I have acquired through the years a dozen or so, supposedly “good” ballasts for mostly 8′ double tube fixtures (F96-single pin).
Is there is a way to check them out with patch cords and a meter, rather than having to wire them into a fixture??
……………Iron Helix
Replies
What type meters do you have? Inductance & capacitance meter can check most aspects of 'goodness', but a network analyzer needed for full checkout.
No way I know of* with a simple volt & ohms meter to tell they are good (can detect really bad ones though by looking for short). To be sure they are 'good-good', even in a fixture they need to run for > 1/2 hour to be sure of no overheating and tripping off.
* Interested myself if somebody has figured simple check.
Junkhound, Paul & All,
I only have a volt/ohm meter, no network analyser!
But Paul's link is worth the read.....and then to the shop to play for a while.
It may be as simple in the end for me to unbox a new fixture and set it up on the workbench. Grab a handfull of alligator clips and play switcher-roo with my old ballasts.
Hadn't thought about the run time, but I'll add it in!
Thanks.............Iron Helix
http://www.signweb.com/neon/cont/flusb.html