Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

So, we installed 8, double 4' shop lights and wired them up today. Reading the directions, something I rarely do, I ran across this note: When first powering your light on, leave it on for 24-36 hours to season the ballast. What the hell do I need to season the ballast for? Talked with about a dozen people, none electricians, but none ever heard of "seasoning" a ballast. I think they have a deal with the electric company. I'm trying to explain to my wife that I'm not too lazy to walk out back and turn the lights off, but that i need to season by ballasts. She's not buying it.lol

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Twaddle... in my opinion ..

I could imagine the tubes getting better after a time... and I could think that running for a time will test for faulty product...
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Interesting. Seasoning the ballast sounds like horse puckey - but seasoning the bulbs.... that's a real thing! Google "LSD-23-2002" - seasoning is more important if you'll be dimming the bulbs, but apparently leaving new fluorescent bulbs on for 12 hours helps distribute the mercury.

Whatever the reason, I spent the money to "light up" the dark for 15 hours last night, and will leave on for the 24 hour mark. 2400 watts x24 hours...wonder how much that cost me?

If only there was some way to use multiplication to figure it out.........
2.4kW x 24hr = 57.6kW x 11c/KW = $6.34

Amazing, the skills some of you have astound me. Your math is correct but your rate isn't. How would one figure the 57.6 wattage consumed by my rate of appx .13 per kwh? Wait, I think it hit me....$7.49 less in my bank account next month.
It was more of a rhetorical question, but thanks anyways.

And it was more of a rhetorical answer ;-} I'm pretty sure you know how to do math.

Sorry, smatthew, I just came in from digging for a few hours and found out I had to repair several irrigation lines, 1 low voltage landscape lighting run, and a zone line for my irrigation. I wasn't in a good mood, and took the comment the wrong way. I'm no Stuart when it comes to math, but I can do the stuff I need to get by. Actually use a lot of geometry in my day to day landscape business. When I was taking it in high school, I distinctly remember thinking, what will I ever use this for? Ironic, use it daily.

No problem. I should have put a funny face on my post.

Now that you have lights in the fish house we want pictures!

No more pics until Ft's are in...I don't want to bore everybody with construction details. Pretty sure I've already done that.