As usual, Greg's Sandbox is a place where the unusual solution is discussed.  This is a cost effective alternative to the expensive commercially available fixtures and bulbs many people use.  These cost saving materials will work just fine.  Many major motion picture sequences have been produced on systems just like these.

Bill of Materials:

1. 1 ea. 48" metal shop fluorescent fixture with reflector.
2. 1 ea. Advance REL-2P60-S-RH-TP Electronic Ballast.
3. 1 ea. Baby Nail-On Plate
4. 1 ea. 6 foot Power cord with plug
5. 1 ea. 1/2 romex clamp.
6. 2 ea. bulbs of choice (see below)

1. Disassemble the fixture and remove the ballast that is inside.  Throw away the ballast
2. Install the new Advance ballast.  You will need to use new screws and nuts.  This fixture is not designed to hold this larger ballast.
3. Drill and bolt on the Baby Nail-On Plate to the center of the back of the fixture.  (You will use this pin to mount the fixture on a C-stand or similar for positioning the fixture in use.
4. Wire the new ballast to the bulb terminals.  (See the wiring diagram below)
5. Punch out on of the 1/2 inch 'knock-outs" in the end of the fixture and install the Romex Clamp.
6. Install the power cord in the Romex Clamp and wire it per the diagram below.

Philosophy:

The Greg-O-Flow system requires the more powerful 96" ballast to operate the 48" SDB (see below) bulbs.  When using the green bulbs or the Optima-32s you can still use the more powerful ballast with a slightly reduced bulb life.  The benefit is that the bulbs run brighter.  In most cases this is terrific!  If a two bulb fixture is too bright, these electronic ballasts will operate fine with a single bulb running.  I have install switches in some fixtures to turn off one of the bulbs to easily dim the fixture.  Mostly, I just twist out a bulb if the fixture is too bright.

There is also a good case for building some 4-bulb fixtures as well.  If you do this, separate the ballasts with separate power switches so that you can use the fixtures with only two bulbs without having to remove bulbs.

LA Lighting
 
 

Ballasts

REL-2P60-S-RH-TP
This is the preferred ballast.  It is electronic operating at frequencies above 20,000 hz.
Though it is normally designed to operate with single pin bulbs (a single pin on each end of the 96" bulb).
We use it on our 48" two pin bulbs (two pins on each end of a 48" bulb).
 

REL-2S110
This is a normal electromagnetic ballast that operated at 60hz.  This is an easy to find ballast but
it will flicker at certain filming speeds.  You can use this ballast, but we prefer the electronic versions.
This is a normal 96" ballast designed to operate with 96" two pin bulbs (two pins on each end of a 48" bulb).
We use it on our 48" two pin bulbs (two pins on each end of a 48" bulb).

Advance Transformer Co
O'Hare International Center
10275 West Higgins Road
Rosemont, Illinois 60018
847-390-5000

Normal 4' bulbs use a much smaller ballast.  Basically, to operate the F40T Superblue, which is a 48" bulb, you need to use the ballast that normally operates 96" bulbs.  The Advance REL-2P60-S-RH-TP is a good ballast to use for your new fixtures.  Basically, any 96" ballast will work, but this one is the best.

When using a ballast that is designed to operate with single pin bulbs (a single pin on each end of the 96" bulb) on a two pin bulb (two pins on each end of a 48" bulb), connect the wire to both pins on each end as if they were a single pin.

Modern Studio Equipment, Inc.
7428 Bellaire Avenue
North Hollywood, CA 91605

818-764-8574

Baby Nail-On Plate   Approx. $10.00
Foam Core Holder (w/swivel)  Approx. $25.50