Fixing Juwel Light Bar.

[Chris&Phia]

Hi Guys,

I have just done this as per Dorseys original post.

I had the exact same ballast that the replaced and have just fitted a new ballast with 6 pins.

Reading the post I assume wire 7 & 8 are joined together?

If so, My lights only turn on for 1 second and then go off again.

Any ideas? If thats not how its suppost to be, what have I done wrong?

I have fitted brand new bulbs and tried the old bulbs.

It does the same with both.

Im really close to buying a new light unit, so please help!

Thanks!

 

[Chris&Phia]

This is the ballast I bought: http/www.ebay.co.uk/itm/160833369630?ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1439.l2649#ht_500wt_1287

 

[doresy]

This is the ballast I bought: http/www.ebay.co.uk/itm/160833369630?ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1439.l2649#ht_500wt_1287

Hi, glad to see this thread is still getting hits and sorry to hear that you are still having problems despite following my journal.

First thing I have to ask is do you have T8 lighting or T5 as the ballast you have there seems to be for T5.

If you do in fact have the T5 system does the spec of the ballast match the tubes you are using?

Doresy

 

[Chris&Phia]

Many thanks for your reply! It is indeed a superb topic!

Yes, I do indeed have the T5 bulbs. 2 x 28w. 590mm long.

Not a clue if it meets the spec, thought they would be ok at it was for 2 x 28w T5 bulbs.

I have searched for other ballasts but to be honest, im not 100% what to look for.

I guess that's my problem then?

The seller is sending me a new ballast for tomorrow, as im not sure if my current ballast is at fault. But reading your post im guessing that's not the case!

 

[doresy]

Many thanks for your reply! It is indeed a superb topic!

Yes, I do indeed have the T5 bulbs. 2 x 28w. 590mm long.

Not a clue if it meets the spec, thought they would be ok at it was for 2 x 28w T5 bulbs.

I have searched for other ballasts but to be honest, im not 100% what to look for.

I guess that's my problem then?

The seller is sending me a new ballast for tomorrow, as im not sure if my current ballast is at fault. But reading your post im guessing that's not the case!

Well in my limited knowledge your problem points to the ballast and I'm wondering if the replacement that you have been supplied with is also faulty. It is good that the seller is sending you another replacement (maybe they are thinking the same? ) We'll resume this once the 2nd ballast has been installed

 

[Chris&Phia]

I'm hoping it is faulty!

Fingers crossed! Hopefully it will turn up tomorrow morning and we will find out!

I have had a look for other T5 2 x 28w ballasts and had no luck finding anything.

I think, if it doesn't work I will have no choice to buy a new light unit. It has really messed my fishes routine up without the light!

Thanks again for your time!

 

[bsimmo]

About to diagnose my light bar RIO 180 T5 (UK)

hot hair dryer for quite some time down all 4 lamp holder.
Drilled 4 holes around to blow hot air thorugh as well.
A fizz of some life at last... bzz pst..
nope gone. didn't even get to any sort of flicker.

This is testing with new bulbs by the way.

So while I wait to go and get dremel and it's tool I might as well go eaby looking for a balast.

So anyone know what balast a RIO 180 T5 (2x45W) uses ?



(incase any help now or in future. no serial numbers, bought seperatly 6 or 7 years back, has a 15mm red dot on it. JUWEL MULTILUX GB ... ta 25 / 50 Hz / 240 V ~ / 2 x 45 W, 895mm / GB )

 

[xoxkayxox]

Hi guys, I was wondering if you would be really kind and help Please...
I've opened up my light unit and my ballast and wiring is nothing like the photos posted here.
If I get a photo could somebody help me find a ballast that I can buy to replace this 1?
Kay x

 

[xoxkayxox]

Intact it's the same as the pic nr the top of this page with the vossloh Schwabe ballast, can somebody send me a link to the correct replacement ballast on eBay? Have looked myse
F but I'm confused /

 

[doresy]

Intact it's the same as the pic nr the top of this page with the vossloh Schwabe ballast, can somebody send me a link to the correct replacement ballast on eBay? Have looked myse
F but I'm confused /

Before any help you must provide a side by side picture of your old and new ballasts showing the 2 wiring diagrams.

 

[Charlie79]

can anyone help me find a replacment ballast for my lights, my ballast only has 5 wires total. here is a photo

if anyone could tell me which one i need then that would be great.
cheers

I have the same wiring bought osram ballast to replace but the Wiring is different. Have you found a solution?

 

[Arfanmi]

Hi to anyone who sees this.

Just wanted to add my sincere thanks along with others to Doresy for taking the time and posting this for others. I have a vision 180 and when the unit became faulty earlier this week I was about to throw the old unit out and thought I will be without light for a while but came across this DIY guide. Thanks to you I have managed to get access to the faulty ballast and carried out the repair all in a matter of couple of hours. Tested it when all done and the lights came on instantly. Luckily for me it was a straight swop, but none the less the thought would have never come to me to give this a go, if it wasn't for you.

Once again a BIG Thanks to you from me and my 20+ fishes!

Arfan.

PS. If anyone is interested I got my ballast from CEF and it cost under £15. They said the OSRAM were £20 and need to be pre-ordered. Ideally I would have liked to gone for this option but seeing my plants turning brown I couldn't wait until Tuesday/Wednesday.

 

[The Doc]

Hi all, my Rio 240 light unit has just failed. Opened it up as per the instructions on page 1 and found the same ballast as shown at the top of this page (only 3 wires connected between ballast and tubes; a common wire connects to one end of each tube and dedicated wires connect to the other ends, hence 3 wires).....so did a bit of digging. It appears this type of ballast is an "instant start" one, the other types of ballast described here are "rapid start" and have two wires going to each end of each tube, hence the many more wires/connectors (apparently these pre-heat elements in the tubes before striking). The problem I'm having is finding a replacement instant start ballast since a rapid start ballast (loads on ebay) would mean me having to completely rewire the whole unit, which is probably impossible anyway since I would need access to re-wire the connectors with two wires each!

Has anyone with this type of ballast (as in pic at top of page) found a suitable replacement?

 

[Alkers]

How goes it all?
I have just got the same problem with my Vision 180.
The bulbs I have are both Arcadia FO25, 750mm bulbs, so this is two 25W bulbs according to here:http/www.arcadia-uk.info/product.php?pid=11&mid=10&lan=en
Does this mean I have T5 or T8 bulbs and more importantly does anyone know where I can source a replacement ballast?
Many thanks!

 

[bodge99]

Alkers:

FYI, Fluorescent light tube diameters are measured in 1/8ths of an inch. Therefore:

T12 tubes: 12/8 inches = 1 1/2 inches diameter (38mm).
T8 tubes: 8/8 inches = 1 inch diameter (26mm).
T5 tubes 5/8 inches diameter (16mm).

You will also see these described with metric equivalents (rounded to a "nice" figure.)

FO25 is a designation for a 25W T8 tube.

There are also T5, T4 and T2 available...

If you are looking for a ballast to support tube sockets which have only one wire, then you'll need to search for one described as a "cold cathode ballast" or sometimes as one that supports "2 wire mode".

I'm involved in a couple of lighting threads on this forum... I'll see what's around for cold cathode ballasts and report back.

Assuming that this would be of any help to anyone...

Bodge99.