts one lamp must be in place while the other sockets are tested.

F40t12 rs 3 5 to 4 volts. For two lamp units read voltage between red red blue blue and yellow yellow leads. The ballast s may have been designed for the older t12 tubes. Step 3 testing the.

Cathode cut out hybrid rapid start ballasts. Fixture hums or buzzes. 1500ma 3 5 to 4 3 volts. I d just replace the ballasts and you ll be good for another 30 years.

Ballasts don t cost much if you go to a real wholesale lighting supplier i usually don t pay more than 14 16 for a 2 or 4 tube t8 ballast and they ve improved drastically over the past 10 years. Replace the ballast see how to replace a fluorescent ballast above. To measure filament voltage on a single lamp unit read voltage between red red and blue blue leads. Electronic ballasts for rapid start lamps because of the special operating characteristics of many electronic ballasts such as high frequency operation parallel circuitry and instant starting field testing can be difficult and procedures varied.

As a last resort replace the fixture. If replacing the tube does not correct the flickering replace the starter. 800ma 3 5 to 4 3 volts. The filament voltages for the most typically encountered rapid start ballasts are.

Step 2 remove the protective covering and observe the ballast. F30t12 rs 3 5 to 4 volts. If you have a multimeter tool you can also check it for continuity.