Juwel Multilux Ballast Replacement

[Londoner]

Hi all,

When I bought my Vision 180 the T8 light unit did not work, changed the fuse, checked switch etc, new tubes were in it already so this just leaves the ballast. I fitted a single 1x20w T8 on the front lid flap on a remote ballast (I dont have a planted tank just yet, was just some light for the fish) but this has now packed up and my fish are without lighting

Now I managed to open up the Juwel light bar by drilling out the 2 welds at either end then prying apart the top of the bar from the ballast tray part, no easy task I must say! I did end up tearing the top plastic a bit but with some super glue and plenty of black silicone it will seal up fine, I hope lol

To my surprise there is a Juwel 2x36w electronic ballast in there, powering the 2x25w T8 tubes, is this right?

The ballast fixing screw heads and mains cable clamp screw heads were well corroded so I can only assume moisture had gotten in there and killed the ballast.

In my haste I have ordered a Philips 2x36w HF electronic ballast from eBay fairly cheaply, as a replacement and from what I can tell it is near enough identical to the original Juwel ballast but now I'm wondering if I have done the right thing? Should 2x25w tubes be driven by a 2X36w ballast? Will I be creating a fire hazard or will I end up with another dud ballast or blown tubes?

This is the ballast I have ordered http/cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=220762802402&ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT

Thanks for any help.

 

[Londoner]

Nobody know anything about these?

 

[Londoner]

Never mind guys, the new 2x36w ballast arrived this morning, wired it up and its working fine, nothing seems to be heating up or anything.

Thanks anyways.

 

[OldMan47]

Your 2x36W ballast is a bit more than you should need for a 2x25W situation but many ballasts are very flexible. I recently, just this week, replaced a ballast in one of my fixtures with a ballast that was rated for 2x32W or 2x40W or 1x40W or 1x32W or 2x25W. Multiple ratings like that are fairly common on modern ballasts. By reading the ratings provided by the manufacturer, I was able to determine that my 2x32W usage would be fine for that ballast. I then simply followed the wiring diagram for the ballast to connect it to my tubes. Even though the wiring did not match the original fixture wiring, the rewired fixture worked as expected when wired in its design configuration. The lamp happens to be the light for my family room rather than a tank light but it doesn't know the difference.