I got a pair of these with one of the fixtures. I guess both fixtures originally had these. the full power 1977 universal ballasts are pretty hard core since they look brand new even running 34w lamps. no signs of running warm. both lamps still work too.
the 95W HO lamps aren't bad if used indoors or in temps above 32F/0C with plastic sleeves, but the Alto versions are pretty bad in terms of lifespan and early mercury starvation
Mine are Altos and are in plastic sleeves. They're ok in warmer weather but since my garage is unheated, they get quite dim during winter. When they go EOL I'll probably replace them with a pair of Sylvania 110w HOs.
the only reason i kept them is because they're red etched watt-misers. if they were black etched they would have stayed at the restore. they're noticably dimmer than the 40W Doit lamps.
Haha welcome to the 34w club...but these and the Westy blackender Econ-O-Watt tubes are still so cool that they're keepers...
Do you plan to keep the 34w lamps in this light if the ballast will play nice with them?
I'd keep these lights for sure! What do the fixtures themselves look like? Can you post non-open pics of them? (and the ballasts?)
Do these flicker/striate when first turned on?
Yes, the Universal ballasts are pretty bulletproof. I have one that's been in daily use for like 40 years (minus summer vacations) and I use it every day too!
GREAT score though!
thanks and yep these and the westie econ-o-watt lamps are pretty cool.
the tubes will be put in my fluorescent lamp box. I made one fixture T8 today, as it will be going in my grandpa's shop's bathroom instead of the fixture i restored. the T8s are a tad dimmer than the full power ballast driving the T12s. the t8 ballast is a residential grade NPF GE instant start and the lamps are 3500K Alto IIs from 2012.
i took and posted pics of the fixtures already as well as the ballasts. yep, these tubes have little blurps of light and dark racing from oen end of the tubes to the other at first and are a little dimmer than the 40W lamps. the other lamp not pictured has a mercury deposit on the etch end like my f20CW slyvania lifeline.
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I still don't have the 34w ones (unless one snuck in) but I do have a pair of 95w 8' HO lamps.
Do you plan to keep the 34w lamps in this light if the ballast will play nice with them?
I'd keep these lights for sure! What do the fixtures themselves look like? Can you post non-open pics of them? (and the ballasts?)
Do these flicker/striate when first turned on?
Yes, the Universal ballasts are pretty bulletproof. I have one that's been in daily use for like 40 years (minus summer vacations) and I use it every day too!
GREAT score though!
the tubes will be put in my fluorescent lamp box. I made one fixture T8 today, as it will be going in my grandpa's shop's bathroom instead of the fixture i restored. the T8s are a tad dimmer than the full power ballast driving the T12s. the t8 ballast is a residential grade NPF GE instant start and the lamps are 3500K Alto IIs from 2012.
i took and posted pics of the fixtures already as well as the ballasts. yep, these tubes have little blurps of light and dark racing from oen end of the tubes to the other at first and are a little dimmer than the 40W lamps. the other lamp not pictured has a mercury deposit on the etch end like my f20CW slyvania lifeline.