UV Sterilizer Ballast

[noiz]

Hi Guys, new to the forums just asking for some help.
I've been doing a lot of reading on your website about UV sterilizers, found lots of helpful info.

Basically I have 2 UV Sterilizers, they are LifeGard QL 15 and QL 25.

www.lifegardaquatics.com/products/product.php?id=5

My problem is that, both bulbs went out so I ordered new bulbs, put them in and neither bulb fires up in either sterilizer. So after some reading:

www.americanaquariumproducts.com/UVBulbTroubleShooting.html

www.uvsterilizerreview.com/2011/10/electonic-uv-sterilizer-ballasts-lamp.html

I've come to the conclusion that it's the ballasts that are faulty. I would like to replace the ballasts, but I don't want to buy the same cheap Chinese makes that come with the sterilizers.

My questions is can you guys please help me find or recommend good replacement ballasts for my sterilizers.

The QL 15 uses an F8T5 bulb and the QL 25 uses G25WT5 bulb.

I have been looking for Electrical Programmed Start Ballasts, the Programmed Start Ballast are better then Instant Start as they give the bulb a longer life span. But I can't seem to find any that fit the criteria.
Or do you guys think I should go with Magnetic ballasts?

Thank you for your help in advance.

[babygeige]

Hi there, welcome to the forum!
I'm not familiar with UV Sterilizers at all, unfortunately. Carl sells a lot of great aquarium equipment at his online store though, and I'm sure once this post bumps your thread up, he'll have some input for you as well.

[Carl]

You can easily go with comparable wattage rated magnetic ballasts (most electrical supply stores sell these)

Or you can utilize these heavy duty TMC UV Replacement Ballasts:
Ballasts for UV Sterilizer; TMC

A couple questions:
*Did you test your ballasts with a multimeter?

*Did your old ballast get wet or were they stored/used in a high moisture area?

I should note that not all UV Sterilizers utilize low quality Chinese Ballasts.
TMC (out of the UK) is a well made UV that does not utilize low quality ballasts

Carl

[noiz]

Thank you for your reply Carl.

No I did not test the ballasts with multimeter, as I don't own one.
The ballasts did not get wet at all, one sits inside the cabinet under the fish tank mounted on the side wall and the other one sits mounted under the desk of the other fish tank, neither one was wet in anyway.
Basically neither ballast fires up the new bulbs and what's making me think the ballast are dead,
is that I read if you let a burnt out bulb sit in the ballast for too long it will eventually burn out the ballast as well. Since I didn't check the bulb very regularly, I don't how long the burnt out bulbs were sitting there.

Carl, if I do order these TMC ballasts how would I go about wiring that up. I would like to be able to reuse the 4 pin connector wire from the old ballast and the power cord. The 4 pin connector has 3 wires white, black and green. The power cord has 2 wires, blue and red.
I know also realize that there needs to be a starter wired in there.

Thank you.
Regards.

[Carl]

The TMC Ballasts have a schematic for wiring which shoes which wire goes where.
You would place your starter in a loop between the two opposite pins on the lamp
Here is an example schematic (not the TMC, but very similar in concept)
www.americanaquariumproducts.com/images/graphics/wiringdiagram2.jpg

You also might consider sending one of the bulbs you purchased for testing prior to purchasing a new ballast.

Carl