Many clients will ask if it is cheaper to install a new fixture with electronic ballasts or swap out the magnetic ballast for an electronic ballast. I have always recommended a new fixture because of the labor involved in the wiring of new ballasts. How do you feel about this?
new ballast vs new fixture
- Thread starter bwyllie
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Re: new ballast vs new fixture
Bwyllie, I pretty much agree but it is actually a per case evaluation.
The reason I'm recomending changing to electronic is for the disposal problems of the magnetic ballasts.
I know most will hide a single ballast in the garbage, but they're are going to continuously get tougher to dispose of, especially in quantities.
Another plus is the cold weather starting.
Roger
[ November 17, 2003, 07:08 PM: Message edited by: roger ]
Bwyllie, I pretty much agree but it is actually a per case evaluation.
The reason I'm recomending changing to electronic is for the disposal problems of the magnetic ballasts.
I know most will hide a single ballast in the garbage, but they're are going to continuously get tougher to dispose of, especially in quantities.
Another plus is the cold weather starting.
Roger
[ November 17, 2003, 07:08 PM: Message edited by: roger ]
charlie tuna
Senior Member
- Location
- Florida
Re: new ballast vs new fixture
i am assuming your talking 2 x 4 layin fixtures? we have retrofited office buidings and i was suprised how inexpensive it was! i had a good price on the ballasts since i was ordering a large quantity. the work was accomplished during normal working hours. the rebat from the power company was like a bonus to the customer... and it made a big difference in air conditioning costs.
i am assuming your talking 2 x 4 layin fixtures? we have retrofited office buidings and i was suprised how inexpensive it was! i had a good price on the ballasts since i was ordering a large quantity. the work was accomplished during normal working hours. the rebat from the power company was like a bonus to the customer... and it made a big difference in air conditioning costs.
hurk27
Senior Member
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- Portage, Indiana NEC: 2008
Re: new ballast vs new fixture
I just did a liquor store and the owner didn't want to spend alot but wanted more light. we used a rare earth phosphores bulb that put out about three times the light than an ordinary 40 watt bulb. the bulbs were about $7.50 a piece from Litetronics.com but were alot cheaper than changing ballast or fixtures. But when we do a change out to electronic we change the whole fixture as the most efficent ones only use one wire to each bulb end and use the smaller 32 watt T8 bulbs. and if the inside of the fixture has discolored it will reduce the light output too. the other thing is the ears maybe in bad shap even though they still work they can cause problems down the road. which would not be good P.R. when they start failing.
The bulbs we used were 3,650 lumens, and are rated @ 30,000 hours.
A standered 4' bulb is about 1400 lumens
I just did a liquor store and the owner didn't want to spend alot but wanted more light. we used a rare earth phosphores bulb that put out about three times the light than an ordinary 40 watt bulb. the bulbs were about $7.50 a piece from Litetronics.com but were alot cheaper than changing ballast or fixtures. But when we do a change out to electronic we change the whole fixture as the most efficent ones only use one wire to each bulb end and use the smaller 32 watt T8 bulbs. and if the inside of the fixture has discolored it will reduce the light output too. the other thing is the ears maybe in bad shap even though they still work they can cause problems down the road. which would not be good P.R. when they start failing.
The bulbs we used were 3,650 lumens, and are rated @ 30,000 hours.
A standered 4' bulb is about 1400 lumens
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