Fluorescent ballasts and lamp VoltageFluorescent ballasts and lamp Voltage

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Fluorescent ballasts and lamp Voltage

2014-03-19 15:47:57

Fluorescent ballasts are manufactured for three primary types of fluorescent lamps: preheat, rapid start, and instant start.

Preheat Operation Lamp electrodes are heated prior to initiating the discharge. A 'starter switch' closes, permitting a current to flow through each electrode. The starter switch rapidly cools down, opening the switch, and triggering the supply voltage across the arc tube, initiating the discharge. No auxiliary power is applied across the electrodes during operation.

Rapid Start Operation Lamp electrodes are heated prior to and during operation. The ballast transformers has two special secondary windings to provide the proper low voltage to the electrodes.

Instant Start Operation Lamp electrodes are not heated prior to operation. Ballasts for instant start lamps are designed to provide a relatively high starting voltage (with respect to preheat and rapid start lamps) to initiate the discharge across the unheated electrodes.

• LAMP WATTAGE REGULATION – The ability of a hps ballast to control lamp wattage as the incoming line voltage varies.Line voltage variation can be caused by fluctuations in supply from the power company. Public utility commissions normally permit the utility company ±6% line voltage variation. This allows them to respond to excessive peak demands such as summer air conditioning loads or winter fuel shortages. Line voltage can also vary because of the length of the wiring run or

conductor size used in an installation. Long runs produce voltage drops. Non-Regulating ballasts produce large changes in light output as line voltage changes. A 1% line voltage change will cause a 2.5% light output change. Lead-type regulating ballasts are designed for ±10% line voltage variation and a 1% change in line voltage will produce a 1.5% change in lamp wattage. Lag type regulators are the best at controlling lamp light output. Each 1% change in line voltage produces only a 0.8% change in lamp wattage

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