Can you use a 2 lamp ballast for 3 lamps?
8 min read
Asked by: Charles Larsen
A 3 lamp fixture with two rapid start ballasts can be replaced with a 3 lamp instant start ballast. As seen below, connecting the 3 lamp instant start ballast to the three lamps can be a bit confusing. This is because the wire colors on the ballast and the lampholders will not match up.
Can a 2 bulb ballast be used for one lamp?
How to Replace 1 Lamp Rapid Start Ballast with 2 Lamp Rapid Start. A 1 lamp rapid start (series) ballast can be hard to find, but it can be replaced with a 2 lamp rapid start ballast. Here is how a 2 lamp ballast is wired to a 1 lamp fixture.
How do you wire a 4 lamp ballast to a 3 lamp fixture?
The two yellow wires on a 4 lamp instant start ballast are connected together inside the ballast.
- Cut and cap one yellow and one red or blue wire with a wire nut.
- Connect each of the blue ballast wires to the each of the two blue lampholder wires.
- Connect the red ballast wire to the third blue lampholder wire.
Can you use a 3 lamp ballast for 1 lamp?
A 3 lamp fixture with two instant start ballasts can be replaced with one 3 lamp instant start. The wiring of the new 3 lamp ballast is fairly simple because the wire colors match the old ballasts.
Are all light ballast the same?
There are two lamp families that work with a ballast: fluorescent and HID. And there are two types of ballasts in each family: magnetic and electronic. Magnetic ballasts are the older ballast technology. For the fluorescent family, both T12 linear fluorescents and two-pin CFLs use magnetic ballasts.
What is the difference between rapid start and instant start?
Rapid Start (RS)
The filament voltage continues to be applied throughout the operation of the lamp. Rapid start ballasts appear to have a slight turn-on delay compared to the instant start. They will typically not be able to start lamps reliably under 50 degrees F.
How do you replace a double ballast?
Out just wiggle the ballast toward. You we'll get that other one out and we'll get this thing going on so these are the ballasts i just removed. And as you can see these are two bulb ballasts.
How do you bypass a ballast on a 3 bulb fixture?
First disconnect the hot neutral. And ground wires that are connected to the ballast. Then cut all the wires leading from the ballast to the lamp sockets. Be sure to cut them close to the ballast.
What is the yellow wire on a ballast?
The common yellow wires connect from the ballast to push-in connectors on one of the right holders of lamp 1 or 2. Two yellow wires connect the common lampholders together.
How do you wire a 3 tube ballast?
And run these three two one and I can see there with the blue ones go and a cap one orange. And send the other orange to the other end of the bulbs where the old red one went.
How do I know if a ballast is compatible?
You can determine whether you have a compatible fixture in seconds. Simply turn the light on, then take a photo of the fixture using your smartphone or digital camera. If there are no dark bands on the resulting image, you have an electronic ballast that will work with direct drop-in LED tubes.
Are ballasts interchangeable?
Matching ANSI codes guarantees that the ballast you chose can be used with your lamp. However, ballasts are often compatible with more than one lamp, and vice versa.
What do the numbers mean on a ballast?
The most common types are T12, T8, and T5. The T stands for tubular and the number indicates the diameter in 1/8 of an inch. Lamp diameter is determined by ballast type. A fixture with a T12 ballast must use a T12 bulb. A fixture with a T8 ballast must use a T8 bulb, etc.
Why does only 2 4 fluorescent bulbs work?
There’s a black ballast inside that is probably causing your problem. Take some pictures of the wiring and then disconnect all the wires going to the ballast, after turning off the power. Bring the ballast to a home store or electric supply store for a replacement. Then just re install it.
What is a light ballast for?
In a fluorescent lighting system, the ballast regulates the current to the lamps and provides sufficient voltage to start the lamps. Without a ballast to limit its current, a fluorescent lamp connected directly to a high voltage power source would rapidly and uncontrollably increase its current draw.
What is a starter for a fluorescent light?
Fluorescent starters or glow starters are used to help fluorescent tubes and lamps ignite in the initial starting stage of their operation. Simply put, fluorescent starters are a timed switch. The switch opens and closes until the fluorescent tube ‘strikes’ and lights-up.
Can you touch fluorescent tubes?
If you touch the bulb with your fingers, the salts and oils from your skin will damage the bulb and cause the heat to concentrate. This can significantly reduce the life of the bulb or even worse cause it to shatter. For this reason most halogen capsule bulbs that you buy will be sealed in plastic inside the box.
Why do you wear gloves when changing headlights?
Sometimes it is instant, and sometimes it can last a few weeks, but touching the glass with your bare hands will always cause the light burn out quicker. To keep this from happening when you change a headlight bulb, you should wear a pair of vinyl or latex gloves and to avoid touching the glass of the bulb.
Why does my fluorescent light take a long time to come on?
Some older lights may contain a module called a starter. This unit sends a surge of current to the tube when the light first turns on. Over time, the starter can wear down and ultimately take longer to do its job. Lights that take a long time to come on or flicker on and off without starting are common symptoms.
Why do fluorescent lights not turn on sometimes?
If a fluorescent tube neither lights nor flickers when switched on, first check to see that the fixture is plugged in and that no fuse has blown or circuit breaker has tripped. If this does not help, try wiggling the tube gently in its sockets by rocking it back and forth and from side to side.
How do you know if a fluorescent ballast is bad?
If your fluorescent lighting is displaying any of the signs below, it could be a symptom of a bad ballast:
- Flickering. …
- Buzzing. …
- Delayed start. …
- Low output. …
- Inconsistent lighting levels. …
- Switch to an electronic ballast, keep lamp. …
- Switch to an electronic ballast, switch to a T8 fluorescent.
What should I look for when replacing a ballast?
The only things that matter when you're replacing a ballast are we're number one the number of bulbs number two the type of bulbs number three the voltage.
Do new fluorescent bulbs need to warm up?
All compact fluorescent lamps require a slight warm-up time for the electrical current to fully heat the cathodes and reach their full lumen output. When a bare spiral CFL is first switched on, it lights up with approximately 80% of its rated lumens, but it will heat up to its full brightness in about one minute.
Why is my fluorescent tube flickering?
Flickering fluorescent lights can also be a result of temperature. If the air around the bulb is cold and circulating, the bulb won’t be able to generate enough heat to work properly. The internal temperature of a fluorescent bulb should be about 50 degrees Fahrenheit for it to work properly and optimally.
How do I stop my fluorescent lights from flickering?
Brush dust out of sockets, then reseat firmly. If the tube still blinks when the light is turned on, wiggle it a few times while the light is on to see if this cures the problem. If not, take the tube out and inspect sockets closely to see if spring contacts are bent or corroded.
Why do my light bulbs slowly get brighter?
Energy Saving Light bulb
If you have energy-saving light bulbs, it is quite common to notice that they will get brighter at times. These light bulbs are designed to keep your electric bill a bit lower. Sometimes, they will only turn on at a very low level, and eventually, they will brighten.
What causes multiple lights to flicker?
One explanation would be that you have loose service conductors in your central electrical panel. Some other possible explanations for lights flickering all over the house include faulty connectors, worn down wiring, and improperly connected wiring.
Do lights need to warm up?
CFL, fluorescent, and incandescent bulbs require heat to produce light. Heat is not an instant process, so it takes time for conventional bulbs to go from 0°F to their designated temperature. Until they’ve reached this optimum level, conventional bulbs are incapable of producing light.
Why do my lights flicker when I turn something on?
Voltage Fluctuations – If your lights flicker when you turn on an appliance with a high wattage, like a microwave, oven, washer or dryer, or the air conditioner clicks on the reason could be because the voltage in your home is fluctuating too much. This could be a symptom of a more serious electrical issue.
Why do house lights flicker at night?
Flickering lights are the result of a reduction or a fluctuation in total household voltage that results in the lights dimming for a moment. Abrupt changes in voltage from low to high can damage electronics and in rare cases cause an electrical fire.
Why do the lights dim when I turn on the iron?
If your lights dim when plugging in an appliance such as an iron, it could be because the appliance itself is not working properly. It is best to get the appliance repaired before it can harm you, such as by shocking you, or it may be even cheaper to replace the device!
