Table of Contents
Does it matter which ballast to use?
It needs to fit the electrical requirements of the lamp that it will run. When purchasing a ballast, you’ll need to read the type of lamps it’s designed for, how many lamps it operates, and the voltage the lamps will run on. Choosing the right ballast for a lamp will optimize the light output and life of the bulb.
Are fluorescent ballasts interchangeable?
Matching ANSI codes guarantees that the ballast you chose can be used with your lamp. However, ballasts are often compatible with more than one lamp, and vice versa.
What causes a ballast to go bad?
Ballast failure is often caused by the surrounding environment—mainly heat and moisture. When it’s too hot or too cold, a ballast can burn or fail to start your lamps. Heat, along with continuous condensation inside an electronic ballast, can cause corrosion over time.
What is the function of a ballast in a fluorescent lamp?
Without a ballast, the fluorescent lamp would literally just keep increasing the electric current flowing through it until it self-destructed. The job of the ballast is to control the amount of current running through the lamp so that does not happen. Another job of the ballast is to provide the energy — or voltage — the lamp needs to get going.
What happens if you don’t have a ballast on a fluorescent light?
Without a ballast, the fluorescent lamp would literally just keep increasing the electric current flowing through it until it self-destructed. The job of the ballast is to control the amount of current running through the lamp so that does not happen.
What are the different types of fluorescent ballasts?
There are four basic types of fluorescent ballasts: Instant start electronic ballasts use a high starting voltage (about 600 volts) to start very quickly (less than 0.1 seconds).
What do the numbers on a fluorescent light ballast mean?
The label on the ballast shows two important labels. Fluorescent tubes have two common shapes, straight and u-shaped. The most common types are T12, T8, and T5. The T stands for tubular and the number indicates the diameter in 1/8 of an inch. Lamp diameter is determined by ballast type.