12 volt fluorescent ballast supplier

[Jean Eichenlaub]

Am in need of a replacement for a Triad-litrad Model #PS-15 Fluorescent lamp dc ballast. Does anyone know a source?

The T8 lamp has 58 watts printed on it. That seems a bit high for the 12 volt system. Old ballast has line current 2.0A or 2.75A and input voltage 13.2 VDC printed on it. Shouldn't the lamp be about 35 watts?

Jean Eichenlaub
'87 35' FC
San Diego, CA

[Don Bradner]

T8 tells us the diameter (1-inch), but for ordinary bulbs the wattage is related
to length. For example, 12-inch are typically 8 watt, 15-inch are 14 watt,
18-inch are 15 watt, 24-inch are 20 watt, 36-inch are 30 watt, and 48-inch are
40 watt.

There are high output (HO) and very high output (VHO) bulbs, but they have
different end pins and are very unlikely in a Bird.

I would try Dupree Products for the ballast/inverter; I don't think they are
listed on the dupreeproducts.com website, but he probably has them.

On 1/28/2013 at 4:22 PM Jean Eichenlaub wrote:

>Am in need of a replacement for a Triad-litrad Model #PS-15 Fluorescent
>lamp dc ballast.  Does anyone know a source?
>
>The T8 lamp has 58 watts printed on it.  That seems a bit high for the 12
>volt system.  Old ballast has line current 2.0A or 2.75A and input voltage
>13.2 VDC printed on it.  Shouldn't the lamp be about 35 watts?
>
>Jean Eichenlaub
>'87 35' FC
>San Diego, CA

[Jean Eichenlaub]

Thank you. At 48" must be a 40 watt. Am thinking the best thing to do is
change out the fixture.

Jean

Sent from my iPad

[Michael Bulriss]

Jean, If Stephen Birtles at Dupree Products doesn't have that ballast you need, it might be worth a call to John Drake at http://www.solarseller.com/ to check with him. Good guy on DC electrical stuff and good prices. Mike Bulriss 1991 WB40 "Texas Minivan" San Antonio, TX --- On Tue, 1/29/13, Jean Eichenlaub wrote: From: Jean Eichenlaub Subject: [WanderlodgeForum] Re: 12 volt fluorescent ballast supplier To: "WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com" Date: Tuesday, January 29, 2013, 1:01 PM Thank you. At 48" must be a 40 watt. Am thinking the best thing to do is change out the fixture. Jean Sent from my iPad

[Wilhelmus Schreurs]

Jean: Why don't you look at installing LED bulbs instead of the old flourescent. Might cost you the same to do the entire coach vs purchasing the one ballast. On my 88, it cost under $200 to change my flourescent to LED's. Bill 1988 40WB XXV "Anniversary Special Edition" Kitimat, B.C. Canada eh

[Don Bradner]

Can't argue with that. I made a video last year when I was doing mine - this
shows replacing 2 18-inch bulbs with about $8 worth of LED strip:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WQw2LiYFn14

On 1/29/2013 at 9:29 PM Wilhelmus Schreurs wrote:

>Jean:
>Why don't you look at installing LED bulbs instead of the old
>flourescent.  Might cost you the same to do the entire coach vs purchasing
>the one ballast.
>On my 88, it cost under $200 to change my flourescent to LED's.
>
>Bill
>1988 40WB XXV "Anniversary Special Edition"
>Kitimat, B.C. Canada eh