Wrong sized ballast

[RF Lighting]

Hello.

Bit of a strange one for you.

Will an 18W PL lamp run OK on a ballast designed for a 16W lamp?

I've got some 16W ballasts in the garage, and some 18W PL downlights to repair.

I tried one in the garage tonight, and it works fine. Is there likely to be any long term problems? It's only 2W difference afterall.

 

[Spark123]

I doubt it will be a problem with that much difference tbh, I know if you use ones with a big difference it can burn the ballast out.
Most fluorescent ballasts cover a wider range i.e. a 5ft ballast is often rated for both a 58w or 65w tube.

 

[333rocky333]

Do you mean electronic ballasts,Rather than chokes, what make are they.

 

[RF Lighting]

They are just some cheapo magnetic chokes robbed out of some old 2D fittings

 

[333rocky333]

The thing to go by is the current stamped on the choke, this is the amount it limits to go to the lamp and affects the filament life.
Compare that amp rating with the 16 and the old 18 you have.
I dont know of hand what it is for a 16 opposed to a 18
However tridonic recomend for pl lamps.
Ec13 that will do 10/ 13
Ec16 for a16
Ec18 will do a 18/24/26 and 28
Ec36 will do a 34/36/38 and 40
So as spark said there is a slight leway with the sizes.

We buy 28w 2d with 20 watt chokes in sometimes