No more $5 ballasts from Lowes?

modessitt

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Anyone bought one lately? I went to Lowe's last week to grab one of their cheap $5 ballasts to repair a light fixture, and was surprised to not only not find any, but to see there wasn't even an empty spot for them anymore.

I ended up going to my local Lightbulb Shop to find they didn't have any of the low wattage ones either. They told me they were being discontinued because they aren't used anymore (sound like the same thing as the 19" monitor tubes). I ended up buying a more expensive electronic ballast that does not require a starter.

I've still found them at Home Depot for about $6, but is anyone else seeing them disappear from their Lowes? Or is just mine?
 
I just bought the last one that my local Ace hardware had (for $5.99). There was still a spot for them on the shelves, so maybe they'll restock?

And I know its been a looooong time since I bought any starters, but $2.59 each? Wow.
 
Due to government regs the old magnetic ballasts have been discontinued. You need to switch to the new t-8 bulbs. They fit in the old t-12 tombstones (sockets) you need a ballast that will handle the T-8's
 
Due to government regs the old magnetic ballasts have been discontinued. You need to switch to the new t-8 bulbs. They fit in the old t-12 tombstones (sockets) you need a ballast that will handle the T-8's

I do use T-8 bulbs. It's just much easier to use the magnetic ballasts as they are the proper wattaqe, have the same footprint, and the same wiring. Plus, they're cheaper...
 
I bought a new one a couple of weeks ago at Lowe's and noticed they were marked "closeout", which I thought was odd. Guess I should have bought more.
 
I just picked up about a dozen of them at lowes in the past week. Clearanced priced at between 75 cents and 77 cents. Have them look up inventory at all your local stores. Item # is 126689.
 
I've gotten tired of screwing with dead original light fixtures, so I went over to the dark side: $6.50 complete 18" Wally World light fixtures. The bulb alone is normally $6-$7!
 
I bought some at Lowes a few months ago, they were marked at closeout, so I bought the remaining 6 they had. Some local Ace hardware and Tru Value hardware didn't have them anymore.
 
Still available here:

http://www.amusementsplus.com/index.php?pr=Category&cat=46&sub=95

http://www.happcontrols.com/lighting/91122600.htm

Happ # 91-1228-00

Advance # LC-14-20-C (still made and in their catalog along with wiring diagrams)

http://www.advancetransformer.com/uploads/resources/Section_3.pdf

GE # 2X463

http://www.grainger.com/Grainger/items/2X463

All of the above ballasts are "pre-heat" (uses an FS-2 starter) and designed to operate 14 through 20 watt fluorescent lamps including our industry standard F15T8.

Lowe's can make a much higher profit by getting you to buy those crappy overpriced "electronic" ballasts instead of normal magnetic "clamped core" ballasts.
 
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I'm going to check my Lowes on the way home. Can't beat the closeout prices. If they don't have them I will just buy a few from Home Depot to keep around. :)
 
Well, that explains the running around I did last weekend. I tried my local Lowes becuase it is right next to a grocery store and I can kill 2 birds. But they had nothing, zip, zilch. I had to go farther afield to the HD to find one. And they have raised their prices $2 to $6.99 :(. I might as well join the dark side and plug in Wally World fluorescents at that price.

I just would rather keep them original...

ken
 
I just would rather keep them original...

ken

My Badlands marquee assembly blew a brand spanking new bulb the other day. That was the tipping point for me. I bought 3 Wally World assemblies the other night - one for Badlands, one for the Xevious CP light, and one for Paperboy.

I'd be happy to tear out the paperboy lighting stuff and send it to someone on here who has a want for it.
 
An I the only one that puts these in?
twinsocket2.jpg
 
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