PC ballast question

[DOGMAI]

I have a work horse ballast that came out of a smart light. It was running 1 96w. PC. It will run upto 128 watts so I want to buy two new end caps so that I can run two 55's off of it. My question is if the ballast is running a square four pin endcap now does it have to continue to run the square pins? Or can I change it over to a straight pin?

 

[Len]

You can use straight pin; just make sure you know which wire is suppose to go where. What I'm concerned about is running two lesser wattage bulbs off a ballast that is intended for one bulb. This is dangerous so I'm told because running two bulbs will change the characteristics of the voltage and/or amperage beyond what the ballast is specified for. Fergy says he's run 24" bulbs off a ballast designed to drive a single 48" VHO and he was lucky he didn't burn his house down (verbatim quote)

 

[DOGMAI]

The same ballast came stock in my PC setup that I bought brand new. It is running two 55's. I used to be an electrician and had to hook up many ballasts. The total wattage is what you need to worry about. Most ballasts will run a multitude of bulb configurations. Also as long as the ballast comes with the wires to run the multiple bulbs your ok. The ballast puts out the same amount of power no matter what. I think you start getting into trouble when you try to run different sized bulbs at the same time i.e. a 96 watt and a 36 watt. Pet supply liquidater sells the same ballast (just a little newer) with the option to buy it wired for 3 - 36 watters 2 - 55 watters or 1 - 96 watter. I just sis not understand the reason for the different pin configuration.

Thanks,
Shane

 

[goofyreefer]

Go to Fulham.com and look up the wiring configuration for the ballast you have with the bulbs you want to use.

 

[DOGMAI]

Thank you goofyreefer. That was a lot of help.

Peace Out,
Shane

 

[Reallybigtoad]

What size ballast would I need to run 2 96W PC's?

thanks,
-todd

 

[DOGMAI]

go to www.fulham.com