>First, you should review the list archives to pickup what information has
>already been posted on this subject. Then head for the hardware store. Buying
>prebuilt fixtures and modifying these is usually the most cost effective since
>they contain everything needed to light the tube. Buying the parts (ballasts,
>starters, sockets,...) individually seems to be the more expensive route. I
>have found that a ballast alone usually costs as much or more than a complete
>tube fixture.
This is true but.....
If one buys the typical bargain 10 buck two 4 foot bulb shop light, you will
get the absolute bottom of the line ballasts, they will be erratic on
startup, have more hum than a Glen Gould recording, and have close to a 25%
infant mortality rate. Almost all big cities in the U.S. have a Grainger
office, call information get their number and have them send you one of
their catalogs, it's free, they give em away like popcorn, and it's the
size of the Manhattan phone directory, a real nice to have. They are a real
good general purpose supermarket for goodies like this.
If you've gotten this far, and are building your own light bank, I'd advise
going with solid state ballasts and not go with the magnetic. It'll cost you
$100.00+ or more, but I think it'll be worth it in the long run.
Dick Sullivan
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