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**jflng** · 10-16-2007, 11:39 PM

I recently bought an advance f32t8-f17t8 electric instant start ballast for a fixture housing 4 24" t8 lamps. I called their customer support just to clear up a few questions I had.
I was under the impression that this rated ballast would run 24" 20w bulbs fine.
They told me that odd wattages like 20w bulbs were for magnetic ballasts only. I could have sworn I read where people used these ballasts for 20w or even 18w bulbs.
So does this mean that I have to use 17w bulbs only with this ballast? I really don't want a magnetic ballast to run my desired bulbs.
They also said mounting the ballast on wood voids their warranty. Do I have to mount it on something like aluminum to be safe. Would wood mounting be fine if I had a fan to cool it?

10-16-2007, 11:39 PM	#1 (permalink)
jflng Algae Grower (View User Tanks) PTrader: (6) Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Tabor City, NC Posts: 143	Ballast and Lamp questions I recently bought an advance f32t8-f17t8 electric instant start ballast for a fixture housing 4 24" t8 lamps. I called their customer support just to clear up a few questions I had. I was under the impression that this rated ballast would run 24" 20w bulbs fine. They told me that odd wattages like 20w bulbs were for magnetic ballasts only. I could have sworn I read where people used these ballasts for 20w or even 18w bulbs. So does this mean that I have to use 17w bulbs only with this ballast? I really don't want a magnetic ballast to run my desired bulbs. They also said mounting the ballast on wood voids their warranty. Do I have to mount it on something like aluminum to be safe. Would wood mounting be fine if I had a fan to cool it?