What kind of ballast and light fixture is this?

[scottnlisa]

Originally Posted by SCSInet
http:///forum/post/3280756
Without going into electronic nitty-gritty, the reflector adds capacitance that assists the lamp in starting. Your hand also adds capacitance, which is why it starts when you grab the lamp. I'd wager that if you just placed your hand around the lamp and ran it gently from one side to the other a couple times it would light, without any wiggling.
I am glad you said something about that because sometimes it does that. When I put the VHO's in will they start when I turn them on or will I have the same problem?

 

[acrylic51]

You don't have to have a external reflector.....You must make sure the ballast is properly grounded....I've run VHO's for years without "reflectors" and without a ground running from the ballast to the reflector without any issues or starting problems.

 

[acrylic51]

As SCSInet pointed out about the electronic ballast....The ARO is an an electronic ballast, and I do several setups throughout the year, and use electronic ballasts for flourescents, and with the IceCap or the ARO you don't have to run an external reflector if you wire correctly.

 

[scsinet]

Originally Posted by scottnlisa
http:///forum/post/3280911
I am glad you said something about that because sometimes it does that. When I put the VHO's in will they start when I turn them on or will I have the same problem?

Originally Posted by acrylic51
http:///forum/post/3280931
You don't have to have a external reflector.....You must make sure the ballast is properly grounded....I've run VHO's for years without "reflectors" and without a ground running from the ballast to the reflector without any issues or starting problems.
No, electronic ballasts don't require the grounded reflector the way rapid start ballasts do, so Acrylic is correct.
To be clear however, you absolutely do require grounded reflectors in most rapid start ballast setups, but if you are replacing the ballast with your new ARO electronic, you shouldn't need it.

 

[acrylic51]

SCSInet wasn't intending to be argumentative

you always give me sound advice. I've run old school tar ballasts with no reflectors and have never had grounding issues and that tank is still running. The LFS has a 265 with old school tar ballasts and no reflectors and no ground. I understand totally what you stated about the ballast grounding to the reflectors though.

 

[scottnlisa]

Well, thanks acrylic51 and SCSInet for all your help. I just need to wait a couple weeks to order the bulbs and to get some wire and then it is game on. I can't wait.

 

[acrylic51]

Good luck