Electric peeps - ballast question

[Myka]

Ok, so it's not like halide lamps which the ballast puts "X" watts into the bulb. T5 draw the power they need rather than receiving whatever is given.

Straight from the Fulham website, I can find wiring diagrams for the Work Horse 5 for both 2-39W bulbs and 3-39W bulbs (not for just one). I don't see anything about their recommended combination - maybe I will email them.

Given the information you guys have provided though, I would be best off running 3-39W lamps on each of these ballasts?


What do they mean by "for linear lamps use a starting aid"?

[DSlater]

I think a starting aid is just grounded metal down the length of the lamp, within a half inch or so. Usually just the metal body of the fixture, haven't heard that term I a while... It will help draw the electric arc down the length of the lamp to the other end while it's trying to start.

Are you able to post a pic of the ballast?

[DSlater]

Originally Posted by Myka

Straight from the Fulham website, I can find wiring diagrams for the Work Horse 5 for both 2-39W bulbs and 3-39W bulbs (not for just one). I don't see anything about their recommended combination - maybe I will email them.

Given the information you guys have provided though, I would be best off running 3-39W lamps on each of these ballasts?

Just looked at the website. They probably don't show the wiring diagram for a single lamp because most people would buy a smaller ballast if they wanted to run 1 39w lamp. It would probably work using 1 of the red leads, but I would e-mail manufacture to be sure.

As for how many lamps you want to run on each ballast? Should get rated life of ballast with 2 or 3 lamps. Slightly more electrically efficient with 3 lamps but negligible considering everything else we have in our tanks.