Early jump from switch start

[Lectrician]

28watt 2D fitting, 23 years old. No starter, but an electronic module where the starter would go!

Not seen these before. I've changed lamps in this fitting many times, never removed the gear tray!

 

[333rocky333]

Used to see them a lot, they worked well and i used to rarely replace them years ago, once electronic canister starters like BG EFS600 appeared they seemed to stop selling them, reckon that was about 1990.
Someone on here a few years back found them in a module

https://www.diynot.com/diy/threads/slightly-strange-fluorescent-light-fitting.152394/#post-1029353

 

[securespark]

Yes, Thorn Vivatronic Starters, IIRC.

Saw shed loads in the 80's as I used to do a lot of commercial back then. A pain when they went wrong because instead of replacing a cheap as chips canister, the customer had to pay a deal more.

 

[JohnW2]

Saw shed loads in the 80's as I used to do a lot of commercial back then. A pain when they went wrong because instead of replacing a cheap as chips canister, the customer had to pay a deal more.

I must say that I was not aware of them. Did they allegedly offer some advantage as compared with a "cheap as chips canister"?

Kind Regards, John

 

[securespark]

Didn't get the spiel from Thorn themselves, but the wholesalers were selling them on the basis that the e-starter lasted the life of the fitting, starting was smoother and less stress was placed on the lamp.
All of which, they claimed, reduced the number of maintenance visits compared to a conventional fitting.

 

[333rocky333]

I must say that I was not aware of them. Did they allegedly offer some advantage as compared with a "cheap as chips canister"?

Kind Regards, John

As on the fittings attached label, mainly for more reliable starting, the lamp has a slight delay to come on but they claim its no longer than the initial couple of flashes a normal starter does.
Note the use of the word MEGGAR I think somehow thorn were connected with them.

Even till recently, technology of 2d fittings meant there starters were often mounted behind the plate, so another advantage was when relamping there was no need to drop the plate, often stressing the connections, to fit a starter.

Hardly any makers put electronic canister starters in enclosed fittings and thorn even labelled there other fittings Not to use Electronic starters, whereas the above viva units could handle the heat

 

[JohnW2]

All of which, they claimed, reduced the number of maintenance visits compared to a conventional fitting.

Was your experience consistent with that claim?

Kind Regards, John

 

[Iggifer]

Note the use of the word MEGGAR I think somehow thorn were connected with them

Everyone I know calls IR testing Meggering a circuit - I assume it’s more widespread than that.

Can’t really call it ‘fluking a circuit’ in public can you!

 

[Lectrician]

This is fitted as part of the fitting, not as an add on. Prior to HF. I've probably changed lamps yearly on these fitting for the last twenty years. Fitted LED retro fit lamps now, so bypassing the lot. Still going strong though.

 

[333rocky333]

Was your experience consistent with that claim?

Kind Regards, John

Mine was good.
It was said the tube filaments lasted longer therefore the lamp, about that time the old halo gas tubes were being replaced with Tri gas and Thorn brought out the Polylux range of lamps and tubes, these were actually guaranteed to last a certain amount of hours or 2 years i think it was, providing used with an electronic starter or a viva unit.
This was a first in the lighting industry and Thorn was already the market leader, with there Pop Pack fittings.

Same gas was put in 2D lamps so it made sense for Thorn to put the Vivas in 4pin 2D fittings.
This was when tubes were labelled 535 and changed to 835 as the CRI went up to 80% with the new generation gas lamps.

At the time most companies had service contracts where they relamped all the lights regardless if still working, at aprox 12 month intervals.
The idea being there would never be a lamp out between visits, aside from control gear or other issues,

Regardless of what Winston1 says i find most tubes outlive a canister starter and only ever seen about 3 viva units fail, In the late 80s we even took the viva units out of damaged fittings to keep as spares as they were about 20 pound, but rarely needed them.

I dont recall the Viva ever being in the Thorn pop pack, i assume to keep the cost down, they were mainly found in thorns 2d or Twin U tube module fittings

 

[securespark]

Was your experience consistent with that claim?

Kind Regards, John

Yes, they are sturdy little beasts.