Help needed with a faulty "Electronic Ballast" - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / beginners

author: onesixright
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: July 24, 2015, 10:22:27 am
content: Hi,I have al faulty "Electronic Ballast". It came out of a light fixture. It didn't "die", but the light was unstable flickering and not bright (i.e. purple-ish). I replaced this one with a new one and all works well. Leaves me a broken one on the deskI was thinking this might be a good project to repair myself! Only, after taking a hit (220V going through both arms, when I was young) playing with a starter, I learned a important lesson. So nowadays im (trying to be) carefull with all AC voltages, it has my full respect! :-) Happy to be still here (ya-da-ya-da)My question: should I even try and where do I start? I'm tempted! But maybe its out of my leagueObvioulsy I looked for the dead-give-away's like smell, blown caps, etc. As you can see on the picture (well, at least to my untrained eyes!) it looks all pretty normal.To the pro's, do I give it a try, or do I go on a salvage parts quest?Thanks a bunch,Roger

author: Xenon Photon
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: July 24, 2015, 10:40:17 am
content: I repaired some of those long time ago. I remember most of the problems were in the transistors. get the datasheet and find the pinout and test them with a multimeter. you may have to desolder them.Remember to discharge the big cap and it is better if you wear gloves.P.S, I'd recommend the salvage parts quest.

author: onesixright
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: July 24, 2015, 10:57:28 am
content: Ah good point, gloves? I don't have any what should I look for?I tried looking up the part but "Omnitronix FLF1T13F" shows up nothing. On "1x13W T2" I'm getting a few hits but thats not the one. Like it doesn't exists, weird!

author: Zero999
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 24, 2015, 11:02:43 am
content: Before trying anything, replace the big blue capacitor. High ESR/low capacitance are common failure modes of the main smoothing capacitor and would likely be the cause of the symptoms you've described.

author: Gyro
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 24, 2015, 11:54:19 am
content: I assume you've checked the continuity of the white Kilxon part? It looks like a thermal trip to me.

author: Xenon Photon
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: July 24, 2015, 12:36:37 pm
content: Quote from: onesixright on July 24, 2015, 10:57:28 amhttp://www.ebay.com/bhp/electrician-glovesOr ask any local safety equipments store for "electricians' gloves". They are slandered safety procedure in factories.Quote from: onesixright on July 24, 2015, 10:57:28 amThe transistor maybe the ST part below the inductor in the middle. Although some of those packages maybe a driver IC.Quote from: Hero999 on July 24, 2015, 11:02:43 amGood point

author: owiecc
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: July 24, 2015, 02:03:28 pm
content: Quote from: Xenon Photon on July 24, 2015, 12:36:37 pmThese type of gloves are for electricians, not electronic engineers. You need differential voltage probes, isolated multimeters, maybe an isolation trafo, but not gloves.

author: onesixright
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: October 18, 2015, 10:47:07 am
content: Just to let you guys now, I replaced the cap (was indeed broken), works like a charm!Thanks for the tips!