How do you disassemble these fluoro bulb holders? - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / projects

author: rs20
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 07, 2015, 10:40:48 am
content: I got a new ECG for a fluorescent batten I have, and it uses a different topology and requires longer wires, so I need to remove the wires from the thingees pictured below. Trouble is, I can't for the life of me get these apart. I see the four little retaining clips that appear to hold the inside part in (two in picture, two hidden on the back), but simultaneously wedging them all out is just insanely difficult, given that I have less than five hands. One of the wires pulls out reasonably easily on its own, but the others are retained even if I pull very hard. Am I missing some sort of trick, or are these not supposed to be user-serviceable? As a last resort, I can just leave these bits alone and cut+solder the wires to achieve the required topology, but that's just an awful solution. Any tips greatly appreciated.EDIT: Fixed broken image link.

author: B.B.Bubby
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: July 07, 2015, 11:41:30 am
content: spring terminals, insert a screw driver into the contact - the wire will pop out and back in.

author: rs20
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 07, 2015, 12:09:46 pm
content: Got it! Thankyou thankyou thankyou.

author: Zero999
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 07, 2015, 07:21:00 pm
content: If you're running this from an electronic ballast, the total cable length to the tube should be as short as possible, ideally no longer than the tube itself, otherwise it can produce lots of RF interference.

author: PA0PBZ
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 07, 2015, 07:33:09 pm
content: Quote from: B.B.Bubby on July 07, 2015, 11:41:30 amOr just wiggle the wires out... I really hate these things, contact resistance must be awful, the wires will turn around almost by themselves and sometimes they just drop out without any force

author: B.B.Bubby
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: July 07, 2015, 07:59:32 pm
content: Quote from: PA0PBZ on July 07, 2015, 07:33:09 pmI'm a huge fan of spring terminals, I've never seen one faileverand I've seen a shirt load- but this is with quality European made industrial spec terminals.Haven't had much to do with those flouro tombstones though. They'd be built to a price for sure

author: SeanB
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 07, 2015, 09:26:30 pm
content: Those do fail, generally you find the plastic goes brown, breaks and drops the wire out, along with a lot of powdered plastic and a small metal spring tab and the thinnest brass ( or plated steel) you can get. You use a paperclip, straightened out and used to press the spring back by gently pushing in the slot next to the wire then pulling back. Or just wriggle the wire till it pops out.I generally find that the whole fitting with tubes is cheaper than the 2 end fittings as spares, unless you are willing to buy a box of 100 of the end units. Of course the cheap Chinese lamps fail before the fixture, or the even poorer electronic ballast dies, and then I simply put in the 2 magnetic ballasts ( they rarely fail, most commonly the spring connector on them does the dirty disintegrate, but then you use a 2 way screw terminal to replace it) and the 2 starters then it lives for another few years.