electrical question (OT)

[Carl Meyer]

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I'm not an expert, but my general knowledge about those florescent light =
is that the tube is filled with a gas of some sort that requires an arc =
to ignite.  A ballast is an inductive winding that on turn on produces a =
high voltage that ignites the tube and when current starts to flow it =
reduces the voltage to the proper amount to sustain the glow.

I suspect the hot ballast has some shorted windings that doesn't produce =
the arc and generates heat in the short circuit.

Confirm this by following the wires from the 2 lamps that don't work to =
the ballast that is hot?  Bingo! two witnesses.  Guilty as charged.  =
Arrange for firing squad. =20

Carl Meyer  Assoc. PTG
Santa Clara, California
cmpiano@attbi.com=20



----- Original Message -----=20
  From: Wimblees@AOL.COM=20
  To: Pianotech@ptg.org=20
  Sent: Sunday, March 24, 2002 3:02 PM
  Subject: electrical question (OT)


  Besides being piano tuners, I know many of you have knowledge and =
abilities beyond that scope. So I am hoping some of you have a little =
knowledge about electrical components in florescent lights.=20

  In my kitchen is a four tube florescent fixture. Two of them went out, =
so I bought 4 new ones. The same two are still out. So I suspect one of =
the two the ballasts are blown. I shut off the electricity, and removed =
the panels, and touched both of them. One is very hot, the other just =
warm. Now the question. If a ballast is bad, would it just be warm, or =
be very hot to the touch?=20

  Thanks for the advice.=20

  Wim=20

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