Light Ballast
Ballasts are available in a standard light output high light output and a low watt design with input voltages of 120 to 277 or 347.
Light ballast. When light bulbs were a new invention a device was placed within the bulbs. The two most common types are magnetic and electronic ballasts and they come in several start technologies to suit different purposes. These ballasts help to safely start and operate a lamp providing it with the correct voltage for startup and the right energy flow to run the lamp. Examples of gas discharge light sources include fluorescent and neon lights and high intensity discharge hid lamps.
It does this through the principle of electrical gas discharge. If this was not used in the light bulbs and t8 light bulbs tube lights there remained a risk of current rising to a destructive level. An electronic ballast or electrical ballast is a device which controls the starting voltage and the operating currents of lighting devices. Several magnetic ballasts for fluorescent lamps the top is a high power factor rapid start series ballast for two 30 40 w lamps.
Without ballasts to control current flow at varying voltages we d never see these familiar fluorescents or hid luminaires jump into life or stay lit for long before burning themselves out. Lighting ballasts are devices needed by a range of lighting technologies including hid lamps and fluorescent lamps. What is a lighting ballast. These ballasts are available in either instant start or programmed start ignition for extended lamp life in frequent switching applications such as those where occupancy sensors or motion detectors are being used.
Ge 2 bulb commercial electronic fluorescent light ballast. Ballast factor bf the ratio of the light output of a fluorescent lamp or lamps operated on a ballast to the light output of the lamp s operated on a standard reference ballast. The purpose of this device was to limit the amount of current in an electrical circuit. A lighting ballast is a piece of equipment required to control the starting and operating voltages of electrical gas discharge lights.
Lighting ballasts are a key feature of many fluorescent hid and some led lamps that allow current to be regulated to suit the lamp type. Ballast is still used in bulbs and tube lights to avoid current rise in the lights.