Then I would pop up to Wicks if I were you and buy a battern they're only £10 or so, or find your nearest wholesalers.

Right, just to clarify.

For magnetic ballast use a electronic starter (the type that is the same size as a glow/thermal fluorescent starter) wired to the same terminals as the lamp - e.g. in parallel. This is the set up I use.

The ballast is an 18/20w fluorescent type for 2ft 18/20W fluorescent tubes and should be freely available.

OR

Use an electronic ballast for 2ft 18/20W fluorescent tubes in which case no additional components are required. I haven't tested this method.

I have several magnetic 18w Fluorescent Ballasts. PM me if interested.

The electronic starters are normally Green 'pulse starter' types. I have one or two spare if you can't find what you need in the shops.

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Thanks for the offer Stelmer, but this project is on hold for now as I have found the fitting I was going to use is 1" too small for the 18w lamp to fit inside without the lampholder being moved. I'll pick it back up once I can either modify this one or find another suitable one.

I think I should be able to find starters, and something about using an old type glow starter with SOX appeals to me. Would that work still, or would it need to be an electronic one?

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Neon + Sodium =

SOX rocks my socks!