| What are the different types of electronic ballasts? |
Advance manufactures ballasts for most common fluorescent lamps currently produced by the lamp manufacturer Electronic ballasts are either instant start, rapid start, or program start, sometimes you have a choice sometimes you do not. These include T8 and T12 lamps of 2, 3, 4, 6 and 8 foot length. There are also ballasts for many 4 pin compact fluorescent lamps. The Advance Atlas, available on this web site, contains listings of all ballast and lamp combinations. |
| What is a universal voltage ballast? |
| Universal voltage ballasts are designed to operate from 120 V to 277 V input voltage range with one pair of input voltage leads. Advance "IntelliVolt" and "SmartMate" series are universal voltage ballasts. Universal voltage ballasts are rated 10% THD with the primary lamp application. |
| How does temperature affect ballast life and lamp light output? |
| Ballast warranty is related to ballast operating case temperature Advance Transformer Electronic ballasts for linear fluorescent lamps must have case temperatures of 70°C or less for a 5 year warranty to be honored. Advance Transformer SmartMateTM Electronic ballasts for compact fluorescent lamps carry a (5) year warranty if the ballast case temperature is 75°C or less. SmartMate ballasts carry a (3) year warranty if the ballast case temperature is between 75°C and 85°C. It has been stated that for every 10 degrees Centigrade reduction in operating temperature product life is doubled. Operating can temperature has a very definite affect on ballast operating life. Maximum fluorescent lamp light output is produced when the lamp tube wall temperature is about 100 degrees Fahrenheit for most fluorescent lamp types. When tube wall temperatures are greater or lower than 100 degrees Fahrenheit, lamp light output decreases. Any fixture or ambient temperature that causes the lamp tube wall temperature to increase or decrease the lamp wall temperature will change the total light output regardless of the ballast operating the lamps. Consult lamp manufacturers for specific information |
| Will electronic ballasts produce an audible buzz or hum? |
| Some electronic ballasts catalog numbers have a 60 Hz. filter that corrects power factor and reduces line current harmonics. Although the ballast operates at greater than 40 kHz, the 60 Hz. filter will produce some audible buzz or hum. These ballasts are sound rated A, the lowest rating. |
| Do lamps operating at low light levels for long periods of time affect lamp life? |
| Life testing lamps operated at low light levels has shown that lamp life is not affected. There is neither a decrease nor an increase in lamp life. |
| Will electronic ballasts cause radio or television interference? |
| All electronic ballasts are designed to meet FCC Part 18 for Non-Consumer Equipment, for conducted and radiated interference. Electronic ballasts may cause some interference in a home or Consumer application. Interference can most often be reduced or eliminated by using shielded antenna cable and routing the television cable away from the fixtures. There is usually no interference with cable television. |
| Can electronic ballasts be used to operate lamps at cold temperatures? |
| There are electronic ballasts rated to operate lamps at 0 and -20 degrees Fahrenheit. The Advance Atlas show the minimum lamp temperature of operation. Temperature limitations are lamp related. Electronic ballasts are designed to start and operate the lamps at cold temperatures. However, at low temperatures the lamps will operate dim until the lamp surface temperature increases. |
| Why is the input power to an electronic ballast less than the total rated lamp wattage? |
The rated wattage to linear lamps is the 60 Hz. rating. A lamp operated by a high frequency electronic ballast operates more efficient than when operating at 60 Hz. This is the primary purpose for change to electronic ballasts. A lamp operating at high frequency will produce the same light output with less energy. |
| What precautions should be taken when changing instant-start ballasts to rapid or program start ballasts in a fixture? |
| Instant start ballasts require the lamp sockets to have both pins of the bi-pin socket shorted together. Rapid or program start ballasts require rapid start bi-pin sockets to properly operate. New fixtures using instant start ballasts will most likely have lamp sockets with a built-in short circuit and must be replaced with rapid start sockets.Fixtures with a wire jumper shorting the lamp socket must have the jumper removed. If these changes are not performed there is danger of damage to the rapid or program start ballast and premature lamp failure will be experienced. |
| Does Advance have case studies showing energy savings with electronic ballasts? |
Yes. We have both technical notes and case studies showing how many companies are realizing energy savings using Advance Ballasts. |
| Can electronic ballasts be used to replace magnetic ballast? |
| Yes, there are electronic ballasts available to replace almost all magnetic ballast-lamp combinations. There are few exceptions that include preheat ballasts and Very High Output ballasts. |
Do fluorescent fixture ballasts hum? |
| All ballasts hum to some minor degree. Ballasts for 48 inch, 72 inch and 96 inch slimline lamps are sound rated C and D and are the least quiet. Slimline ballasts should only be used in industrial/commercial applications where noise is not a problem. Energy saving ballasts, residential ballasts, and solid state (electronic) ballasts are sound rated A. You may hear them in a quiet room. in most applications, noise from sound rated A ballasts is covered up by the usual amount of ambient noise in a typical room. A loose magnetic ballast can be the cause of ballast hum. Check that ballast mounting screws are tight. |
| What are the different types of ballasts and what do they do? |
- Magnetic Ballast - use high quality electromagnetic materials to help save on energy consumption. There are two kinds:
- Residential Grade Ballast - energy saving. Produces same lumens per watt as commercial grade ballasts, but since residential grade ballasts use fewer watts, they have lower total light output than commercial grade ballasts. Not for commercial applications.
- Energy Saving Ballast - Highest quality, highest performing magnetic ballast available. 30% more light output than residential grade ballasts. Saves 68% in energy costs against incandescent lamps (one 34 watt fluorescent vs. one 50 watt incandescent), $124 over the life of the light bulb based on costs of 10￠/kw hour. Economical to install; for commercial use; meets Federal Energy Policy and Conservation Act.
- Electronic Ballast - incorporates solid state technology, integrated circuits and transistors to save energy, and eliminate lamp flicker. Has five year warranty.
- Rapid Start Ballast - dedicated circuits continuously heat lamp filaments to make lamps easier and quicker to start (less than 2 seconds). Properly heated filaments extent light bulb life.
- High Output Ballast - Fast, easy starting. Gives 48% more light than rapid start ballast.
- Very High Output, Super High Output - another fast, easy starting ballast. Gives 57% more light than High Output ballasts. Best choice for use in low temperature applications as most VHO ballasts will start down to minus 20 degrees F.
- Preheat Ballast - economical ballast. Starts light bulbs in 2-4 seconds.
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What type of fluorescent fixtures might be used in a school? |
Precision engineered and highly efficient Simkar fluorescent fixtures, such as the Troffer, Parabolic, and Strips, produce optimal illumination for areas like corridors and libraries. |
| What type of fluorescent fixture would be suitable for a home office? |
Simkar offers highly functional task lighting, along with a variety of decorative fixtures, such as the Wood-Sided Decorative or Cloud. Accent/Cove lighting fixtures help illuminate walls, too. You can combine a personalized touch with high-output lighting for a pleasant work-at-home space. |
| What is role of starter? |
| To glow the tube, Higher voltage (i.e:500V) is required to ionize the gas inside the tube and this is served by starter along with Magnetic Ballast. Once gas is ionized, the conductive path is formed between two ends of the tube. After this phenomenon there is no need of starter. Starter is not required while operating the tube with Electronic Ballast. |
| What is High Power Factor? |
High Power Factor ballasts correct for the loading effect of the ballast on the supply voltage. This results in more efficient operation. All Universal Lighting electronic ballasts are High Power Factor ballasts. |
| Do electronic ballasts make noise? |
Because electronic ballasts do not have the auto transformer that is inherent to an electro-magnetic ballast, the characteristic "hum" of a magnetic ballast is not present in an electronic ballast. The electronic ballast generates a small noise, much less than a magnetic ballast of a similar application. Other factors such as the lighting fixture and room characteristics affect the noise level. |
| Are electronic ballasts lighter? |
Electronic ballasts are lighter in weight than electro-magnetic ballasts because they utilize semi-conductor circuitry instead of a transformer based design. |
How do I know when I need to replace my ballast? |
If you have one or more lamps out, the first thing you should do is reposition the lamps. Take a lamp that is lighting in another position and move it to the spot where the lamp failure has occurred.
If no other lamp will light in that particular spot, change the starter for that lamp (if your unit has starters.
If the lamps still will not light, check the lamp holders. Lamp holders are the sockets on each end of the tanning unit that your lamp "plugs" into. If the lamp holders appear to be black, melted, loose, or have a loose wire, then replace the lamp holder.
If the problem is not with either the lamp, starter, or lampholder, more than likely the problem is a failed ballast. |
How often do ballasts need to be replaced? |
Ballasts generally need to be replaced only when they fail. To minimize downtime and loss of revenue, always have 1-2 ballasts per unit on hand. |
