Lighting Gurus, converting PC to T5.

[TechGuy]

Alright. So I have a 48" Current fixture 2X150 Halide, and 2X130W PC.

I am wondering if I can use the existing 130w PC ballasts to fire two 54W T5 bulbs? Anyone ever try this? THese PC bulbs are kinda hard to get, and I would rather use T5's anyways.

Thanks!

[jungliztkruger]

im not sure if they will fire the pc's but maybe you could take apart the unit and find the pc ballast and remove and replace it then fit everything back together?

[TechGuy]

im not sure if they will fire the pc's but maybe you could take apart the unit and find the pc ballast and remove and replace it then fit everything back together?

Thats an option I considered. But I am trying to save some cash. Plus these PC ballasts are small. Seems like a pain to shop and shop looking for a ballast with the correct dimensions.

[TechGuy]

Bump! Someones tryed it!

[bigfalcon36]

won't work brother.

Just pick up a work horse ballast, they're like $40 or so.

[Amstar]

i have workhorse 5 ballast.. will that work?

[TechGuy]

Ok, so heres the next question. Can you run a 90W PC @ 135W? How long will the bulb last?

[jeremyt]

might be able to it would overdrive them a bit...........keep the lamp end cool to prevent premature burnout

[atreis]

Could be wrong, but I've always been under the impression that T5 and PC are basically the same thing, just one is bent (or blown) in a U shape while the other is straight and can be driven from the same ballast, for the same wattage bulbs.