I have lost 3 ballasts (at least) in the last few months in older
flouer. fixtures. The prices at the BORGS are appalling in that I can
buy a new light, new bulbs and install the thing vs. repairing mine
for less money.
Are there good sources for ballasts on the web? Those buggers are
heavy so maybe shipping eats me up.
One kitchen light with type P
and two in 8' fixtures, haven't pulled em apart maybe it is 2 each.
Thanks
Alan
Try eBay
I bought 15 electronic ballasts from there for $65 US shipped, to Canada.
They were all used, all worked (and still are). The joy is they use much
less power, burn brighter, come on instantly and there isn't the slightest
hint of hum from any of them. Don't show up all the time, and read the sale
carefully when you do find them, most are odd voltages..
Greg Moore
"Alan W" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> I have lost 3 ballasts (at least) in the last few months in older
> flouer. fixtures. The prices at the BORGS are appalling in that I can
> buy a new light, new bulbs and install the thing vs. repairing mine
> for less money.
>
> Are there good sources for ballasts on the web? Those buggers are
> heavy so maybe shipping eats me up.
>
> One kitchen light with type P
>
> and two in 8' fixtures, haven't pulled em apart maybe it is 2 each.
>
> Thanks
> Alan
"Alan W" writes:
> I have lost 3 ballasts (at least) in the last few months in older
> flouer. fixtures. The prices at the BORGS are appalling in that I can
> buy a new light, new bulbs and install the thing vs. repairing mine
> for less money.
<snip>
Welcome to the world of reality.
There was a time in my life when I sold a lot of ballasts to both OEM
fixture manufacturers and distributors for the replacement market.
The distributor paid at least 7-10 times what the OEM paid for the same
ballast.
If you are willing to do it, replace the whole fixture.
HTH
--
Lew
S/A: Challenge, The Bullet Proof Boat, (Under Construction in the Southland)
Visit: <http://home.earthlink.net/~lewhodgett> for Pictures
In article <[email protected]>,
Alan W <[email protected]> wrote:
>I have lost 3 ballasts (at least) in the last few months in older
>flouer. fixtures. The prices at the BORGS are appalling in that I can
>buy a new light, new bulbs and install the thing vs. repairing mine
>for less money.
>
>Are there good sources for ballasts on the web? Those buggers are
>heavy so maybe shipping eats me up.
>
>One kitchen light with type P
>
>and two in 8' fixtures, haven't pulled em apart maybe it is 2 each.
>
Try any commercial/industrial lighting supply house. It's a yellow pages
expedition. Things you'll need to know:
1) How many of what wattage( and type) of tube in the fixture.
2) The _sound_ rating. Ballasts *are* graded by how noisy they are.
quieter _does_ cost more.
A quality ballast _can_ easily approach (if not exceed) the cost of a cheap
fixture (including ballast). You get what you pay for _does_ apply.
In article <[email protected]>,
Alan W <[email protected]> wrote:
>I have lost 3 ballasts (at least) in the last few months in older
>flouer. fixtures. The prices at the BORGS are appalling in that I can
>buy a new light, new bulbs and install the thing vs. repairing mine
>for less money.
Borgs aren't all the same. Locally I've found much better selection
and price at Lowes than HD has. But the new lights are often still
quite cheap - and also tend to have lousier ballasts. The individually
sold ballasts tend to be better (heavier, quieter, larger).
Also note that the cheap lights usually don't include a the "lamp"
(light bulb.)
> ...
--
--henry schaffer
hes _AT_ ncsu _DOT_ edu
I don't think you'll find new fixtures w/ballasts anywhere near the price of
a ballast alone at the BORGS. I'll bet you're comparing new fixtures
w/solid state starters and not ballasts. The cheapest ballasts I've seen
are at the BORGS, and yes, I believe shipping would make mail order
unfeasible even IF there were a place that sold them cheaper.
"Alan W" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> I have lost 3 ballasts (at least) in the last few months in older
> flouer. fixtures. The prices at the BORGS are appalling in that I can
> buy a new light, new bulbs and install the thing vs. repairing mine
> for less money.
>
> Are there good sources for ballasts on the web? Those buggers are
> heavy so maybe shipping eats me up.
>
> One kitchen light with type P
>
> and two in 8' fixtures, haven't pulled em apart maybe it is 2 each.
>
> Thanks
> Alan