T5 kitchen lighting balast compatibilty

Jun 19, 2018 7 Replies

Hi all,



I have a run of 3x20W fluorescent under-cabinet slimline strip lights; only the middle one of which is still working. I was about to replace the outer two when I read this warning at the bottom of the installation sheet:



"These T5 luminaires must not be wired on the same circuit as standard fluorescent fittings which use conventional low-loss magnetic ballasts."



How can I tell if the one remaining working one is of this type and is it really important? It's been there since before I bought the place so at least 7 years old.



ta!



the only reason to avoid that I can think of is inductive kickback. It's easy to tell magnetic from electronic ballasts, perhaps googling will demonstrate.

NT

Want a serious answer?

Just replace all 3 tubes with identical tubes.

20W is not a standard T5 tube rating. T5 HE and T5 HO tubes only run on electronic control gear. However, since I don't know what your non-standard T5 tube is, I can't be sure the same applies to that. The older T5 halophophate range could run on magnetic ballasts, but they are rated 4,6,8,13W.

The 'new' one I want to fit was made in 2014 and is rated at 14W. The old ones were all 20W rating. The 'new' one runs straight off 240V so needs no fancy supply.

Really, for small tubes is this really an issue? I'm sure I've mixed them in the past with no real issues. Brian

One ticks and the other sort of comes on slowly! Brian

Fancy supply, are you saying its a bit like a caravan one then, runs of low voltage DC? Brian

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