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The lighting fixture may have 1 ballast, or 2 ballasts. If it has only 1 ballast all 4 lamps must be good in order for it to work properly. It is recommended to replace all lamps at the same time, rather than just the one that is bad. Testing has shown that replacing just one, will shorten the life of the others controlled by that ballast. If 2 ballasts are used, each one is wired to 2 lamps. So, if one pair has a problem the other 2 will still work. To find out how many ballasts you have you must open the fixture. You can't miss them they are the big black rectangular objects.

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14y ago
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10y ago

There might be a problem with the actual bulbs when only two of the four new fluorescent bulbs will light in the 4 bulb fixture. In some cases the ballast might be damaged or there might be an issue with the electrical connection from the bulb to the ballast.

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If the wattage of the ballast exceeds the wattage of the bulbs, you could but it is not advised. The ballast is designed for one type of use.

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Q: Will a fluorescent lighting fixture that uses 4 4 ft T8 bulbs operate with only 2 bulbs installed?
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Can you use a 65 watt fluorescent bulb in a metal halide light fixture?

No, the ballast's output is not matched to operate a fluorescent bulb.


Is fluorescent lights fixtures ac or dc?

The basic fluorescent light fixture is AC, although there are fluorescent lights powered by DC.


How many volts needed to run a fluorescent light?

The voltage of your area is what determines the operating voltage of all equipment. Equipment from other countries usually has to use a transformer to get the correct voltage. The voltage on a fluorescent fixture is printed on the ballast of the fixture. See if the voltage on the ballast matches the supply voltage of the system that you are going to use to operate the fixture.


What are some examples of a tee joint in the electrical trade?

A tee joint in the electrical trade is a conduit fitting. It is used in conduit work where there needs to be a device connected into the main conduit run. An example of this is where a light switch needs to be installed into the conduit run. The main conduit run starts at the distribution panel and proceeds to a lighting fixture. On the way a switch is needed to operate the light fixture. In the main conduit run a tee fitting is installed so as to pick up the switch for the fixture. When the conduit system is complete the wire is then drawn in. The "hot" conductor is pulled to the tee fitting and then diverts to the switch box to pick up the switch and then back up the same conduit to the tee fitting and then on to the lighting fixture. Splices are not usually made in tee fittings.


Why does twilight cb-500md lighting power control box transformer put out 4 volts when selector switch is off or when in dawn to dusk and it is light out?

The 4 volts is what it takes to operate the light/motion-sensing device and is on so long as there power to the fixture.

Related questions

What changes are to be made for a fluorescent lamp circuit to work if ac supply is replaced by dc?

A fluorescent light fixture is designed to operate on an AC voltage supply. To have the fixture operate off of a DC supply a power inverter would have to be installed. The power inverter would then change the DC to AC for the fixture to operate. These power inverters are reasonably priced these days and can be bought at most DIY stores.


Is a fluorescent light grounded?

If you are talking about the lamp then the answer is no. If you are talking about the fluorescent fixture, it should be. It is the fixture grounding that helps the tube to ignite. because of the close proximity to the metal of the fixture. There are many occasions when the fixture will not operate, but as soon as the ground is connected the fixture operates fine.


Can you use a 65 watt fluorescent bulb in a metal halide light fixture?

No, the ballast's output is not matched to operate a fluorescent bulb.


Does a 277 volt fluorescent fixture cost less to operate than a 120 volt fixture?

Not necessarily. It's the wattage of the lamps that determine how much power is used. 277V lighting merely allows for more lights to be on a circuit than if they were on a 120V. The current that is printed on the ballast, times the voltage the ballast is connected to, is what determines the cost to operate the fixture. This is the true wattage of the fixture. The wattage of the lamps are independent as new electronic ballasts can power a numerous amount of tubes of various wattages.


Is fluorescent lights fixtures ac or dc?

The basic fluorescent light fixture is AC, although there are fluorescent lights powered by DC.


How many volts needed to run a fluorescent light?

The voltage of your area is what determines the operating voltage of all equipment. Equipment from other countries usually has to use a transformer to get the correct voltage. The voltage on a fluorescent fixture is printed on the ballast of the fixture. See if the voltage on the ballast matches the supply voltage of the system that you are going to use to operate the fixture.


Hot Trend for Home Offices: Recessed Fluorescent Lighting?

Recessed fluorescent lighting is typically used in areas where indirect light is preferred to reduce glare and other visual disturbances common with the use of fluorescent lighting. This includes offices, classrooms and more recently, home office and workspaces. Fluorescent lights are highly efficient and cost significantly less to operate than traditional incandescent lights. The problem, as mentioned already, is that the use of fluorescents leads to unpleasant effects for some applications. This is why the use of recessed fluorescent lighting has become very popular. With recessed fluorescent lighting, the lighting is indirect. This is an effective way to reduce glare and make the lighting more effective. There are baffles and reflectors that you can install to reduce direct light from recessed fluorescent fixtures as well. When considering recessed fluorescent lighting, you will find that there are many different options for the type and size of fixtures. There are also many different styles of covers available for recessed fixtures. The most commonly used recessed fluorescent fixture is called a troffer and it allows assess through a hinged assembly for easy access. Some recessed fluorescent fixtures can be set up with a battery backup for use in an emergency. Keep in mind that this will result in less output from the light, but ample for safety reasons in the event of a power outage. When you need specific lighting, such as in an office setting, you should talk to a lighting professional in order to find out what the best possible combination of lighting will be for your situation. Depending on the size of the area, the amount of natural light and how many people will use the area, the lighting requirements will vary. A lighting designer is your best advocate when it comes to saving money and increasing efficiency with lighting design. If possible, your recessed fluorescent fixtures should be installed and fully tested prior to the rest of the room being finished. It is probably a good idea to have the walls painted and furniture in place in order to see how everything will flow together with the new lighting.


How do I wire T8 multi volt lights fixtures to 220 volts?

The terminology T8 suggests to me that the fixture is a fluorescent fixture. These types of tube fixtures need a ballast to make the tubes ignite. If you are trying to operate this type of fixture on 220 volts, you will need a ballast that requires a 240 volts input voltage source.


What are some examples of a tee joint in the electrical trade?

A tee joint in the electrical trade is a conduit fitting. It is used in conduit work where there needs to be a device connected into the main conduit run. An example of this is where a light switch needs to be installed into the conduit run. The main conduit run starts at the distribution panel and proceeds to a lighting fixture. On the way a switch is needed to operate the light fixture. In the main conduit run a tee fitting is installed so as to pick up the switch for the fixture. When the conduit system is complete the wire is then drawn in. The "hot" conductor is pulled to the tee fitting and then diverts to the switch box to pick up the switch and then back up the same conduit to the tee fitting and then on to the lighting fixture. Splices are not usually made in tee fittings.


How does a fluorescent light fitting operate?

mercury


Why use 277v light fixtures instead of 110v light fixtures?

277v light fixtures are more efficient to operate and less expensive to install than a 110v fixture of identical wattage. 277v light fixtures are typically installed when 480V 3 Phase primary electric service supplies a commercial or industrial facility. 277v lighting circuits are single phase circuits using one of the 480v primary phases (A,B & C) to Neutral. The higher voltage allows more fixtures per circuit using smaller conductors and longer runs typically required in warehouse lighting applications. ( Amps = Watts/Volts: 400W/277V Fixture = 1.4 Amps, 400W/110V fixture = 3.6 Amps) With 480V 3 Phase primary service, 110V Single Phase power is created using a Step-down transformer. The voltage transformation process consumes power (kWh) and the 277V fixture will consume less kWh than a 110V fixture if identical wattage, especially in fixtures with ballasts such as fluorescent or High Intensity Discharge (HID), like Sodium, Metal Halide or Mercury Vapor.


Why does twilight cb-500md lighting power control box transformer put out 4 volts when selector switch is off or when in dawn to dusk and it is light out?

The 4 volts is what it takes to operate the light/motion-sensing device and is on so long as there power to the fixture.