Fluorescent lights - how likely to the ballasts blow out?

[W4SIM]

Hello all

In the ceiling of our shop we have fluorescent lighting which is 2 x 5ft tubes at 58w each. The other day i was removing one of the tubes to replace it with another one to check if that was working.

However, i didnt switch the light off at the mains (as it would get too dark and i thought the other tube would stay lit), but unfortunately it started to make a "fizzling" sound like short circuiting and then both lights went out. Iv replaced them both and they wont work, i can only hazard a guess and say the High Frequency Ballast at the back has blown. A new one is £25, but i just want to know how likely it would be that removing this light caused the ballast to blow?

This one here seems to fit the bill if someone doesnt know what im referring to:-

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=260827284274&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT


Thanks.

 

[W4SIM]

Sorry, forgot tot mention that before i blew the lights out both tubes had been flickering for quite a few months. Dont know if that makes a difference to the diagnosis.

 

[Wontdothatagain]

£9.75 just for the ballest , i pay £12.00 for a complete fitting with tube.

 

[flameport]

Sorry, forgot tot mention that before i blew the lights out both tubes had been flickering for quite a few months. Dont know if that makes a difference to the diagnosis.

In that case, the ballast was already faulty. HF units should switch off completely if the tube fails.

 

[W4SIM]

Sorry, forgot tot mention that before i blew the lights out both tubes had been flickering for quite a few months. Dont know if that makes a difference to the diagnosis.

In that case, the ballast was already faulty. HF units should switch off completely if the tube fails.

But when i replaced the tube with a new one that was working the lights still didnt come on, so does that mean the HF Unit has blown out?

 

[yorkspark]

yes the hf ballast is goosed

 

[RF Lighting]

£9.75 just for the ballest , i pay £12.00 for a complete fitting with tube.

For a HF twin pop pack including lamps??

Where's that from then?

 

[W4SIM]

yes the hf ballast is goosed

Thanks for getting straight to the point mate, im going to order 2 later today.

Also, the guy from the ebay link has quoted me for 2, posted to my house, at £16. Cant really argue with that.

 

[W4SIM]

£9.75 just for the ballest , i pay £12.00 for a complete fitting with tube.

For a HF twin pop pack including lamps??

Where's that from then?

I doubt it'll be the same, the cheapest i could find was £30, and not even sure if that had the ballast on it. At £12 its most likely a different size altogether.

 

[ericmark]

Yes HF ballasts do not like you fiddling with them while on. And also often both lamps go though same ballast. As other say price to quote is very cheap. We found one had to change tubes quite quickly after they showed signs of failing to save the ballast, which was really reverse of whole point of using HF ballasts which was to close down room every three years and re-tube all together as they were so hard to get to.
If we could get to tube without scaffold we would change as soon as it showed any signs of flicker. But with those we could not access without scaffold they would be left until next major re-tube and more often then not by that time the ballast had blown.

 

[ericmark]

£9.75 just for the ballest , i pay £12.00 for a complete fitting with tube.

He did say HF ballast. Where can you buy a HF fitting for £12? Don't think you read post fully!

 

[Monkeh]

£9.75 just for the ballest , i pay £12.00 for a complete fitting with tube.

He did say HF ballast. Where can you buy a HF fitting for £12? Don't think you read post fully!

Right here: http://www.tlc-direct.co.uk/Products/HF136.html