DC fluorescent ballasts [RE-wrenches]

[Mark Downing]

The customer turns them on and off once each day.  They burn for
maybe 8 to 10 hours.  Battery voltage is never low (at the battery),
but I need to check into the wiring.  I would guess it is too small
a gauge and ran too far.
What about upper voltage limits for the various brands of ballasts?
The batteries are charge with alternators, and I'm not sure how high
the voltage gets.  I should install my Omnimeter and log their usage
for a few days.

--- "David Palumbo, Independent Power & Light" <ipl at sover.net> wrote:
> Mark,
> I have been using DC ballasts for years, some early Iota's, mostly
> ThinLites, and some S&H/LIT ballasts with mixed results.
> Voltage to the ballast is very important as any voltage drop due to
> undersized wiring cirquits, or due to bad wiring, or switches will
> shorten the life of the lamp/ballast. Also length of on time for
> the fluorescents is important. They are speced to be on for long
> periods of time, such as four hours.
> I mention all of the above because I have not seen one manufacturers
> ballasts last significantly longer than anothers.
> Dave
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Mark Downing [mailto:solarman4 at yahoo.com]
> Sent: Tuesday, September 04, 2001 10:34 PM
> To: RE-wrenches at topica.com
> Subject: DC fluorescent ballasts [RE-wrenches]
> 
> I have some Amish customers that are using common dual tube 4' shop
> lights converted to 12V with ThinLite ballasts.  They believe that
> they should be getting at least 3 or 4 years life out of them, but
> are not.
> Questions - Are Iota ballasts more rugged and last longer?
> Where's the best source for Iota ballasts?
> 
> Thanks,
> Mark, Hurshtown Alternative Power


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