Available Ballasts
Compact Fluorescent
As with all fluorescent bulbs, they rely on ballasts inside of the fixtures or units to make them work. The ballast is important because it is specific for each type of lamp. You can't change from one type of fluorescent to another without changing the ballast in most cases. Many of you are probably familiar with the screw base that you would use a regular household light socket. On these, the ballast is an integral part of the lamp itself. Usually they are a one-piece unit and when you're done with it, you throw it away. This is good for home users because you don't have to determine what has gone bad when it finally does get to the end of its life. You simply replace it with a complete new bulb that you have.
High Pressure Sodium
The ballast must have significant output impedance that outweighs the "negative resistance" that the arc usually has for stable operation. The open circuit output voltage of the ballast, not including any starting pulses, needs to be well above the normal voltage across a warmed-up lamp for stable operation - at least 1.4 times as high for even somewhat reliable operation and preferably at least 1.6 times the normal arc voltage.
Linear Fluorescent
High efficiency, high frequency electronic ballasts offer superior lighting performance and energy savings making their use cost effective. A variety of lamp ignition methods can provide further energy efficiency and/or lamp life improvement. High frequency lamp operation produces light more efficiently while eliminating visible flicker and audible noise. Electronic ballasts are available in fixed light, as well as full range dimming models.
Electronic T8 and T5
Replacing standard magnetic fluorescent ballasts with more energy efficient ballasts can save both energy and money. Ballasts consume as much as 20% of the power of the lighting system. Therefore, improvements in ballasts can have a significant impact on overall energy consumption.
The ideal replacement for any magnetic ballast is the electronic ballast. Electronic ballasts are considerably more efficient than magnetic ballasts and produce much less heat. This reduced heat can further save money by reducing the load on the air conditioning equipment.
Electronic ballasts convert the 60 Hertz input current to a high frequency current of about 20 to 50 kilohertz. The higher frequency results in more efficient transfer of input power to the lamp, less energy dissipation in the ballast, and elimination of light decay during each cycle. Light flicker and ballast hum is reduced.
Some of these ballasts also have dimming capabilities. They have better ongoing maintenance of light output than other ballasts and provide good voltage and temperature regulation. Most have surge and thermal protection and high power factors.
Metal Halide
Metal halide electronic ballasts are lighter and smaller than their magnetic counterparts and require less power, but they cost more. Some electronic ballasts also provide continuous dimming capability down to about 50 percent of initial power; magnetic ballasts only offer step-dimming capabilities.
Pulse Start
Pulse-start ballasts have several advantages over conventional ballasts. First, the ballast allows for greater light output, meaning fewer lamps are needed. A installation that once needed 100 standard 400-watt metal halide fixtures only require 71 fixtures using pulse-start technology. Depending on energy prices and the hours of operation, that change can save as much as $7,000 annually.
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