How does lamp ballast work

They also say what types of lamps they work with such as T5, T8, T10 or T Additionally, the fluorescent ballast will also state the amount of voltage it can accommodate such as or volts. When a fluorescent lamp is turned on, the lamp's electrodes heat up and release electrons.

These mix with the mercury gas and other gases that are in the lamp. When this happens, the electrons actually bump into atoms that are in the gas, releasing wavelengths of ultraviolet light that are consumed by the fluorescent coating on the inside of the lamp. This then ultimately produces the light we can see. The job of the fluorescent ballast is to manage this entire process by giving the lamp the voltage it needs to get the process done.

At the same time it makes sure it doesn't take in so much that it burns out. That is because a fluorescent lamp is inherently has a negative resistance, meaning it will just keep on taking in voltage until its power supply can't take anymore. To combat this, the ballast supplies the opposite resistance -- positive -- to restrict the current.

In its simplest form, a ballast uses magnetic energy that erupts into the lamp when it is turned on, stimulating the electrodes to make a current and the lamp glows. Today's fluorescent ballasts are mainly electronic, and they have a number of positive attributes including energy efficiency, reduced flicker of light, and even dimming capabilities.

There are a also a few different types of fluorescent ballasts to know about. One of the more popular types of ballasts is the instant-start ballast. Rather than warming up the lamp's electrodes gradually, the ballast a rather large initial voltage to get it going.

This is called the pre-heat method. As it can take several seconds for this process to complete, you may see a delay between the moment you flick the switch and when the fluorescent light begins to glow.

Used in older T12 and some T8 tubes, this method functions without a starter. One advantage of the rapid-start method is that by providing a low, continuous current rather than a strong surge, it prolongs the life of the fluorescent light. However, it does use more energy. Using more sophisticated circuitry and components, ballasts can control the current running through fluorescent lights with greater precision.

Some older electronic ballasts employ the rapid-start method described above, while newer and more advanced models use what are known as instant-start and programmed-start. These ballasts were developed so lights could be turned on and operated at their brightest at the first flick of the switch.

Rather than pre-heat the electrodes, the ballast uses a high-voltage boost around volts to heat and light the filaments and then the mercury gas. Designed for areas in which the lights are constantly switched on and off, these ballasts pre-heat the electrodes with controlled amounts of current before applying a higher voltage to start the light. When magnetic ballasts break, it is often blamed on the bulb. You can find out whether the issue is with the ballast, starter or the lamp with our guide - Easy Fixes for Slow to Start, Flickering or Faulty Fluorescent Tubes.

In order to ensure that the issue is with the ballast, you will want to test it with a multimeter. A multimeter is designed to measure electric current, voltage and resistance. They are inexpensive and can be found at most electronics shop. These instructions are for guidance purposes only — ensure you reference the manufacturers wiring diagrams.

If you are missing the instruction manual, most major manufacturers will have opies on their website. If the ballast is not the problem, you may need to replace your fluorescent tube. You can find out how to do this safely with the guide Replacing and Recycling Fluorescent Tubes Safely.

Cheaper ballasts are likely to need more rewiring than a fitting that has a branded ballast in it. The process for swapping out magnetic ballasts for electronic ballasts is pretty simple and straightforward. This is the direction the lighting industry is headed in, so why not swap them sooner rather than later to optimise your space with better, quieter lighting? Hearts work to distribute blood via channels, or arteries, in the body to keep a body active and alive. Ballasts do the same for the fluorescents, HIDs, and plug-and-play linear LEDs in your buildings, just with energy as the lifeblood.

There are many different types of ballasts. Depending on the conditions in which your lighting system operates, the ballast may also need to provide a determined amount of electrical energy to heat the lamp referred to as a program start ballast. That functionality keeps the inner workings of the light from dying prematurely. Other types of ballasts boast faster start times or other benefits you may prefer.

Retrofitting your linear fluorescents to linear LED? Here are some tips for dealing with the ballast dilemma: 'Plug-and-play vs. Just as a heart adjusts to conditions — sleep, exercise, stress, or relaxation — an electronic ballast can adjust to the conditions imposed on it. As mentioned in the definition provided above, some ballasts can specifically vary the light output of your fluorescent or HID lamps for the purposes of dimming. Modern ballasts incorporate many features that result in incredible economic savings along with environmental benefits and easier compliance with increasingly rigid power reduction codes and energy efficiency requirements.

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.

Within a second the lamp would overheat and burn out. During lamp starting, the ballast must briefly supply high voltage to establish an arc between the two lamp electrodes.