Spare ballast socket for fluorescent/led fixture?

Hello all,

I am wanting to get a replacement FIXTURE, ie the plug that the ballast/led shorter plugs into. The one I have is broken somehow, and the ballast cannot be connected to the existing socket.

I've searched amazon, ebay, the general web and there does not seem to be such a thing as a ballast socket. Anyone have any ideas on what to do? I was hoping I could just short the two wires that lead into the little bayonett socket, but I've read that LED's also need a special ballast to make the light work.

Help much appreciated!

tx

Mark.

Not sure what you are talking about....do,you mean the 'socket' that the starter switch fits into?

Your question is confusing, I don't think you mean anything to do with the ballast unit.

I think what you are looking for is a socket for the starter to plug into like this http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Screw-Fit-Fluorescent-Starter-Holder-Light-Tube-Adapter-Flourescent-Socket-/332275365729?epid=570903782&hash=item4d5d27b761:g:-bYAAOSw-jhUKRkd

Hello guys,

Yes, OK, I thought that little thing was called a ballast... so it's called a starter!

Yep, that ebay item is perfect, thanks!

Just BTW, why does an LED need a starter too? I have read about people who re-wire their fluorescent fixtures to not need the starter.

Thanks for the help.

Mark.

The  starter' they use is not a real,starter. It is a plug that shorts out the opposing end cap pins and provides a neutral at the same end as the live from the ballast

when written down it looks a lot more complicated than it is

kerching said:

The  starter' they use is not a real,starter. It is a plug that shorts out the opposing end cap pins and provides a neutral at the same end as the live from the ballast

when written down it looks a lot more complicated than it is

Click to expand...

Ah, so if it is just shorting, couldn't I just join the two wires instead of buying a socket that seems to do nothing?

No, that will destroy your fluorescent tube in about 2 minutes, if not sooner.

Get a socket and put the starter in, where it's meant to be, or buy a replacement unit.

cheers, Paul

PPP said:

No, that will destroy your fluorescent tube in about 2 minutes, if not sooner.

Get a socket and put the starter in, where it's meant to be, or buy a replacement unit.

cheers, Paul

Click to expand...

Ok thanks, yep, I bought it already, but was wondering if I had just wasted a fiver

Cheers

Mark.

PPP said:

No, that will destroy your fluorescent tube in about 2 minutes, if not sooner.

Get a socket and put the starter in, where it's meant to be, or buy a replacement unit.

cheers, Paul

Click to expand...

I read it that he was using an LED instead of a flu tube.......as he mentioned fitting an LED in his first post

maybe I am wrong as I am fairly new to this

kerching said:

I read it that he was using an LED instead of a flu tube.......as he mentioned fitting an LED in his first post

maybe I am wrong as I am fairly new to this

Click to expand...

Hi, yes, I am using an LED tube in the fitting... so that's why I was wondering if I could just bypass the starter by joining the two wires... but I guess not

Thanks for clarifying,

Mark.

You could do, but I wouldn't recommend it, you can actually remove all the guts from the fitting and rewire it, in fact some suppliers of LED tubes actually supply a diagram showing you how to do it. The problem arises when the tube fails and someone comes along not realising you've modified the fitting, and fits a standard florescent tube, it all gets dangerous at this point.

phil d said:

You could do, but I wouldn't recommend it, you can actually remove all the guts from the fitting and rewire it, in fact some suppliers of LED tubes actually supply a diagram showing you how to do it. The problem arises when the tube fails and someone comes along not realising you've modified the fitting, and fits a standard florescent tube, it all gets dangerous at this point.

Click to expand...

Ok thanks Phil,.

I've paid for the replacement starter holder and the bulb comes with an LED starter, so I may as well do it properly...

Cheers for all the help guys,

Mark.

kerching said:

The  starter' they use is not a real,starter. It is a plug that shorts out the opposing end cap pins and provides a neutral at the same end as the live from the ballast

Click to expand...

Some of them are also fuses.

phil d said:

You could do, but I wouldn't recommend it, you can actually remove all the guts from the fitting and rewire it, in fact some suppliers of LED tubes actually supply a diagram showing you how to do it. The problem arises when the tube fails and someone comes along not realising you've modified the fitting, and fits a standard florescent tube, it all gets dangerous at this point.

Click to expand...

Same could be said of anything that could be used for several purposes. You'll also find most manufacturers will include a sticker in the packaging that says something along the lines of 'this fitting has been rewired for use with LED tubes only'. Some companies supply LED only battens.

kerching said:

I read it that he was using an LED instead of a flu tube.......as he mentioned fitting an LED in his first post

maybe I am wrong as I am fairly new to this

Click to expand...

Do you think you might stick with it now you 've started? :innocent

Evans Electric said:

Do you think you might stick with it now you 've started? :innocent

Click to expand...

Not too,sure really.  Having seen some of the stuff on here and out in the real world I have realised that I have much to learn!

Perhaps its for the best

It's awkward knowing how little you don't know that you know, you know

kerching said:

It's awkward knowing how little you don't know that you know, you know

Click to expand...

hah

and damned inconvenient not knowing what you don't know!

Lurch said:

Some of them are also fuses.

Same could be said of anything that could be used for several purposes. You'll also find most manufacturers will include a sticker in the packaging that says something along the lines of 'this fitting has been rewired for use with LED tubes only'. Some companies supply LED only battens.

Click to expand...

Trouble is you also find that most ordinary members of the public don't bother fitting the sticker, because, "I know it's been modified". lol

if you modify the internals of the fittings, would it then need to be CE marked? @Sidewinder