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#102031 10/05/04 10:22 AM
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 45
B
Member
Has anyone been having trouble with ballasts failing. I have had a rash of new light fixture install failures and approx. 20% of the ballasts have failed. Some have downright quit and some are just excessively noisy. These are T8, T12, CFL's etc. I am so frustrated with this. Is there anyone out there with a similar experience? This is costing our company a fortune. I need help.

#102032 10/05/04 07:55 PM
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 947
T
twh Offline
Member
I haven't seen anything as bad as you describe, but failure seems to be in the plan. I don't think the energy efficient rating includes the electrician's fuel.

We are reluctant to supply lights. It started with puck lights. Then, it was fluorescents in houses that were noisy, failed, or interfered with the radio. Now, we send residential customers out to buy their own lights. We get paid to fix them.

For commercial work, the 3 and 4 lamp electronics are bad, because when they fail the entire fixture is out and there are fewer fixtures. It creates a trip every time a ballast dies. We factor repair work into the price and stay closer to home. It's pretty disappointing to have a ballast fail at a place that's 3 hours away.

#102033 10/08/04 06:51 PM
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 31
C
Member
I have been running into this myself. but only with the ballasts out of the 8' fixtures.

I've had a couple become extremely noisy after only a few hours of operation. Others have stopped working completely. So far the suppliers have been taking the ballasts back but its costing quite a penny to keep having to replace them.

I'm beginning to think that having the client supply their own lights may be the way to go. Unfortunately though, commerical clients don't usually want to deal with that sort of thing.

It is frustrating though.

#102034 11/08/04 08:02 PM
Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 444
S
Member
What brand of ballast are you using.

I am seeing an increase in offshore, no name stuff and these things fail in no time. Same with the HPS and MH lamps. A supplier (symban lighting) suckered me in to buying a few no name 'house brand' HPS lamps to try, and they are horrendous.

Of the better brands, I've had good success with the Sylvania stuff. I've had more trouble with Advance. I believe their quality has slipped in recent years.

#102035 11/23/04 07:46 PM
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 3
H
Junior Member
Are you using new tubes the 34 watt version? The older tubes are 40 watt and this is what I am thinking is the problem.

#102036 11/28/04 05:24 PM
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 127
S
Member
I've had a statistically significant number of premature CFL failures in my five-socket dining room fixture- I wonder if it's substandard quality control or if they don't like being operated BO (Base Oblique)...

I do insert them metal-side first so improper installation can probably be ruled out.


No wire bias here- I'm standing on neutral ground.
#102037 05/01/05 03:41 AM
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 3
G
Junior Member
Hey Bill, JR here. Judging from the date of your post, I would have to agree. Only we have had something to the order of 45 percent of all fluorescents fail at various locations. I also have heard from other local electricians that they have had similar problems.

#102038 05/01/05 03:44 AM
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 3
G
Junior Member
Just to add one thing, the fixtures all had Advance ballasts.


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