What Happened to My Ballast After Switching to LED Lights?
Asked by SunnySkies24
I recently replaced my fluorescent lights with LEDs, and just a few days later, the ballasts melted. I'm trying to understand what went wrong and whether I need to replace the entire fixture. Can anyone shed some light on this?
Answers
You probably didn't read the instructions, did you? Most LED setups require you to remove the ballast or bypass it to avoid overload. It's definitely a common mistake, but reading the guidelines can save you a lot of trouble!
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It sounds like you may need to bypass the ballast when installing LED tubes. LED lights operate differently from fluorescents, and keeping the ballast can cause issues like overheating. Just a heads up to avoid this in the future!
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It's likely related to the ballast being designed for the resistance of fluorescent bulbs. Since LEDs have lower resistance, more amps flow through the ballast than it can handle, which is why it melted. Be careful because this could pose a fire hazard if not fixed!
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CuriousCat99: What specs are you using for the ballast and LEDs? That could help figure out if compatibility was an issue.