I worked with those super slim AcuPro ballasts at school. I opened one of them (they're just clipped, no tar!), and the circuit inside was basically the same as those found in CFLs!

Somehow I'm not surprised by that, I'm not going to take this one apart but I guess it makes sense the circuitry would be about the same as a CFL since this is only 14 watts.

The Lithonia T8 fixtures I recently bought also have AccuPro ballasts. I've heard they are not very reliable...

My Lithonia HO fixture had an Accupro ballast too, good thing it still had a deep channel so I could pop a magnetic one when it blows. The newer Lithonia HO strips have a shallow housing so most magnetic ballast can't fit.

Eh, I don't think any electronic ballasts are that relieable.

Is that the Canadian quarter you have there?

He lives in Canada.

Yeah I'm not convinced of the quality of these electronic ballasts, I have seen many fail at my school. I'm hoping the smaller ones like this that won't be used often should last fairly long. I also just installed this, pictures to come!

I try to stay away from residential grade stuff since it's 100% junk nowadays.

Well these aren't residential grade, they are classified as commercial. Really though most stuff is junk, whatever grade it is.

Well, I try to stay away from junky lighting products, the real T5 strips seem to be better.

Maybe I should of got one of those, they were for sale at Rona too but would of been a little overkill for a small closet.