Overdrive T5's

[StirCrazy]

Originally Posted by AndyL

Same way you overdrive NO flourescents using a NO ballast...

Either hook up a ballast meant for a longer bulb (ie use a 4' ballast on a 2' bulb), or use a double ballast all connected to a single bulb.

Tho maybe I should shut up, since I have yet to even see a T5 locally

Andy

but a ballast is a current supply and not geared to a specifice lenght of tube. yes they have a max lenght of tube that they will be able to supply but if you have a ballast that can hold up to a 8 foot tube and you put a 2 foot tube on it it will not over drive it.

yes you could overdrive a T5 with a WH7 by hooking it up to VHO voltage but I am skeptical about doing it with an Icecap. having said that an icecap is an electronic ballast and if they are comparing it to a T5 ballast that is magnetic then you will get a 5 to 10% increase in light because of the higher frequency it is being run at. the other option is that they are running non HO T5 bulbs on a Icecap, in which case it will be overdriven.. so untill I see the article I cannot say much more.

Steve