malfunction of ballast w/ fluorescent lamps

[freddycor]

Dear friends:

Now I have a trouble with the operation of a ballast and the fluorescent lamps of a comercial refrigerator.
I'm not sure if the ballast is the proper to operate the lamps ( Ballast is ADVANCE Cat. No. RC-2S102-TP and the lamps are -2 pieces- F48T12CWHO 60 Watts), the problem is that when the lightinig system is on, the ballast take 2.1 amps of the line incoming ( normal according nameplate ) but the lamps no start; after a little time, lamps starting very low light intensity, and gradually go up ( but with an increasing line current ), finally the light is very high and the ballast take up 4.8 amps and suddenly the light returns at the initial conditions ( very low light and normal 2.1 amps ) and this becomes a cycle of this conditions of operation.
Can anyone help me?
The trouble begin after the first pair of tubes ( lamps )that were changed after failure by the owner of the apparatus, and he replace them with the tubes refered avobe, and this conditions burn up the ballast, now I'm changed the ballast and I found this abnormal condition of operation,my trouble is that I dont knew the original tubes, and I'm not sure if its are the right replacement.

Thanks in advance.

Alfredo Corona
Mexico

 

[ERaySir]

Sounds like you may have a voltage drop problem to the ballast. Check the switch and ballast supply voltage. I don't know if you have the wrong ballast for the installation, the manufacturer will tell you if it is suitable.

Best Regards

Ray Micallef, P. Eng.
Power Generation/Utility Industry

 

[RadLight]

I had dificulty accessing the Advance website to detirmine the exact flourecent type of your tube and ballast. There are three types of tubes in common use: rapid start, pre-heat and instant start. I suspect you have one of the first two types as the last type only has a single terminal on each end and is easily identified. Rapid start requires a 25 mm grounded conducting plate 25 mm away from the tube as a starting aid. Pre-heat have a starter switch circuit to heat the filiments at each tube end, before applying high voltage across the tube to produce the arc. Check also the ballasts are for the correct tube type, and contacts and voltages are good.

 

[freddycor]

Thanks a lot for your responses.

I'm sure that I don't have voltage drop since I've cheched incoming line volts and output of ballast and boths are OK.
Ballast,contacts and tubes are all new.

RadLight
Please excuse me, but I can't understand when you said "Rapid start requires a 25 mm grounded conducting plate 25 mm away from the tube as a starting aid ", away from were? Plase can you explain a little more this?

Thanks in advance.

Alfredo Corona
Mexico

 

[hbendillo]

Your catalog number for the lamps indicate a high-output type lamp. A standard ballast will not operate the lamps properly. That could be your problem.