Fluorescent ballasts ....wtf, they changed those too now!

Mick Jagger said it best: "you can't always get what you want!" Electronic ballasts have been the norm for 15 years (cold temp compatible, more environmentally friendly...most t-12S ARE REAL HARD TO FIND. T-8s.....few applications that aren't 2=4' ballasts and 4 bulbs...(8's are a PITA, and breakage is 10 times greater than 4"ers). Ask you building inspector, AND make damned sure it is a generic question of some 'authority figure' will be massaging your prostate for you!

Still plenty of T12's around here, surprisingly enough. I'll take the buzzing magnetic ballast that will last 2 decades out in a damp, frigid in winter, scorching in summer barn over failure-prone & questionable electronics. It's like if I had a choice between my current '07 Silverado .. or my old '72 El Camino -- I'm still kicking myself in the ass for selling it. Might not be as fancy or comfortable, but at least it does what it's supposed to do. Parts are cheap, and easy to replace too. It's a win-win ... but of course, I pick the loser. With the lights, your mandated the loser - choice be damned ...

And this is just for light bulbs! Imagine healthcare!!

Don't get me going on lamps I am on the 2nd set of F15T8's from Depot, all junk. 3 fixtures rated for T8's or T12's. T12's work fine T8's just glow on the ends and then quit. 2 fixture brand new, 3rd fixture been in use for 8 years. Hardware store I trust does not cary T8's 24" length. I may try a newer boutique hardware store downtown and see if there T8's work. I am truly frustrated.

I hear ya Snuffy! We're getting squeezed from all sides & every angle. It's ridiculous.

Yeah Sierra I haven't had too much luck with much from HD either. I bought a couple CFL's from there for the house, made by Commercial Electric -- biggest pieces of *censored* I have ever seen! They flicker like a bastard & look as if they'll catch fire, due to the orange glow they give off at first ... then after about 5 solid minutes of that, they finally get bright .... and BUZZZZZZZZZZZ like a barber's clippers! Only stuff I buy from HD is stuff manufacturers can't really screw up .... like nails, wood, roofing cement, wire, or staples. Although I've had great luck with my Echo leaf blower & weedwacker, and Husqvarna chain saw ... once I tightened every single nut & bolt on the thing, and adjusted the carburetor properly. Going on 10 years with the Echo's and 9 with the Husky. The J/D lawn tractor I bought there (L100) was a pile, but it was still running last time I worked on it for a buddy 8 years after I bought it ... once I removed EVERY safety device on it ...

My ballasts finally arrived ... and they are magnetic! Finally a company with some balls. Just too bad I can't name them on the net for obvious reasons.

I have lights again, and I didn't have to rewire the whole damn light. Took less than a half hour to get it all buttoned up and to flip the switch. BUZZZZZZZZZ! We have light!

Says right on it, "For Export Only - Not For Sale or ( actually says "OF" - lost in translation ... ) Use in the United States". WTF is that all about??? The rest of the world can use them, but we can't????

Anyway - another headache solved.

The black SUV's are rolling Smitty, eta...........sometime! Probably have helicopters up looking for magnetic signature.

Kevin

I know, right? I'll be front page news in the local paper, and on every Boston news channel as the guy who "KILLED THE PLANET WITH HIS EVIL BALLASTS!"

Actually, I probably shouldn't laugh -- this is MA after all ...

The very fact you got them is proof to some that laws need to be made/changed and heads should roll. We must be protected from neanderthals like you. They will have us burning oil lamps fueled with flaxseed oil yet!

Kevin

Heck, just looking around in some of my shop drawers I found 4 VQm 2S40-2-TP that are for 2 -40 watt bulb fixtures, there have to be plenty out there, even came across some merc.

SMITTY wrote:Says right on it, "For Export Only - Not For Sale or ( actually says "OF" - lost in translation ... ) Use in the United States". WTF is that all about??? The rest of the world can use them, but we can't????

Well, they were shipped to the People's Republic of Massachusetts. That should count as an export, right?