KenLayton
In Memoriam
Not advised to use improper starter.
No more $5 ballasts from Lowes?
- Thread starter modessitt
- Start date
Tronic
Well-known member
I just went to home depot and picked up one and on the case it says it will work for both T8 and T12, and its a magnetic ballast.
Either I got the wrong kind or maybe they are transitioning to magnetic ballast that will work with both types of bulbs.
Added a pic of what I just bought, shows specs on the side.
Either I got the wrong kind or maybe they are transitioning to magnetic ballast that will work with both types of bulbs.
Added a pic of what I just bought, shows specs on the side.
Attachments
csbartz
New member
I went to three Lowes stores in the Denver area and they were priced at $1.04, $0.79 and $0.50. Quite a nice deal and a lot of inventory.
I can't remember changing that many ballasts in my games but I picked up a few just in case.
Chris
I can't remember changing that many ballasts in my games but I picked up a few just in case.
Chris
KenLayton
In Memoriam
That is the correct ballast for commercial coin operated arcade games.
Peale
Active member
I figured "what the heck" and drove down anyway. Both stores I visited had more than they showed in stock: 19 in one store and 9 in the other. .24 ea for the 19 and 61 for the 9.
mrbill2084
Well-known member
I knew I should not have said anything about the ballast.. working on a game today and marquee light is out. Changed the starter, no difference (bulb looked good). Grab a used bulb, put it in and fire it up and It goes real bright and I can see the filaments in the end of bulb melt...
I guess I am going to have to go to lowes...
I guess I am going to have to go to lowes...
OP
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modessitt
Volunteer: Encyclopedia Submission Moderator
There are 13 Lowe's within 50 miles of me. I've been to 4 so far, and have found 11 ballasts. Total cost - about $5.
Tomorrow I have to go on a road trip (about 100 miles one way) for a service call, and I'll be keeping my eye open for more Lowe's...
Tomorrow I have to go on a road trip (about 100 miles one way) for a service call, and I'll be keeping my eye open for more Lowe's...
VectorJunkie
Well-known member
Are they with the other ballast? Some other mentioned a discount shelf or something? Is it in the lighting section or somewhere else in the store? I went a one store, but there was a very strange worker there that would not leave me alone and was creeping me out. So I left with the starters I needed.
KenLayton
In Memoriam
They could be on a "green cart" as the employees call them. There could be several of these "green carts" located throughout the store. Give the Lowe's "item number" of the ballast to any cashier/returns desk employee and they can do a stock check. Then they can tell you where in the store it is.
VectorJunkie
Well-known member
csbartz
New member
I found mine with the other ballasts and starters. I didn't see any on the clearance racks.
Chris
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OP
modessitt
Volunteer: Encyclopedia Submission Moderator
If you ask for the "clearance section", you'll get some strange looks and "We don't have a clearance section." Like Ken mentioned, some Lowe's have a green cart, and some have folding tables set out in the main aisles either in front or in the big aisle that splits the front aisles from the back aisles.
The 1st Lowe's I went to had a green cart in the back aisle near the carpet section, and had no ballasts. The 2nd Lowe's had a table in the back aisle near the lighting section, and had 3 ballasts. The 3rd Lowe's had several tables up front near the entrance, and had 5 ballasts. The 4th Lowes had a table up front near the tools, and a table in the back aisle near the lighting. the back table had 3 ballasts.
If you go, have them scan the barcode instead of punching it in manually. if they scan it, it comes up at half-price of whatever the tag says. if they punch it in, it's full price of the tag. I got 3 marked a 61 cents that rang up as 31 cents, 5 marked at $1.21 that rang up as 61 cents, and 3 marked at $1.21 that were hand-punched and rang up as $1.21...
Wish I had thought to do that. Actually, I bet they could also tell you if any other stores in the area have them in stock. I'll have to try this next time I'm there.
OP
OP
modessitt
Volunteer: Encyclopedia Submission Moderator
Maybe if they tried, but when I mentioned to both customer service and the lighting "expert" what I was trying to find, why, and where I though they should be, they all shook their heads and said, "Sorry, we don't have those anymore." Then I found the tables myself and grabbed the ones that were left...
VectorJunkie
Well-known member
I got the we don't carry those anymore from the worker that wouldn't leave me alone too. Probably had some around then.
Pac-Fan
New member
Interesting. Unfortunately for me, they tried to scan them but it wouldn't scan.. they tried several boxes. So they hand punched the number in and it came up .61, same as the tag.
They also couldn't swipe my credit card on the pedistool or on the register so had to manually key in all that info. That's happened before there, even on a new card. Dunno what's wrong with their magnetic readers and laser scanners.
Dang, so I may have gotten these for 31 cents had I picked a different lane? Shoot.
OP
OP
modessitt
Volunteer: Encyclopedia Submission Moderator
Well, maybe not. I hit two more Lowe's today, and it appears every damn Lowe's out there does things differently with regards to pricing and displaying of clearance items. Both the Lowe's today had the ballasts in the normal spot with the regular ballasts, but marked down as clearance.
The first one had them priced at 61 cents, but they were all gone.
The second store had them priced at $1.22, and they had eleven left! Well, $1.22 is still cheaper than the normal $4.98, so I bought them all.
I've now spent about $20, and have 22 ballasts. I figure that'll hold me for a while...
The first one had them priced at 61 cents, but they were all gone.
The second store had them priced at $1.22, and they had eleven left! Well, $1.22 is still cheaper than the normal $4.98, so I bought them all.
I've now spent about $20, and have 22 ballasts. I figure that'll hold me for a while...
Spyridon
Well-known member
I hit one of the local Lowe's last night. Found one left on the clearance rack in the back. $1.22
I got the we don't carry those anymore from the worker that wouldn't leave me alone too. Probably had some around then.
Do you need one? I cleaned out the store in Carrollton.
VectorJunkie
Well-known member
The marquee in my tempest is out and I have a couple projects in the garage. So it was more that i was going to try and get a couple to have on hand in case one of those games needed one. I will can go pay the new price at Home Depot though. Just figured I could not go wrong with the clearence prices.
I checked the lowe's in Allen yesterday while I was there. They have a few clearence racks around, but none of the ballasts.
