How do I wire a fluorescent ballast for a 2G11 base and multiple bulbs?

[Meseria]

Hello,

This should be a simple question for you guys. I want to buy something very similar to this http://www.1000bulbs.com/product/4850/AU-LPLL18UV.html". How do I connect it to a battery or the outlet? I know I need a ballast and some type of socket but what kind? How do I wire it?

I'm going to use it to (hopefully) de-odorize my shoes so my girlfriend will stop complaining. This 'U' shape is perfect as I will be able to just stick the bulb inside the shoe. Any ideas are greatly appreciated.

 

[dlgoff]

You will need a ballast/s like the ones recommended here I think:

http://www.1000bulbs.com/product/444/AU-B100054C.html"

These ballast are complete with the electronics to provide the proper voltage to operate the lamps as well as providing instant starting.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fluorescent_lamp"

You will have to wire the ballast/s in parallel (one for each tube end) with 120volt line (L) and neutral (N). There will probably be some ground/earth point as well (E). But if you don't have experience with working with mains power, you should get an electrician.

 

[Meseria]

there isn't one that is less than $95 dollars that I could use?

 

[vk6kro]

These lamps are also fairly dangerous.
They can cause permanent blindness by wrecking your corneas and retinas.
They can also cause skin damage and probably cancer.
Read this:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ultraviolet_germicidal_irradiation

So, they need to be in a suitably designed enclosure with switches on the doors, so that accidental exposure to the UV light is not possible.

After all that, they probably won't solve your problem of the shoes.

UV light travels in straight lines, like all light, so only the outside of the shoes directly in line with the light will get zapped. The other parts of the shoes, and especially the inside, will not be affected.

It would be worth trying to find out why your shoes stink. Foot fungus?

Failing that, you could put the shoes in a zip-lock plastic bag, or leave them outside in the sun for a while.

 

[dlgoff]

... they need to be in a suitably designed enclosure with switches on the doors, so that accidental exposure to the UV light is not possible.

I only addressed the wiring of such a lamp and I'm glad you brought up this point.

The OPs lamp is only 18 Watt, but that's enough to do a lot of damage to a human as you have indicated. I have first hand experience with this.

While doing a simple calibration of a balance inside a fume hood (<5 minutes) with a UV lamp for sterilization ON (my stupid mistake for not paying attention), I got a nice sun burn on my face. Just think of what would have happened had I been looking directly at the lamp.

 

[vk6kro]

Don,
Yes, I have used them for erasing eproms and for making printed circuit boards and for observing fluorescent effects in rocks, but I'm never happy about being around hard UV sources like these.

So, if we can save a few retinas, that has to be good.

Incidentally, I have been more familiar with this circuit for fluorescent lights:

I wonder why you chose the resonant one?

 

[dlgoff]

Incidentally, I have been more familiar with this circuit for fluorescent lights:

I wonder why you chose the resonant one?

Most fluorescent fixtures today that are used in homes ect., have instant start. I haven't seen many fixtures with removable "starters" like the one in your picture for a long time. I had assumed that the OPs source, which showed a "instant start" ballast, was a resonant one.

 

[Meseria]

These lamps are also fairly dangerous.
They can cause permanent blindness by wrecking your corneas and retinas.
They can also cause skin damage and probably cancer.
Read this:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ultraviolet_germicidal_irradiation

So, they need to be in a suitably designed enclosure with switches on the doors, so that accidental exposure to the UV light is not possible.

After all that, they probably won't solve your problem of the shoes.

UV light travels in straight lines, like all light, so only the outside of the shoes directly in line with the light will get zapped. The other parts of the shoes, and especially the inside, will not be affected.

It would be worth trying to find out why your shoes stink. Foot fungus?

Failing that, you could put the shoes in a zip-lock plastic bag, or leave them outside in the sun for a while.

I was aware of the potential harmful effects and was planning on placing the bulb inside of the shoe. Then I was going to place the shoe inside of an enclosure to avoid the radiation and wire a switch that would be accessible from the outside. I was thinking of using a solid colored plastic storage bin. Would that be sufficient?

As far as the ballast goes, it kind of looks like I assume my 'U' shaped is a straight one and wire it the same. The only question is, can I use one of those cheap 18w ballasts from lowes or home depot? I've seen some in the 10-20 dollar range. Would any on this webpage power the light (link on my first post) http://usalight.com/ballasts/fluorescent-ballasts.html?gclid=CNL__5Xrj6gCFQli2god02kOCw"

 

[dlgoff]

As far as the ballast goes, it kind of looks like I assume my 'U' shaped is a straight one and wire it the same. The only question is, can I use one of those cheap 18w ballasts from lowes or home depot? I've seen some in the 10-20 dollar range. Would any on this webpage power the light (link on my first post) http://usalight.com/ballasts/fluorescent-ballasts.html?gclid=CNL__5Xrj6gCFQli2god02kOCw"

The tube you are considering from your OP uses a 2G11 type base like this:

http://ep.yimg.com/ca/I/pro-lighting_2148_91891347

which I found here: http://www.prolighting.com/coflso.html" .

If you go to the second page of the usalight.com link you've given, you'll see that this one will support a minimum of 1 bulb and a maximum of 2 bulbs which might be the way to go for two shoes.

http://usalight.com/b-2x26-unv-multi-fluorescent-ballast-2-lamp-cfl.html"

Note that this ballast is good for one or two 26 watt 4-pin lamps and can provide a maximum of 52 watts.