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Old 09-13-2006, 07:39 PM   #3 of 7
Greg_R
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Join Date: Apr 2000
Local Time: 05:58 AM
Local Date: 12-01-2008
Posts: 2,133

Re: How expensive is ballast for a flourescent light?


A flourscent fixture is essentially the ballast and the lights (the rest is bent sheet metal and some connectors). Ballasts will vary in cost based on their starting temperature and whether or not they are electronic ballasts. Cheap ballasts and fixtures are (IMO) garbage and should be avoided. Get an electronic ballast (appropriate for the number and size of your tubes) that can start in cool conditions. Plan on spending $10-$20 for a decent ballast. Be sure to get the correct phase / voltage as well (best option is to bring in the old ballast).

I just bought eight 8' 4 tube T8 fixtures that I installed in my garage (where it gets below freezing). The good ballasts start the lights up immediately where the cheap ballast just flickers _forever_.


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