Replacing Balllast In Rio - Help Needed Please :)

[fluffycabbage]

Ok i removed the ballast today in my rio 180 - no starter, just this T8 ballast (which looks a lot different to the doresy write-up!)

So - there are only a few wires, and im assuming it all follows the same principle with numbering the wires etc when replacing.
But i dont know where to get a ballast from, and how i would know which one to get - could someone please help me and provide a link to one? Many thanks

 

[woody88]

Take it to an electrical wholesalers mate and get them to match it up.[CEF,Edmunsons,Clearlight etc] Try and get a high frequency one mate [starterless].

Wiring them up is a piece of cake [can't go wrong].............But i would say that as im a spark!


Are you sure its the ballast tho!.......They usually go brown, give off a burning/melted smell as they overheat and the connections go brittle!.........From experience!

 

[fluffycabbage]

no i dont know its the ballast, im just going on whats been suggested by other people! it isnt black anywhere, nothing is. ballast looks fine, so does the wiring, so do the bits the bulbs go into. i dont understand it. ive even changed the fuse in the plug lol. it wont switch on at all now. could it be the switch?

 

[woody88]

no i dont know its the ballast, im just going on whats been suggested by other people! it isnt black anywhere, nothing is. ballast looks fine, so does the wiring, so do the bits the bulbs go into. i dont understand it. ive even changed the fuse in the plug lol. it wont switch on at all now. could it be the switch?

Could be a neutral fault mate. Only way is to get a continuity/voltage tester. Start at the lamp holder and work your back to the plug. guarantee you will find the fault then.
Before that tho test the supply and load side of the ballast. If the supply side is live and load side dead then it's a faulty ballast unit.
Don't know if your local to me or not but if u were I could sort it for u in a couple of minutes......................................for a charge! Lol

 

[doresy]

The ballast I changed in the pinned posting showed no signs of malfunction whatsoever. Of course if, as suggested, it overheats then yes I suspect they can go brown and brittle. Moisture, being the biggest culprit, may result in no visible damage.

Try looking on ebay (got mine for under a tenner, posted) Match yours for double/single tubes, length of tube(s) wattage of tube(S)

Failing that match model number of ballast with internet shop on eBay selling ballasts. Electrical high street shops charge the earth so use as a last resort.