Lighting, Light Fixtures, Ceiling and Exhaust Fans - humidity and ballasts
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coeng
08-07-07, 07:15 AM
Last week I contacted the Advance Transformer Company to obtain a cross reference for ballasts that I needed to replace in two fluorescent lighting fixtures that are mounted above the laundry area of my basement above a drop ceiling. The existing ballasts were very old and had trouble starting, most notably in high humidity conditions. One fixture had one ballast (for two T-12 bulbs) and the other fixture had two ballasts (for four T-12 bulbs)
I was told use R-2S40-TP magnetic ballasts as replacements. Subsequent to that I was able to purchase them at an electrical supply store in my area. This weekend I installed the new ballasts, brand new bulb sockets, and new electrical wiring.
The lights worked perfectly fine on Sunday. Every time I turned them on, they went on instantly and were even brighter than I expected.
Monday (yesterday) was another story and I think that the humidity in my finished basement has something to do with it.
Allow me to explain....I do not have central air conditioning in my house. I use room air conditioners instead. Because of the fact that I have a room air conditioner in a basement window, humid air manages to seep into the basement when the unit is not in operation. Naturally I don't want to run the air conditioner in the basement unless I'm down there so it does get pretty stuffy on hot and humid days when no one is home.
When the air conditioning has been off for a while on a humid day (the basement temperature approaches 77 degrees with up to 72% humidity) the lights have a problem turning on. In order to get all of the bulbs to fire up, I have to rapidly toggle the light switch a few times.
When I turn the air conditioning on in the basement (which gets the temp down to 72 degrees and 58% humidity) the lights turn on just fine.
Why is this happening? I am not familiar at all with the mechanics of fluorescent lighting. I have already verified that the fixture is properly grounded with a meter.
I do have other fluorescent fixtures (on separate circuits) in my basement that all experience the same "phenomenon". When the air conditioning is not on in the basement on a hot and humid day, they all have intermittent problems starting. I had planned on replacing these ballasts as well, but its clear now that the problem even exists with new ballasts.
Is it the bulbs themselves? I use GE T12 daylight bulbs.
I don't know what to do at this point.
I was told use R-2S40-TP magnetic ballasts as replacements. Subsequent to that I was able to purchase them at an electrical supply store in my area. This weekend I installed the new ballasts, brand new bulb sockets, and new electrical wiring.
The lights worked perfectly fine on Sunday. Every time I turned them on, they went on instantly and were even brighter than I expected.
Monday (yesterday) was another story and I think that the humidity in my finished basement has something to do with it.
Allow me to explain....I do not have central air conditioning in my house. I use room air conditioners instead. Because of the fact that I have a room air conditioner in a basement window, humid air manages to seep into the basement when the unit is not in operation. Naturally I don't want to run the air conditioner in the basement unless I'm down there so it does get pretty stuffy on hot and humid days when no one is home.
When the air conditioning has been off for a while on a humid day (the basement temperature approaches 77 degrees with up to 72% humidity) the lights have a problem turning on. In order to get all of the bulbs to fire up, I have to rapidly toggle the light switch a few times.
When I turn the air conditioning on in the basement (which gets the temp down to 72 degrees and 58% humidity) the lights turn on just fine.
Why is this happening? I am not familiar at all with the mechanics of fluorescent lighting. I have already verified that the fixture is properly grounded with a meter.
I do have other fluorescent fixtures (on separate circuits) in my basement that all experience the same "phenomenon". When the air conditioning is not on in the basement on a hot and humid day, they all have intermittent problems starting. I had planned on replacing these ballasts as well, but its clear now that the problem even exists with new ballasts.
Is it the bulbs themselves? I use GE T12 daylight bulbs.
I don't know what to do at this point.