I need Ballast help

[Willow]

Ok, first... I know NOTHING about ballasts. I have searched the internet and am still lost.
I have a "homemade" light (I didn't make it and don't know who did). It is a 48" T12 NO fixture that has 6 bulbs and 2 ballasts. Three of the lights fire up just fine. the other three only light up at maybe half power. So I am guessing one of the ballasts is on it's way out.

I have found all kinds of ballasts... but none which seem to match what this one is.

Here is what is written on it:

Solid State Rapid Start Ballast
120 volts - 60 hz sound rating A (the A has a circle around it)
Input 81.1.
108~130 volts 60 hz
line 0.95 amps three F40 40W lamps
0.80 amps three F40 40W lamps
also for use three 30W
and three 20W T12 lamps

Application
for use with three F40 T12 Rapid Start Lamps
650 volts open current
min starting temp +50 degrees F
High power factor class P

Can anyone point me in the right direction as to where I can get a replacement ballast? And what exactly should I ask for/be looking for?

Thanks!

[Ping]

You could check with Home Depot or Lowes in the lighting dept. They may be able to help. 2 or 4 bulb ballasts are common and most hardware stores sell them. I dont know about a 3 bulb ballast, I have never looked for one myself.

Take the info you posted here, after reading a few ballasts it should make sense. You want to run 3 T12 bulbs. You may have to go with ballast for 2 T12s and a ballast that runs a single T12 .

[Jeff]

actually check to see if you have one bulb going bad and dragging the other two down, i have seen it happen.

[alton]

The most common ballast sold in the market today is the instant start ballast. The reason for this is the fact that if one lamp goes bad the others will work at 100%. The older Rapid start ballast if one goes bad they all get dim. The new GE Ultra Start Electronic Rapid Start Ballast will burn all lamps at 100%. The reason for picking Rapid over Instant is the fact that Lamps will last longer on Rapid start ballast because of the way they start the lamp. Also if the ballast is older there is a possibility it will only work with T12 not T8 lamps. In your case I would try a new lamp and rotate till you possibly find the bad lamp. Also ballast come in 1, 2, 3, and 4 lamp ballast if you need to replace.

[Willow]

Thanks everyone! It was a bad bulb. I tried new bulbs this morning. One of the old ones had an end of the glass part that looked almost black. _the waterproof end cap was covering it). At least now I know what to look for when I do need to replace the ballasts! I'm glad I had spare bulbs on hand.

I may go out next weekend and pick up a spare ballast (if I can find one) and a few more bulbs just to have them on hand.