Flourescent starters

[DIYspanner]

Had a look on Screwfix and they have 70w diffuser starters and 4-65w starters in x5 packs and the 70w are the cheaper.

Will 70w starters work with 58w T8 tubes?

 

[flameport]

Maybe. Perhaps. 70 watts is not 58.

If cost is the issue, buy these at half the price: https://www.toolstation.com/fluorescent-starter/p89674

 

[DIYspanner]

Found a 5 pack for £3.15, they'll do.

Difference in price to drive to the local ToolStation.

Thanks for posting

 

[fluorescence]

Do yourself a favour and buy an electronic one: https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/ELECTRON...599710?hash=item23b622f55e:g:-9AAAOSw-EBZp9vj

The benefits are numerous:

Drastically increases lamp life. This is essential as a lot of modern tubes have very little mercury in them and only have a small amount of emitter on the cathodes. It's the emitter that sputters off and causes black marks on the end of the tubes. When all the emitter is gone, this is when tubes start repeatedly flashing and won't stay lit.

One strike starting: Tubes starts up first time every time, none of this repeated flashing nonsense.

Safe shut down of end of life (eol) tubes. When the tube fails it'll just go off, stops the annoying flashing and potential damage to the ballast.

Long life: electronic starters last many many years. Modern glow bottle types sadly don't always last long and can get stuck closed which damages the tube and ballast.

 

[DIYspanner]

Electronic starter it is!

Thanks for advising.

 

[Burnerman]

Consider changing your fluorescents for LEDs.....?
Instant start, much brighter light and becoming cheaper all the while. The only issue I have with them is that the cable has to enter at the ends which may be an issue over existing wiring.
John

 

[333rocky333]

Electronic starter it is!

Thanks for advising.

Is it an open fitting, electronic starters generally are not suitable for enclosed fittings, they do not like the heat

 

[crystal ball]

Consider changing your fluorescents for LEDs.....?
Instant start, much brighter light and becoming cheaper all the while. The only issue I have with them is that the cable has to enter at the ends which may be an issue over existing wiring.
John

You can get LED battens with same cable entries

 

[fluorescence]

Is it an open fitting, electronic starters generally are not suitable for enclosed fittings, they do not like the heat

Where did you hear that, any evidence to back it up?

Electronic starters have been used in enclosed fittings for years without issue. Many Thorn (enclosed) fittings came with electronic starters in them from the factory, as did some Fitzgerald fittings and probably many others.

 

[Deleted member 18243]

What's the future for fluorescents? Are they being manufactured in decreasing numbers now? Does anybody specify them in new installations nowadays? Do they have any advantages over LED or other types of lighting any more?

 

[fluorescence]

What's the future for fluorescents? Are they being manufactured in decreasing numbers now? Does anybody specify them in new installations nowadays? Do they have any advantages over LED or other types of lighting any more?

A question that probably deserves it's own new topic

 

[winston1]

Consider changing your fluorescents for LEDs.....?
Instant start, much brighter light and becoming cheaper all the while. The only issue I have with them is that the cable has to enter at the ends which may be an issue over existing wiring.
John

The lumens per watt for florescent and LED tubes is similar. A 5 foot LED tube is less than half the wattage of a 5 foot florescent and also less than half the output. So you will need 2 LEDs to replace one florescent. Can't see that as an advantage.

 

[JohnW2]

What's the future for fluorescents? .... Do they have any advantages over LED or other types of lighting any more?

Much cheaper to buy, yet similar cost to run (for the same light output)?

Kind Regards, John

 

[333rocky333]

Where did you hear that, any evidence to back it up?

Electronic starters have been used in enclosed fittings for years without issue. Many Thorn (enclosed) fittings came with electronic starters in them from the factory, as did some Fitzgerald fittings and probably many others.

We tend to service lots of older Dustproof fittings in Licensed premises and often next to the starter holder is a Manufacturers label stating "Not suitable for electronic starters", Thorn I recall mainly used there own make Vivatronic starter modules rather than twist fit starters, I also found Fitzgerald tended to use normal starters branded as Fitzgerald, these days I encounter more High Frequency fittings, so no evidence at the moment,

 

[fluorescence]

We tend to service lots of older Dustproof fittings in Licensed premises and often next to the starter holder is a Manufacturers label stating "Not suitable for electronic starters", Thorn I recall mainly used there own make Vivatronic starter modules rather than twist fit starters, I also found Fitzgerald tended to use normal starters branded as Fitzgerald, these days I encounter more High Frequency fittings, so no evidence at the moment,

I recall seeing them labels before & wasn't sure why they were unsuitable, I've always politely ignored them. Some older electronic starters had issues with certain types of switch start circuits, 8' 100w being one of them as well as some leading circuits. Modern starters will be fine with them. The Fitzgerald slim light packs often came with electronic starters within the fitting itself, placed right next to the (hot) ballast.