What type of ballast is best

Rapid Start Wiring 1 to 3 Lamps. Rapid Start Wiring 4 Lamps. Fluorescent Lampholder Wiring. Instant Start Lampholder Wiring. Rapid Start Lampholder Wiring 2 and 4 Lamps. Rapid Start Lampholder Wiring 3 Lamps. Swap Terminals on Non- Shunted Lampholders. Question or Comment? Fluorescent Ballasts. Ballast Wiring Diagram. Lamp Compatibility Table. There are four basic types of fluorescent ballasts: Instant start electronic ballasts use a high starting voltage about volts to start very quickly less than 0.

Up to 4 lamps. Fluorescent 32 watts. T8 lamp. Fluorescent Ballast Labels The label on the ballast shows two important labels. Lamp compatibility table type of lamps that can be used with this ballast Ballast wiring diagram shows how the ballast is wired to the lamps Fluorescent Tube Diameters Fluorescent tubes have two common shapes, straight and u- shaped. Matching a Ballast with a Lamp There are three requirements when matching a ballast to a lamp. Another clue was that the fluorescent light would not work even after replacing the bulb and starter with units that we confirmed were working in other fixtures.

Universal Lighting Technologies as well as other ballast manufacturers' catalogs will virtually all provide additional ballast designs, typically for special applications. Examples, borrowing from Universal cited in detail just below include. Designed for use with 30, 28 and 25 Watt energy saving lamps for even more energy savings.

Used often when retrofitting existing T12 fixtures with T8 lamps to tune down lamp output. Application areas include stairwells, hallways, bathrooms and other areas that are lit partially during the day.

They are good for using in low light level areas. Change light levels with ballast factor. Used often in new construction, the high efficiency version of our standard HP product.

Used for frequently switched applications including occupancy sensors and daylight harvesting. T8 lamps require a ballast specifically designed to operate lamps at milliamperes mA , rather than the mA that T12 lamps require. In almost all cases, whenever T12 lamps are replaced with T8 lamps, the ballast must also be replaced. At least one manufacturer offers an electronic ballast that can operate either lamp type; however, T8 lamps have higher input power and higher light output on this ballast than on a ballast that only operates T8 lamps.

Ballast types include magnetic, which operate the lamps at 60 hertz Hz , cathode-disconnect also 60 Hz lamp operation , and electronic.

Electronic ballasts improve the efficacy of T8 lamps by operating them at much higher frequencies than the standard 60 Hz at which magnetic ballasts operate lamps. Thus, a fluorescent lighting system using high-frequency electronic ballasts requires less electricity to produce the same amount of light as a 60 Hz magnetic ballast system. Many electronic ballasts offer other advantages, such as reduced flicker, less heat, less noise, and the ability to operate as many as four lamps on a single ballast; some offer dimming and better power quality characteristics.

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