Thread: Flourescent Lamp construction

Anyone ever put one together from scratch? Would it just be easier to buy the whole shibang and do away with the metal box or could I find the parts and wire it myself much cheaper?

What exactly would I need? It seems I need:

1) A switch to the current from the house
2) A ballast to control that current
3) A Fluorescent tube
4) A Starter

Wired together like this no?

http://members.misty.com/don/f-lamp.html#wd0

Are there any other concerns I don't know about (i'm mostly an electrical jong). Are there good changes of electrifying myself, or burning my house down doing this on my own?

I'll post a picture of what I'm doing when I'm done, I think it will be cool.

Gracias

I've found that a complete fixture from some discount store is far cheaper than buying parts.

and the end purpose is??? HA....

It's kinda easy to just buy one (get T8 bulbs at 55K and an electronic ballast with a silver reflector instead of powdercoat white). But if you're all DIY, you forgot to list tombstones. That's the little white ceramic-like pieces the bulbs screw into that are held in place by that other component not mentioned - a fixture.

What are ya' growin'?

Without knowing what you are trying to do- there are a bunch of different styles and designs for light fixtures. Some are fluorescent, some using standard screw in type light sockets (which you can get low energy fluorescent bulbs for also. There is a purpose to the metal box- especially if you have the big ballast power sources for the long standard tubes. I am no electrical light expert, but do know that there are things like the UL (Underwriters Labs) and the like that test and work with companies to design something that will be safer for use and not a fire hazard. Go ahead and purchase the parts if you think you can learn enough to put them together in a manner that they will work, let alone work safely and not be a fire hazard.

If you have a Habitat for Humanity that is where I would look. I bought 4-4tube cases last year for my shop for $10ea.

Originally Posted by RShea

Without knowing what you are trying to do- there are a bunch of different styles and designs for light fixtures. Some are fluorescent, some using standard screw in type light sockets (which you can get low energy fluorescent bulbs for also. There is a purpose to the metal box- especially if you have the big ballast power sources for the long standard tubes. I am no electrical light expert, but do know that there are things like the UL (Underwriters Labs) and the like that test and work with companies to design something that will be safer for use and not a fire hazard. Go ahead and purchase the parts if you think you can learn enough to put them together in a manner that they will work, let alone work safely and not be a fire hazard.

New tech. No more coil ballasts with PCBs in them. They're history, but in use everywhere. The new ballasts are circuit boards in an old ballast shaped metal box. Whereas the old ballasts built up a charge and delivered a constant and potent stream of electricity to the gases in a fluorescent tube, the electronic ballasts pulse just enough juice to the newer blend of gases in T8 bulbs that is more easily excited so it emits light. And they don't turn as many watts into btu's. That's why they are energy efficient. But I don't think we'll see too many DIYers building ballasts or fluorescent light bulbs until well after the zombie apocalypse.

I have not found that a replacement ballast + tombstone is cheaper than the entire fixture! I find this unbelievable, but true.