It has been many, many Years since I've even held any T-12 size Fluorescent Lamps... along with any Straight Linear Reactor Low Hz Ballast!
For Standard Rapid Start T-12 Lamps - such as the very common F40T12 Medium Bi-Pin 430ma Lamp, or the equally common Energy Saver "34 Watt" 460ma version, the last time I dealt with any of those 1-1/2" Dia. Lamps could not have been any later than March of 1993.
Same for the Low Hz Linear Magnetic Reactor Ballasts used to limit the Lamps' Current / Heat the Cathodes during Lamp Start & operation.
For the 800ma "HO" and 1500ma "VHO" T-12 Recessed Bipin Lamps, the last time I dealt with these high output animals was late in 1997.
Additionally, this was also the last encounter with hanging those >40 Lb Rapid Start, Multi-Lamp, Linear Magnetic Reactor Ballasts!!!
By the time Y2k Rolled Over, all Ballasts were >20kHz Straight Electronic, or Hybrids (mostly used for Hot Cathode Operations), and Lamps were only 1" dia. (T-8 Medium Bipin).
For High Output Lamps, size T-5 has become the Norm...
--Scott (EE)
