Light output measurements on t5 and t8 fluorescent lamps. Bef is the only objective method to compare the performance between different ballasts. This is why fluorescent lamps using electronic ballasts do not flicker or emit any buzzing sounds. Apr 26, 2017 a magnetic ballast uses coiled wire and creates magnetic fields to transform voltage. An electrical ballast is a device placed in series with a load to limit the amount of current in an electrical circuit a familiar and widely used example is the inductive ballast used in fluorescent lamps to limit the current through the tube, which would otherwise rise to a destructive level due to the negative differential resistance of the tubes voltagecurrent characteristic.
Simple control circuits for electronic ballast design. If one of the lamps goes out, this will not affect the other lamps even though all the lamps are using the same ballast. Because the electronic ballast doesnt use coils and electromagnetic fields, it can function more efficiently and cooler than magnetic. Pdf in this paper, several high power lighting networks based on high. It does this through the principle of electrical gas discharge. For the fluorescent family, both t12 linear fluorescents and twopin cfls use magnetic ballasts. Romanian balast electronic philips hfs 2x18w uout 380v warm start. An electronic ballast will convert power frequency to a very high frequency to initialize the gas discharge process in fluorescent lamps.
Ee 5741 design of electronic ballasts eric persson exec. However, direct dropin led tubes are compatible only with fixtures that have electronic ballasts. Optimal selection and operation of ballasts for fluorescent lamps. From the reading i have done there still can be slight rf interference even with the sheilding. Every half line cycle, they reignite the lamp and limit the lamp current. Comparison of dimmable electromagnetic and electronic ballast. Schematic of the central dimming system for magneticballastdriven lighting system. A modern, electronic ballast drives the lamp at a much higher frequency, and a picture of these lamps will be clearly different, without such bands. To guarantee troublefree operation and a long service life of the various.
Mar 15, 2020 an electronic ballast or electrical ballast is a device which controls the starting voltage and the operating currents of lighting devices. What is the ballast wiring set up when converting from a t12. I wired them using the pattern of the magnetic ballasts i took out, 2 ballast blue to blue and ballast red to red on one end, ballast black to black and power and ballast white to white and common white on the other end not the diagram on the ballasts ballast blue. Magnetic ballasts are made of wire coiled so as to create a magnetic field while electronic ballasts use. What is the difference between an electronic and a magnetic. Some basic facts and some advanced information on ballasts. An electronic ballast or electrical ballast is a device which controls the starting voltage and the operating currents of lighting devices.
While magnetic ballasts are simple and easy in their design and operating principle, the more sophisticated electronic ballast just has too many advantages. Magnetic ballasts are operated in 5060hz line frequency. Ledvance is the global leader in lamp and ballast lighting systems we offer innovative and costeffective, evergy saving, electronic fluorescent systems in instant start, programmed start and controllable ballasts in a variety of ballast factors. A lampballast system consisting of a magnetic ballast and two 32w t8 lamps. Jan 03, 2011 i replaced magnetic ballasts with electronic ballasts in a pair of parallelwired two bulb f96t12 fixtures in my brothers shop. The ballast in my bathroom burned out brand new bulb wont light up. A quick way to tell which ballast electronic or magnetic. Your onestop for legacy highbay, parking, and roadway fixture ballasts. Pdf files of specifier reports and several searchable databases. T12 electronic ballast are ideal for a broad range of retrofit applications that use either energy saving or standard lamps. A magnetic ballast does not change the frequency of the power to the lamp,it remains the same as the input power, in the united states 60 hz.
Can you replace a magnetic ballast with an electronic ballast. However, electronic ballasts are several times more expensive than the plain passive magnetic models and much more susceptible to certain disturbances and are likely to become themselves a source of disturbances. I assume that is because the new ballast is electronic and the old one was magnetic. Bf is the relative light output of a lamp on the ballast and the input power in watts is the ballast energy consumption. Electronic ballasts are often designed around their magnetic ballast predecessors. Magnetic ballasts usually have greater power losses than electronic ballasts.
Also, if you want to replace your magnetic ballast with an electronic ballast, this is cheap and relatively easy to do. A modern ballast for powering four f32t8 office lamps. Conventional ballast is magnetic,a magnetic ballast uses coiled wire and creates magnetic fields to transform voltage. They can take all kinds of abuse both physical and electrical without failing. An electronic ballast will convert power frequency. These use a magnetic output transformer, an emi filter, a rectifier and integrated circuitry to manage the flow of current very precisely. As the new wave of energy saving appliances gripped the world, technology made the fluorescent lamps shrink in thickness as well as reduced. How to install a t8 electronic fluorescent ballast in an old magnetic t12 ballast fixture duration. Magnetic ballasts are coreandcoil electromagnetic ballasts.
How can i tell whether i have a magnetic ballast or an. A magnetic ballast does not change the frequency of the power to the lamp it remains the same as the input power, in the united states 60 hz. Ballast compatible, plug and play, or direct dropin led tubes make upgrading to costsaving, longlife led technology easy. People have grown up with the sights and sounds of fluorescent lamps buzzing to life after a few attempts. Plus electronic ballasts are cheaper to manufacture, so few magnetic ballasts are sold new these days. Electronic ballasts should be clearly marked as electronic. There are two types of ballasts utilized in lighting fixtures, the electronic and the magnetic ballast. That one looks fairly small and lightweight, so im guessing its electronic. Difference between electronic ballast and inductive ballast. Ballast efficacy factor bef is the ratio of the ballast factor1 bf to the input power to the ballast, of any lamp ballast system. Another advantage is that electronic ballasts can be used in lamps that are in parallel and series mode. Some basic facts and some advanced information on ballasts for.
This is a product label and images for an advance ballast, model vs 2s601tp, rapid start electronic ballast, 277 volts, 60 hertz. Magnetic ballast and electronic ballast on the same circuit. There are two lamp families that work with a ballast. The circuit includes figure 6 the control for both the boost pfc and the halfbridge resonant stages. Ballast checker, for use with turns green if electronic. Magnetic ballasts for fluorescent lighting and the old eu directive 200055eu. Magnetic and electronic ballasts comparison ecospecifier. Included in our product portfolio are controllable metal halide and induction lamp and ballast. By designing our t12 electronic ballasts with the very same mounting and wiring configurations as your current t12 magnetic models, philips advance makes converting to an electronic fixture effortless.
An electronic ballast is usually quieter than a magnetic one, which produces. Energyefficient electronic ballasts can eliminate flickering and humming sometimes associated with cfls. And there are two types of ballasts in each family. Connect the power and neutral wires to the corresponding ballast wires. Manufactured by advance transformer company, incorporated, 2950 north, western avenue, chicago, illinois in 1987. However, replacing magnetic ballasts with electronic ballasts is not without its complications. Replacing a light fixture magnetic ballast with an electronic ballast.
Magnetic vs electronic ballast, pros and cons please. Electronic ballasts use circuits to control the flow of current. Replacing a ballast on a t12 fluorescent light fixture how to convert to a new electronic ballast duration. The only reason i like the digital is it uses mh or hps. Compared with electromagnetic ballasts, electronic ballasts have a much shorter. May 18, 20 magnetic ballast, when they go bad, can be fixed or rebuilt pretty quickly at a relatively low cost. Even if the ballasts in your sample are magnetic ballasts labeled no pcbs, a lighting retrofit is recommended because of the. Electronic ballasts lighting research center rensselaer. Jan 29, 2014 page 2 of 3 magnetic vs electronic ballast, pros and cons please posted in lighting and ventilation. Plus electronic ballasts are cheaper to manufacture, so few magnetic ballasts. Magnetic vs electronic balast wiring for t8 fluorescent. Jan 14, 2016 comparatively, is an inductive ballast or ballast today fluorescent lamps more and more designed with electronic ballast, light and compact, and even can be integrated with electronic ballast and lamp, at the same time, the electronic ballast can have both the functions of the rev.
It is suitable for applications with frequent onoff cycles. Robertson 3p20158 isl296t12mv fluorescent electronic ballast for 2 f96t12 linear lamps, instant start, 120277vac, 5060hz, normal ballast factor, hpf 4. An electronic ballast can be smaller and lighter than a comparablyrated magnetic one. An electronic ballast uses solid state electronic circuitry to provide the proper starting and operating electrical conditions to power discharge lamps. I replaced magnetic ballasts with electronic ballasts in a. This nondimming magnetic ballast is suitable for use in various types of fluorescent lamps, including preheat and rapidstart lamps.
When replacing a magnetic ballast with an electronic ballast the black and white power wires are connected the same as before, and the ground as well. Feb 09, 2014 my magnetic 1,000w ballast puts out a lot more light then my digital 1,000w ballast. E ballasts, digital ballasts, doubleended electronic ballasts what does it all mean. Grainger carries magnetic and electronic cfl ballasts that help provide the startup power for energysaving compact fluorescent lamps cfls. How to make magnetic ballasts more efficient than electronic ones. An electronic ballast is usually quieter than a magnetic. Speaking in these terms, an incandescent lamp could merely be compared to an. May 04, 20 how to install a t8 electronic fluorescent ballast in an old magnetic t12 ballast fixture duration. An electrical ballast is a device placed in series with a load to limit the amount of current in an. Electronic ballast vs magnetic ballast in terms of electrical. So many boxes, so many colors, wattages and brands on the market. After july 1, 1979, magnetic ballasts manufactured without pcbs in their capacitors or potting material required the statement no pcbs. Looking online, it seems that there are two different types of ballasts.
It also changes the frequency of the power from 60 hz to 20,000 hz, or higher, depending on the ballast. I recently replaced my kitchen ballast, and the new one was much lighter than the old one. For this reason they feed less power into the lamp than a magnetic ballast does. Hi stoners, please forgive the newbie question, but am about to buy a light and would like to ask if someone can explain the pros and cons of digital vs magnetic ballasts please. Check the ballast label against the labels on the lamps to make sure that.
The inductor ballast represent the conventional ballasting approaches, and is known as magnetic ballasts. Electronic ballast vs conventional ballast james lamp socket. The wiring to the lamp sockets must be converted as shown on the wiring diagram on the new electronic ballast. Choose from a large selection of electronic and magnetic cfl ballasts.
The complete guide to ballasts for fluorescent lights. Pdf there is a common misconception that energy saving is always equivalent to. Both types of ballast stabilize the raw electricity into a consistent lighting source, they just go about it in a different way. Magnetic ballasts are just about bullet proof, being made mostly of copper windings.
These ballasts are smaller and lighter than magnetic versions. Easy online ordering for the ones who get it done along with 247 customer service, free. Electronic ballasts are made of circuit boards, relays, capacitors and transistors. Sep 15, 2012 i replaced t12 magnetic ballast with t12 electronic ballast.
Look at the wiring diagram on the ballast label to make sure. Depending on your lighting layout, this may reduce the costs of an upgrade, since you may not have to do a oneforone replacement of your old ballasts. They contain a magnetic core of several laminated steel plates wrapped with copper windings. The boost pfc circuit is controlled by the vs and pfc pins of the ic. Magnetic ballast magnetic ballasts electronic ballast. The image below shows a t12 fluorescent lamp with the telltale bands generated by a magnetic ballast. Looking for advance ballast checker, for use with turns green if electronic ballast and orange if magnetic ballast 2lmw4.
Mar 15, 2012 a single electronic ballast can operate up to four lamps, where magnetic ballasts can only support two. Fluorescent light ballast types choose the right transformer. Jan 29, 2014 page 1 of 3 magnetic vs electronic ballast, pros and cons please posted in lighting and ventilation. Screw the electronic ballast into the fixture, in the same place where the magnetic one was. Advance electronic and magnetic hid ballasts are available to operate the wide variety of metal halide, high pressure sodium and low pressure sodium lamps available in todays marketplace. Universal c2642unvme compact fluorescent ballast, 2 lamp, 26w cfl, 120277v. Magnetic ballasts are the older ballast technology. If you have the money for an extra ballast or two i say go digital. Future ballast is electronic,an electronic ballast uses solid state components to transform voltage.
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