Can a 4ft 2bulb fluoro be split into 4 2ft bulbs?

Hi,
I am currently wondering if I can power four 2ft fluoro's off of a 2x 4ft fluoro ballast?

I've read somewhere this is possible to wire the bulbs (in a series I believe?) so that they get recognized and powered as a single 4ft fluoro when they're really 2x 2ft ones..

I also noticed that the wattage will be slightly higher, that 2ft bulbs run 24watts and 4ft run 54watts, and was wondering if this would lead to slightly higher output in the lights?

I haven't decided whether I am going T5's or just a cheap 2bulb T8 from walmart, however either way if it's possible I would definitely like to convert it to 4 2ft slightly overdriven bulbs for space reasons..

Anyone know if this is possible? I'm still looking and reading around online and I figured I'd put this post up and if I can find outside info on it I'll post it here..

Any input is definitely appreciated..just please don't factually state anything that you do not know..if you're not sure, tell us! =)

Yes, it's just THAT good!!
Jon

not sure if you can do that but would love to hear its possible
you can buy U shaped tubes in t8 or t12 but its hard to find T8s in the right color spectrum.locally,I could only find 4100k

TehCreQ said:

Hi,
I am currently wondering if I can power four 2ft fluoro's off of a 2x 4ft fluoro ballast?

I've read somewhere this is possible to wire the bulbs (in a series I believe?) so that they get recognized and powered as a single 4ft fluoro when they're really 2x 2ft ones..

I also noticed that the wattage will be slightly higher, that 2ft bulbs run 24watts and 4ft run 54watts, and was wondering if this would lead to slightly higher output in the lights?

I haven't decided whether I am going T5's or just a cheap 2bulb T8 from walmart, however either way if it's possible I would definitely like to convert it to 4 2ft slightly overdriven bulbs for space reasons..

Anyone know if this is possible? I'm still looking and reading around online and I figured I'd put this post up and if I can find outside info on it I'll post it here..

Any input is definitely appreciated..just please don't factually state anything that you do not know..if you're not sure, tell us! =)

Yes, it's just THAT good!!
Jon

Click to expand...

Nope sorry bud it wouldn't work. each ballast is made to control a X number of lights.

It worked!
I don't know if it's going to make it burn out sooner but I have two 2ft T8's powering off of a 1lamp T8 fluorescent ballast.

I wired the 2 bulbs in a series so the ballast recognizes them as ONE light.

It does indeed work.
I almost didn't try it this morning because of that guys post above me, HOW COME PEOPLE DON'T LISTEN WHEN I SAY DO NOT MATTER-OF-FACTLY STATE SOMETHING YOU DO NOT KNOW FOR SURE, IF YOU DO NOT KNOW PLEASE TELL US.

Sorry, but I FUCKING HATE when people state misinformation in such a factual way like they know what they're talking about..
ESPECIALLY when I put PLEASE DON'T DO THAT some jackass just HAS to..

What made me decide to try it is seeing those dual-arc tubes on ebay where, though the ballast is designed for a certain wattage singular light, can spark two arc tubes off the same ballast.

Sorry man, but I did it, so now I know for a fact it's possible.

I just don't know how reliable this is now =)
Now I need to try it with two 2ft T5HO's...

As far as the T8's and the right color spectrum they are easy to find at home depot if you have one, in 6500K and 2700K..
Hope this helps!

AGAIN THE TWO BULBS MUST BE WIRED IN A SERIES... I do not know what happens if they are wired parallel and I DO NOT KNOW ABOUT THE SAFETY OF THIS - I ONLY KNOW THE BULBS LIGHT -- NOT MY FAULT IF YOU BURN YOUR HOUSE DOWN, I AM ONLY RESPONSIBLE FOR MY OWN!

I'm not the first one who's done this either, I found several diagrams and other info online right now looking..so let me edit this in:


-J

good work figuring this out... show those nay sayers whose boss

TehCreQ said:

It worked!......As far as the T8's and the right color spectrum they are easy to find at home depot if you have one, in 6500K and 2700K..
Hope this helps!
-J

Click to expand...

very cool but I wonder about the life of the bulbs.had a friend run a MH bulb in a HPS ballast & it worked for a while but after a month, the bulb exploded & caught fire. lucky he was in next room & heard it POP. it could have been bad.
as for T8s in the right color spectrum,its the U tubes that are carried in 4100k only.at least locallly,had to order from an electric supply house to get 6500k