I have been on a lighting upgrade project and an industrial facility. Many fixtures have been upgraded to GE Ultra max T-8 ballasts. We have verified instant start tombstone wiring. The voltage is 277 and there does not seem to be any objectionable neutral current. The problem is that the new lamps are turning black on both ends for 2-3 inches then burning out completely. Replacement lamps have done the same. This seems to be happening where we have installed ceiling mounted occupancy sensors. Has anyone had a similar experience? Thank you.
New T-8 Lamps Turning Black
- Thread starter Bill W
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Is this the way they're wired?
Advance has a great downloadable troubleshooting guide for fluorescent ballasts.
http://www.advancetransformer.com/uploads/resources/flb-troubleshooting-guide.pdf
Advance has a great downloadable troubleshooting guide for fluorescent ballasts.
http://www.advancetransformer.com/uploads/resources/flb-troubleshooting-guide.pdf
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Thank you. Found that guide very helpful.
But, no the ballasts and lamps are not wired as shown in your schematic. I believe the problem may be instant starting of rapid start lamp wiring as described in that guide. It goes on to say the lamp life can be greatly shortened in this case depending on how often they are being started. This is only in one area, though. Another area experiencing the same problem, on occupancy sensors, has new fixtures (factory wired as instant start) with instant start ballast, and the tube ends are blackening and the lamps burning out with fewer than 500 hours.
But, no the ballasts and lamps are not wired as shown in your schematic. I believe the problem may be instant starting of rapid start lamp wiring as described in that guide. It goes on to say the lamp life can be greatly shortened in this case depending on how often they are being started. This is only in one area, though. Another area experiencing the same problem, on occupancy sensors, has new fixtures (factory wired as instant start) with instant start ballast, and the tube ends are blackening and the lamps burning out with fewer than 500 hours.
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- Location
- Chapel Hill, NC
- Occupation
- Retired Electrical Contractor
Hope you're not hooked to a high leg.
robbietan
Senior Member
- Location
- Antipolo City
480sparky said:Is this the way they're wired?
Advance has a great downloadable troubleshooting guide for fluorescent ballasts.
http://www.advancetransformer.com/uploads/resources/flb-troubleshooting-guide.pdf
great link
resolution
resolution
We were visited by a rep. from GE today. Turns out that the "ultra-max" instant start ballast is not compatible with frequent starting. Instead a programmed start (ps) ballast is the recommended product. It is an electronic ballast that provides a soft start similar to a rapid start by pre-heating the cathodes. Instant start ballasts greatly reduce lamp life when the lamps are frequently started.
The ultra-start claims to have overcome some previous issues with programmed start ballasts, such as, both lamps going out when one fails.
Fortunately for us, this project was engineered and all products were specified. whew.
resolution
We were visited by a rep. from GE today. Turns out that the "ultra-max" instant start ballast is not compatible with frequent starting. Instead a programmed start (ps) ballast is the recommended product. It is an electronic ballast that provides a soft start similar to a rapid start by pre-heating the cathodes. Instant start ballasts greatly reduce lamp life when the lamps are frequently started.
The ultra-start claims to have overcome some previous issues with programmed start ballasts, such as, both lamps going out when one fails.
Fortunately for us, this project was engineered and all products were specified. whew.
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peter d
Senior Member
- Location
- New England
Maybe they are blacklights?
Ba dump ching!
Ba dump ching!
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