Philips 150w Stinky Burnt Ballast

I got two of these Philips SON flood lights out of the skip at work, this 150w one and a larger 250w variant, both have these same Polish Philips ballasts in a similarly stinky, burnt out state.

This one has 2004 on the capacitor, it's probably been run dusk-till-dawn every night since around then.

I've cleaned this one up and fitted a BNOS Parmar/Venture ballast and a VS ignitor. On the lookout for a 250w ballast now to repair the bigger one.

Philips 150w Stinky Burnt Ballast


I got two of these Philips SON flood lights out of the skip at work, this 150w one and a larger 250w variant, both have these same Polish Philips ballasts in a similarly stinky, burnt out state.

This one has 2004 on the capacitor, it's probably been run dusk-till-dawn every night since around then.

I've cleaned this one up and fitted a BNOS Parmar/Venture ballast and a VS ignitor. On the lookout for a 250w ballast now to repair the bigger one.

IMG_0223.JPG tmp_17644-PHOTO_20170622_234341-11185232536.jpg 20180320_164317.jpg IMG_20200506_174230.jpg IMG_20181115_154331.jpg
File information
Filename:20180320_164317.jpg
Album name:fluorescent / Fail
Manufacturer:Philips
Wattage:150w
Date manufactured:Circa 2004
Filesize:3406 KiB
Date added:21 Mar, 2018
Dimensions:3640 x 2048 pixels
Displayed:73 times
URL:http://80.229.24.59:9232/gallery/displayimage.php?pid=7808
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Comment 1 to 14 of 14
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Slyspark   [21 Mar, 2018 at 12:47 AM]
Mmmm, I can smell the magic blue smoke from here. Actually I can't and I'm glad I can't! Laughing
fluorescent   [21 Mar, 2018 at 12:57 AM]
lol, yes most here will know 'that' smell very well. I stripped this fixture down and washed it but that orange/brown stinky crap just wouldn't come off! Never mind, it works fine now and can't smell it when it's closed up thankfully
Slyspark   [21 Mar, 2018 at 01:14 AM]
Does mean you can walk into somewhere with a lighting problem and know what's wrong without even having top open a fitting up! But yea, it's vile!
Liam   [21 Mar, 2018 at 02:37 AM]
These ballasts are crap IMO, im coming across load of these now that have shat there guts or simply don't work... Parmar gear for me anyday.
AngryHorse   [21 Mar, 2018 at 07:41 AM]
Looks like it was sat with a failed lamp for some time?
Kev   [21 Mar, 2018 at 07:53 AM]
These aren’t that good the 70W is particularly bad. The best ones are the potted type. On the plus side this is a tempo 2 one of the best food lights ever made!
FrontSideBus   [21 Mar, 2018 at 11:57 AM]
I love the smell you get inside sealed floodlights and lanterns. Not the burnt out smell, that hot sweet smell I can’t describe but you all know. Smile
thorncollector   [22 Mar, 2018 at 09:05 PM]
i may have a new philips bsn250 ill have a look
Ash   [22 Mar, 2018 at 09:23 PM]
FSB Indeed Very Happy
Kev   [22 Mar, 2018 at 09:52 PM]
I like the smell from in a MA, they can look hammered on the outside but inside smells like new
XmasLightGuy   [24 Mar, 2018 at 02:43 AM]
Yep.. burnt ballast = nasty smelling stuff Laughing
fluorescent   [01 Oct, 2018 at 11:58 PM]
I've Still got the 250w Tempo stashed away, I really must get it repaired now I have several suitable ballasts!
lampy   [02 Oct, 2018 at 12:20 AM]
yes these open type made in poland ballasts are the worst they made on the wire wound front, the 50 watt versions are particularly bad. the potted ones made in holland were reliable, but you get the odd one of those burning out too

Ash   [02 Oct, 2018 at 07:14 PM]
Are they really failing like that from internal fault ? All the ones i seen get this bad were initiated by a short across the lamp from burnt wiring in the luminaire or SON70I lamps with stuck starters

Comment 1 to 14 of 14
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