Specialty and Architectural Lighting — Ballasts

You may have noticed that the specifications for fluorescent tubes, compact fluorescent bulbs, and ultraviolet lamps provide watts, but almost never volts. Why not? Ballasts, invisible inside the fixture, are required for all fluorescent bulbs to operate. Ballasts modify the line voltage they are connected to (120V, 277V, etc.) so the proper current is supplied to the bulb. Because ballasts are hidden, it is easy to assume the bulbs are simply operated directly off line voltage from the...

Reading fluorescent ballast and HID ballast specification sheets can make your head hurt. Case in point: ballast factor vs ballast power factor. Ballast Factor Affects Light Output Ballast factor is a number normally between 0.70 and 1.2. This number is a multiplier applied to the rated initial lumens of a fluorscent or HID light bulb. The result tells you how many lumens are actually delivered from the bulb-ballast system. In some cases, the result will be...

Over the last few months, matching UV bulbs to ballasts has become increasingly difficult. While specialized ultraviolet ballasts have been bought up, equipment manufacturers have become more creative in finding compatible fluorescent ballasts for the UVC bulbs. But will these always work? And how can you find a compatible ballast?

Learn why ultraviolet lamps and equipment require specialized ballasts. Beyond space-saving and higher efficiency operation of UV lamps, germicidal ballasts can also provide important safety features for equipment operators and the air or water purification equipment itself.

Fluorescent lighting is a system that relies on the compatibility between the lamp and ballast for reliable lamp starting, desired illumination level, energy efficiency, and achieving rated lamp life. The ballast controls the voltage and current applied to the lamp(s). Beyond these basics, ballasts also have many additional characteristics that need to be considered so the selected ballast is the best match for the lamp and the application. The operational and energy efficiency of the...

Emergency lighting that provides occupants with a clear path of egress is a code requirement in most commercial and institutional buildings. Emergency lighting can consist of dedicated emergency fixtures including combo exit/emergency units mounted on walls or ceilings. Another option is fluorescent fixtures that include both standard ballasts for normal operation and a battery operated emergency ballast that converts the fixture to emergency mode during a power outage. Numerous codes can apply including International Building...

If you've ever had to work for 16 months in an office with overhead fluorescent tubes that flicker or buzz, you know how annoying they can be. If you work in an office with flickering lights AND buzzing ballasts, you may have a permanent headache (in addition to your boss). While the effects are headache-inducing for some people, you may wonder why no one has called the maintenance manager to replace what appears to be...

Commercial fluorescent lighting systems consist primarily of T8 lamps and electronic ballasts. While LED linear tubes now compete as replacements for traditional fluorescent, the vast majority of existing and replacement ceiling lighting in offices, schools, hospitals, and other institutions is fluorescent. At it's best, fluorescent lamp/ballast systems can offer efficiencies, lamp life and cost effectiveness that rival LED. A key feature of fluorescent lighting is the type of lamp starting technology used. There are three...