R
rehabkicksass
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This is popular with aquarium people. Apparently all you have to do is re-wire a 2-tube standard T8 shop light with a 4-tube T8 electronic ballast (or stick another 2-tube ballast into a 2-tube fixture) and the result is amplified light output at the same color temp, at the cost of shorter tube life and a little extra heat.
Basically, two 2-tube ballasts run one tube each or a 4-tube ballast runs 2 tubes instead of 4. They actually use less amperage to run brighter lights, from what I read. I'm getting a Kill-A-Watt soon to test with.
I bought a new T8 fixture($11, Wal-Mart), 2700lm @ 6500k tubes($8, Lowes) and a new 4-tube ballast($17, Home Depot) yesterday. I have a digital light meter. Will report back on before and after numbers soon.
If this works I can pump over 10k lumens @ 6500k out of 2 48" tubes at a lower current draw than 2 standard tubes in a single fixture for a grand total of $36 invested.
Basically, two 2-tube ballasts run one tube each or a 4-tube ballast runs 2 tubes instead of 4. They actually use less amperage to run brighter lights, from what I read. I'm getting a Kill-A-Watt soon to test with.
I bought a new T8 fixture($11, Wal-Mart), 2700lm @ 6500k tubes($8, Lowes) and a new 4-tube ballast($17, Home Depot) yesterday. I have a digital light meter. Will report back on before and after numbers soon.
If this works I can pump over 10k lumens @ 6500k out of 2 48" tubes at a lower current draw than 2 standard tubes in a single fixture for a grand total of $36 invested.