What Are The Three Types Of Ballast?

There are several different kinds of ballasts, but the three basic types are electronic ballasts, magnetic ballasts and digital .

What are the two types of ballast used in fluorescent lighting?

Once the arc is established, the ballast regulates the energy going into the bulb to help increase the bulbs efficiency, longevity and light output. There are two categories of ballasts – magnetic and electronic . Magnetic ballasts are the most basic type and operate bulbs through a core and coil transformer.

How do I know which ballast to use?

By selecting a ballast with an ideal ballast factor, you can optimize the light output of your fluorescent lighting system and maximize your energy savings. To estimate your total system lumens, multiply the rated lumens of your lamp by the ballast factor. For example, 3200 lumens x 0.77 BF = 2464 total system lumens.

What is the difference between rapid start and instant start ballast?

Rapid start configurations have two wires connected to each side of the lamp. ... With an instant start configuration, a high voltage pulse is used to start the arc between the lamp’s cathodes. The primary advantage of instant start systems is the energy saved since no power is required to heat the cathodes.

What are the different type of ballast?

• Broken stone Ballast. Broken stone is a widely used ballast in railways. ...
• Sand Ballast. Sand can also be used as a ballast material. ...
• Gravel Ballast. Ad. ...
• Moorum Ballast. Moorum is formed by the decomposition of laterite. ...
• Coal Ash or Cinder Ballast. ...
• Brickbat Ballast.

What are ballasts used for?

In a fluorescent lighting system, the ballast regulates the current to the lamps and provides sufficient voltage to start the lamps . Without a ballast to limit its current, a fluorescent lamp connected directly to a high voltage power source would rapidly and uncontrollably increase its current draw.

Are all ballast the same?

And there are two types of ballasts in each family: magnetic and electronic . Magnetic ballasts are the older ballast technology. For the fluorescent family, both T12 linear fluorescents and two-pin CFLs use magnetic ballasts. ... Today, most fluorescent and HID lamps operate off an electronic ballast.

What happens if you wire a ballast wrong?

If the ballast is bad, then the needle won’t move . If you’re using a digital multimeter, often the digital readout will possibly list a “1” when it doesn’t find a measurable resistance.

What’s in a light ballast?

They’re usually rectangular black boxes with wires coming out of one or both ends. Lighting ballasts for fluorescent light bulbs and HID lamps made before 1980 may contain polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) . ... Fortunately, you can easily tell whether a ballast contains PCBs.

How do you know if you need to replace a ballast?

1. Buzzing. If you hear a strange sound coming from your bulbs or light fixture, like a buzzing or humming noise, that’s often a sign your ballast is going. ...
2. Dimming or flickering. ...
3. No lights at all. ...
4. Changing colors. ...
5. Swollen casing. ...
6. Burn marks. ...
7. Water damage. ...
8. Leaking oil.

How long do electronic ballasts last?

According to the Certified Ballast Manufacturers Association, the average magnetic ballast lasts about 75,000 hours, or 12 to 15 years with normal use. The optimum economic life of a fluorescent lighting system with magnetic ballasts is usually about 15 years.

How do I know if I have a T8 or T12 ballast?

If no markings are available, the size in diameter of the tube is the easiest way to determine the type you have installed. T8 tubes are 1-inch in diameter and T12 tubes are 1 1/2 -inch .

How do I know if my ballast is fast?

You can determine whether you have a compatible fixture in seconds. Simply turn the light on , then take a photo of the fixture using your smartphone or digital camera. If there are no dark bands on the resulting image, you have an electronic ballast that will work with direct drop-in LED tubes.

How does rapid start ballast work?

With ionizing the gas, the rapid start ballast obtains a low current flow of electricity moving through the lamp which causes the ballast to glow lightly . This helps start heating the gas throughout the lamp which further illuminates the light and adds ionization and further lowers the gas resistance.

How do you hook up a ballast?

Connect the wires from the ballast to the wires on the light fixture in the following manner: one blue wire from the ballast to one blue wire from the light fixture; the other blue wire from the ballast to the remaining blue wire from the light fixture; black ballast wire to building’s black (hot) wire; white ballast ...