Hi. I've got myself a new 18w SOX-E lamp without a proper SOX ballast but a really cheap 18/20W fluorescent lamp ballast, then I googled search and some results pops up stating that it could use a 4uF capacitor. Well the lamp lit up just fine with just a fluorescent ballast, since these lamps is just so expensive nowadays, I am wondering running the lamp with or without the capacitor will effects the lamp life?
Or the cheap ballast will more likely go first and take out the lamp together
Voltage is 240V, the fluorescent choke is the very common 0.37A type and it gets pretty hot and I can smell the burn odour when testing it inside my house
, anyway should I get the capacitor? Sorry if this question has been asked before.