China manufacturer of magnetic ballasts for metal halide flood lights & hps flood lights

Magnetic or Electromagnetic (EM ballasts) fluorescent ballasts are rapidly being replaced by electronic ballasts for improved energy efficiency and function. New DOE requirements and long-term cost savings are driving the change. Until the industry has completed the transition to electronic ballasts, James Lighting manufacture a range of magnetic ballasts for many applications. Fluorescent lamp fixtures are more costly than incandescent lamps because they require a ballast to regulate the current through the lamp, but the lower energy cost typically offsets the higher initial cost. Compact fluorescent lamps are now available in the same popular sizes as incandescents and are used as an energy-saving alternative in homes.

The purpose of the total harmonic distortion tests was to determine the power line harmonics from the fundamental frequency of 60 Hz to the 50th harmonic (3 KHz). Both the voltage and current harmonics were measured. Additional characteristics such as current (Arms), voltage (Vrms), power (W), voltamperes reactive (VAR),power factor (PF), voltage crest factor (CF V), current crest factor (CF C were measured.

Fluorescent lamp ballast power factors (PF) ranged from 0.5 to 1.0 and current crest factors (CF A) over 5 were observed as well as current total harmonic distortion greater than 150%. There are no industry standards that limit or regulate this parameters for Compact Fluorescent Lamp assemblies. As such, each manufacturer sets their parameters based on their own criteria.