electrical
for a jukebox restoration project (changing T12 lamps to T8 by replacing lamp + ballast, the juke uses one ballast and starter per lamp), I am looking for the correct starter of the TL lamp.
The juke states that it uses FS5 and FS2 starters, the lamps are currently F20T12 and F4T5.
Would I be correct in assuming that these both can be replaced with the newer S10 starter by philips ?
https://www.amazon.de/dp/B00BFT1RC0/ref=zg_bs_10388864031_1?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1&refRID=CZDKH5B6TX3JA17JQYEM
Yes, but you MUST cut in old work device boxes first. You CANNOT simply install standard receptacles in the holes in the walls.
Here is an example:
Modern electronic ballast technology (T8, T5) doesn't use starters. I associate starters with old, inefficient magnetic ballast installations. I haven't had to replace a starter in years because they have not been used in any of the newer buildings I've worked in.
My preference would be to convert any T12 installation with magnetic ballast and starter to T8 tubes with electronic ballast. The tubes run brighter and consume less energy, and since the ballasts use far less copper, they can be obtained in the $10-18 range.
Flickering lamps on magnetic ballasts can overheat the ballast, so it's pretty cheap insurance to replace the starter and both lamps so you don't burn out a heavy copper-wound magnetic ballast which in the day was quite expensive to replace.
Another reason is that failing starters can cause premature tube failure which kind of negates the reason for replacing the tubes. Filaments in the ends of the tubes stay on too long causing excess sputtering which turns the tube end black from the metal deposit and early filament burnout causing the tube to not light. Starters have two failure modes, the bimetal gets weak and delays opening keeping the filaments on too long, the contacts burn and the filaments don't light up during the starting phase.
Best Answer
The starter is part of the ballast
So it goes with the ballast.
Changing from T12 to T8 is a good thing to do. You have to change the ballast.
T8 ballasts are almost universally electronic ballasts, do not use starters, and use one of two wiring schemes.
Old-style ballasts that use starters use quite a different wiring scheme.
Your new ballast includes a wiring diagram, either on the label or its instructions/data sheet. You will need to convert to this new wiring scheme. It will not involve starters. So there is no reason to be shopping for starters, unless (amazingly) your T8 ballast requires one, in which case you'll need to use the starter it proscribes.
Choices of ballast type
Since a starter based lamp does use preheats, that means your lampholders will be 2-wire (non-shorting). That means you can use any modern T8 ballast (which matches your bulbs): instant-start, rapid-start or programmed-start.
Keep in mind T8 ballasts won't feel traditional; they won't flicker at 100Hz, won't flash on and off at times, and won't perform horribly in the cold. Also, the T8 tubes will have good clean >80 CRI light.