This it would seem to be a large problem in that short of actually mal-functioning ballasts to which I had professionally even just
thru out the bad
ballast to this week on such a real life
fixture, I'm at a loss. Ron! ya out there?
Of interest beyond
fluorescent starters being of the improper type might be a
ballast of the improper type in simulating the attempt to start the lamp but being either too much
voltage or too little to actually ignight the arc thus the intent. Stagecraft as a forum might also have some ideal but otherwise I as a humble electrician type might think it necessary to experiment either with
fluorescent starters not sufficient to
strike the arc or maintain it, or ballests in it's lack of need for in striking and maintaining it's arc. In the end it's a wattage issue no matter how many lamps in attempted to start by the
ballast or starter not the number of individual lamp fixtures. In other words, short of the proper balllast to control the lamps but too old to ignight them as per the movie
effect you intent, I expect the solution is going to be in either too much
voltage for the lamp or too little
voltage to them. Too much
voltage while it might
strike the briliant arc of light might possibly not have enough at the period of time to continue that arc during the starting process, otherwise too little
voltage/amperage supplied to the arc will maintain that constant attempt to
strike the arc but not be sufficient to maintain it. Given a single 40w. lamp for instance, perhaps a 32w lamp
ballast will be sufficient to constantly try to ignight it but not to stabalize the arc within the lamp. Given that does not work, perhaps the next smaller
ballast will try with all it's might but not be sufficient in striking the arc.
Hope it helps, such a science of bad ballasts is very troublesome to do in an intended type of way. While
phase harmonics might destry a
ballast and lamp, it's more of a long term effort. I think it more safe in attempting lower wattage ballasts for the load intended. Good luck and post your results very specificially to help others in the future with this attempt.