China manufacturer of magnetic ballasts for metal halide flood lights & hps flood lights

[2014-04-06]

High efficiency, high frequency electronic ballasts offer enhanced lighting performance and energy savings. The Electric Power Research Institute estimates that lighting consumes 20-25% of all electric power and that lighting energy accounts for 40% of the average commercial electric bill. The retrofit of existing facilities with modern lighting systems increases productivity and can save over one-half the energy of the original system. Electronic high-frequency ballasts increase lamp-ballast efficacy, leading to increased energy efficiency and lower operating costs. Electronic ballasts operate lamps using electronic switching power supply circuits. Electronic ballasts take incoming 60 Hz power (120 or 277 volts) and convert it to high-frequency AC (usually 20 to 40 kHz). Electronic ballasts are more efficient than magnetic ballasts in converting input power to the proper lamp power, and their operating of fluorescent lamps at higher frequencies reduces end losses, resulting in an overall lamp-ballast system efficacy increase of 15% to 20%. Electronic ballasts have a number of other advantages over magnetic ballasts. Electronic ballasts are readily available that operate three or four lamps, allowing the use of a single ballast in 3-lamp and 4-lamp luminaires. This reduces both installation and field wiring labor costs, and may negate the necessity of tandem luminaire wiring as required by the 1992 Energy Efficiency Standards for Residential and Nonresidential Buildings. Electronic ballasts are designed to operate lamps in either series or parallel mode. The advantage of the parallel mode of operation is that a single lamp failure will not affect the operation of the remaining lamps controlled by the same ballast. However, ballast losses will increase slightly in the parallel mode. Other advantages of the electronic ballast include reduced weight, quieter operation, and reduced lamp flicker. Electronic ballasts are directly interchangeable with core and coil ballasts, and they are available to operate most full-size and compact fluorescent lamps. The economics of lighting retrofits have never been better. Investment payback is often accelerated by "Demand Side Management" programs from electric utilities that offer incentives in the form of rebates for energy efficient measures. Consult with your local energy provider for available programs in your area....

[2014-04-05]

Rapid-start electronic ballasts have a separate set of windings which provide a low voltage (approx. 3.5 volts) to the electrodes for one second prior to lamp ignition. A starting voltage somewhat lower than that of instant ballast (typically 405-550V for F32T8 lamps) is applied, striking an electrical arc inside the lamp. Most rapid-start electronic ballasts continue to heat the electrode even after the lamp has started, which results in a power loss of 1.5 to 2 watts per lamp. Lamps operated by a rapid-start electronic ballast will typically withstand 15-20K switch cycles. Rapid-start ballasts are typically wired in series. This means that if one lamp fails, all other lamps in the circuit will extinguish.Rapid start ballast apply a low filament voltage to preheat the cathodes. Simultaneously, a starting voltage (lower than that used in instant start) is also applied to strike the arc. When the cathodes are hot enough, the lamp will strike. The filament voltage continues to be applied throughout the operation of the lamp. Rapid start ballasts appear to have a slight turn on delay compared to instant start. They will typically not be able to start lamps reliably under 50 degrees F. Instant start ballast apply high voltage across the lamp with no preheating of the cathode. THIS IS THE MOST ENERGY EFFICIENT starting method for fluorescent lamp ballasting. I.S. ballast use 1.5 to 2 watts less per lamp than rapid start ballast. Other I.S. ballast benefits typically include parallel lamp circuitry, (ballast wired with parallel lamp circuitry is what allows other lamps to continue burning when one or two go out without damage to the ballast or lamp), longer remote wiring distance, easier installation due to less complicated wiring, and capability to start lamps at 0 degrees F versus 50 degrees for rapid start. Instant-start electronic ballasts are the most popular type of electronic ballast today because they provide maximum energy savings and they start lamps without delay or flashing. Since they do not provide lamp electrode heating, fluorescent ballast consume less energy than comparable rapid-start, program rapid-start or programmed-start ballasts. As a result, they provide the most energy efficient solution to fluorescent lamp ballasting. The instant-start ballast uses 1.5 to 2 watts less energy per lamp than the rapid-start alternative. Instant-start electronic ballasts provide a high initial voltage (typically 600V for F32T8 lamps) to start the lamp. This high voltage is required to initiate discharge between the unheated electrodes of the lamp. However, the cold electrodes of lamps operated by an instant-start ballast may deteriorate more quickly than the warmed electrodes of lamps operated by a rapid start, program rapid-start or programmed-start ballast. Lamps operated by instant start ballasts will typically withstand 10-15K switch cycles. Instant-start ballasts and typically wired in parallel. This means that if one lamp fails, the other lamps in the circuit will remain lit....

[2014-04-05]

There are some very persuasive arguments for the use of instant-start electronic ballasts; the laboratory lighting designer should consider them before deciding which electronic ballast to specify. The instant-start ballast is more economical—5 to 10 percent less expensive—than the rapid--start ballast. This can become a significant difference given the numbers of ballasts required to operate an entire lab complex. The instant-start ballast will also provide greater energy savings of about two watts per lamp. The rapid-start ballast uses more energy because it must maintain current to the cathode to maintain cathode heat; the instant-start ballast essentially blasts the cathode into operation, so it does not require constant current to maintain lamp operation. Two watts per lamp multiplied by thousands of lamps in a laboratory can have a significant impact on energy use. In typical settings, lamps are on for periods of time greater than three hours per start. Lamp life tends to even out between the lamps driven by rapid- and instant-start ballasts after about eight hours of continual operation, so reduced lamp life resulting from instant ballasts becomes irrelevant under these conditions. Instant start fixtures work by causing the lamp to initially "strike" or light by applying an initial voltage to the lamp that is many times greater than the lamps normal operating voltage and greater than the lamps break-down resistance, essentially starting the lamp with brute force. The starting voltage is so great (as high as 940 volts in some models) that even if the gas is extremely resistant, it will usually conduct. Some instant start fixtures also create a potential between the fixture and lamp cathodes to generate ionization, which helps lower the starting resistance of the lamp. Once current starts flowing through the lamps, the lamps illuminate at close to their full brightness. After a successful start, the instant-start ballast will immediately regulate the voltage and current down to the normal operating levels. Traditional instant start lamps could be identified by having either a single pin on each end of the lamp, or by having recessed contacts. (Recessed contacts are used in "High Output" lamps containing "HO" in the lamp model number.) However, with the advent of electronic ballasts, the newer T-8 (1.0" diameter) "F0" and "FB0" series lamps are bi-pin designs but are meant for use with special instant start ballasts. Because of the higher voltages and current involved with these fixtures, older instant-start designs using core and coil ballast employ special lamp sockets that are designed to disconnect the fixtures power source when a lamp is removed. Most electronic ballasts do not need this interlock, as the ballast is able to detect the absence of a lamp and shut down that portion of the ballast automatically. The electronic ballast designs commonly allow less than the maximum allowed number of lamps to be attached to the ballast, and the remaining lamps will operate correctly. Older magnetic ballast designs require that the stated number of lamps be connected and in working order or some or all...

[2014-04-02]

Our hard working, dependable high pressure sodium ballasts are built to perform. Manufactured by top brands such as Advance, Robertson and Universal, you’ll find the best HPS ballasts for streetlights, parking lots, security lighting, and other outdoor commercial applications. Whether you need a high pressure sodium ballast kit or anf-can ballast, we have the ballasts you need to effectively power your lamps. Our high pressure sodium ballast portfolio includes: • Core and coil ballasts • Encased f-can ballasts • Postline ballasts Magnetic High Pressure Sodium Core and Coil Ballasts • Magnetic ballast construction ideal for a wide variety of lighting applications. • Precision-wound aluminum coils, ensuring even heat dissipation and the highest electrical integrity • Distributor replacement kit contains the appropriate core & coil with color coded leads, a properly rated capacitor and ignitor (if required) and all other components required for ballast replacement...

[2014-04-02]

Rapid start electronic fluorescent ballast apply a low filament voltage to preheat the cathodes. Simultaneously, a starting voltage (lower than that used in instant start) is also applied to strike the arc. When the cathodes are hot enough, the lamp will strike. The filament voltage continues to be applied throughout the operation of the lamp. Rapid start ballasts appear to have a slight turn on delay compared to instant start. They will typically not be able to start lamps reliably under 50 degrees F. Most fluorescent fixtures with two or more lamps are known as "rapid start". In this system, there is no starter. Instead, the ballast keeps a low flow of current running through the filaments at all times or during the start-up period, and uses a capacitor or other techniques to start the lamp by ionizing the gas, which is another way to reduce the initial resistance of gas to a flow of electrical current. Most of these rapid-start systems establish a brief but high voltage potential between one or both cathodes of the lamp and a metal surface in the fixture that must be within a certain distance (usually less than 0.5 inches) of the lamp along its full length. Some lamps that are formed into a "U" shape actually have a conductive metal stripe painted on the glass tubing to assist in the starting process. By ionizing the gas, the ballast is able to get a low current flow of electricity moving through the lamp, which causes the lamp to glow dimly. However, this feeble flow of current does start heating the gas throughout the length of the lamp, and the light being produced creates even more ionization, both of which work to lower the resistance of the gas further. Meanwhile, the ballast is providing current to the filaments at each end of the lamp to further assist the starting process. Combined, all of these things work to rapidly lower the electrical resistance of the gas and encourage the lamp to draw more current and become brighter. This is why rapid start fixtures light almost instantly (but dimly), and then take a few more seconds to achieve most of their normal operating brightness. The reasons for choosing rapid-start ballasts in these two cases are: A rapid start ballast will start a lamp by first heating the cathode and will maintain a constant arc across the cathode to maintain the heat necessary for proper operation. This is mandatory for any dimming operation. Dimming is impossible using an instant-start ballast. The rapid-start electronic ballast is easier on the cathode in the starting mode; when there are many on-off cycles because occupancy sensors control the lights, lamps tend to be longer lived with rapid-start ballasts. Instant-start ballasts, in this situation, are believed to cause premature failure of the lamps because of the high voltage they use to "jump start" the lamps. This high-voltage blasting of the cathode causes sputtering—clumps of tungsten are blown off the cathode and coat the ends of the lamp, causing them to appear black. This blackening occurs with all lamps as they age, but it occurs more rapidly when an instant-start ballast is in operation and the lamp is turned off and on many times a day....

[2014-03-31]

Fluorescent lamp ballasts are manufactured for three primary types of fluorescent lamps: preheat, rapid start, and instant start. Preheat Operation Lamp electrodes are heated prior to initiating the discharge. A 'starter switch' closes, permitting a current to flow through each electrode. The starter switch rapidly cools down, opening the switch, and triggering the supply voltage across the arc tube, initiating the discharge. No auxiliary power is applied across the electrodes during operation. Rapid Start Operation Lamp electrodes are heated prior to and during operation. The ballast transformers has two special secondary windings to provide the proper low voltage to the electrodes. Instant Start Operation Lamp electrodes are not heated prior to operation. Ballasts for instant start lamps are designed to provide a relatively high starting voltage (with respect to preheat and rapid start lamps) to initiate the discharge across the unheated electrodes. Rapid start is the most popular mode of operation for 4-foot 40 watt lamps and high output 8-foot lamps. The advantages of rapid start operation include smooth starting, long life, and dimming capabilities. Lamps of less than 30 watts are generally operated in the preheat mode. Lamps operated in this mode are more efficient than the rapid start mode as separate power is not required to continuously heat the electrodes. However, these lamps tend to flicker during starting and have a shorter lamp life. Eight-foot 'slimline' lamps are operated in instant start mode. Instant start operation is more efficient than rapid start, but as in preheat operation, lamp life is shorter. The 4-foot 32 watt F32T8 lamp is a rapid start lamp commonly operated in instant start mode with electronic high-frequency ballasts. In this mode of operation lamp efficacy is improved with some penalty in lamp life. In a gas discharge, such as a fluorescent lamp, current causes resistance to decrease. This is because as more electrons and ions flow through a particular area, they bump into more atoms, which frees up electrons, creating more charged particles. In this way, current will climb on its own in a gas discharge, as long as there is adequate voltage (and household AC current has a lot of voltage). If the current in a fluorescent light isn't controlled, it can blow out the various electrical components. A fluorescent lamp's ballast works to control this. The simplest sort of ballast, generally referred to as a magnetic ballast, works something like an inductor. A basic inductor consists of a coil of wire in a circuit, which may be wound around a piece of metal. If you've read How Electromagnets Work, you know that when you send electrical current through a wire, it generates a magnetic field. Positioning the wire in concentric loops amplifies this field. This sort of field affects not only objects around the loop, but also the loop itself. Increasing the current in the loop increases the magnetic field, which applies a voltage opposite the flow of current in the wire. In short, a coiled length of wire in a circuit (an inductor) opposes change in the current flowing through it (see How Inductors Work for details). The transformer elements in a magnetic ballast use this principle to regulate the current in a fluorescent lamp. A ballast can only slow down changes in current -- it can't stop them. But the alternating current powering a fluorescent light is constantly reversing itself, so the ballast only has to inhibit increasing current in a particular direction for a short amount of time. Check out this site for more information on this process. Magnetic ballasts modulate electrical current at a relatively low cycle rate, which can cause a noticeable flicker. Magnetic ballasts may also vibrate at a low frequency. This is the source of the audible humming sound people associate with fluorescent lamps. Fluorescent lamps come in all shapes and sizes, but they all work on the same basic principle: An electric current stimulates mercury atoms, which causes them to release ultraviolet photons. These photons in turn stimulate a phosphor, which emits visible light photons. At the most basic level, that's all there is to it! Nobody appreciates better the value of electricity and maintenance cost savings to a property better than the owner.James works with commercial property owners like you to improve lighting quality and save electricity & maintenance costs by making smart lighting upgrade decisions.Remember, lighting retrofits offer commercial property owners the quickest return on investment in terms of electrical cost savings....

[2014-03-30]

Rapid start ballasts supply a controlled low voltage (filament voltage) which heats the lamp cathodes sufficiently for the starting voltage to initiate an arc. If the filament voltage is low, the lamps may not start.Rapid start ballast apply a low filament voltage to preheat the cathodes. Simultaneously, a starting voltage (lower than that used in instant start) is also applied to strike the arc. When the cathodes are hot enough, the lamp will strike. The filament voltage continues to be applied throughout the operation of the lamp. Rapid start ballasts appear to have a slight turn on delay compared to instant start. They will typically not be able to start lamps reliably under 50 degrees F. The filament voltages for the most typically encountered rapid start ballasts are: F30T12/RS – 3.5 to 4 volts 800ma – 3.5 to 4.3 volts F40T12/RS – 3.5 to 4 volts 1500ma – 3.5 to 4.3 volts Cathode Cut-Out (Hybrid) Rapid Start Ballasts To perform the tests outlined above on (2) lamp hybrid ballasts, one lamp must be in place while the other sockets are tested. Remove only one lamp at a time. Electronic Ballasts for Rapid Start Lamps Because of the special operating characteristics of many electronic ballasts, such as high-frequency operation, parallel circuitry and instant starting, field testing can be difficult and procedures varied. Eliminate other possible causes and replace the ballast if necessary....

[2014-03-30]

A fluorescent lamp ballast is a device used with a gas discharge lamp to provide the necessary starting and operating electrical conditions. A fluorescent lamp or fluorescent tube is a low pressure mercury-vapor gas-discharge lamp that uses fluorescence to produce visible light. An electric current in the gas excites mercury vapor which produces short-wave ultraviolet light that then causes a phosphor coating on the inside of the bulb to glow. A fluorescent lamp converts electrical energy into useful light much more efficiently than incandescent lamps. The luminous efficacy of a fluorescent light bulb can exceed 100 lumens per watt, several times the efficacy of an incandescent bulb with comparable light output. Fluorescent lamp fixtures are more costly than incandescent lamps because they require a ballast to regulate the current through the lamp, but the lower energy cost typically offsets the higher initial cost. Compact fluorescent lamps are now available in the same popular sizes as incandescents and are used as an energy-saving alternative in homes.All gas discharge lamps, including fluorescent lamps, require a ballast to operate. The ballast provides a high initial voltage to initiate the discharge, then rapidly limits the lamp current to safely sustain the discharge. Lamp manufacturers specify lamp electrical input characteristics (lamp current, starting voltage, current crest factor, etc.) required to achieve rated lamp life and lumen output specifications. Function The ballast supplies the right voltage to start and operate the lamp. The ballast limits current to a gas discharge lamp during operation – the resistance of a gas discharge lamp becomes negligible once the arc has been struck. The ballast prevents any voltage or current fluctuations caused by the arc discharge from reflecting into the line circuit. The ballast compensates for the low power factor characteristic of the arc discharge. Ballast Construction A simple standard ballast is a core and coil ballast assembly. The core is made of laminated transformer steel. The coil consists of copper or aluminum wire which is wound around the core. The core–coil assembly is impregnated with a nonconductor to provide electrical insulation and aid in heat dissipation. Capacitors may be included in the ballast circuit to assist in providing sufficient voltage, start the lamp, and/or correct power factor. Some ballasts are housed inside the lighting fixture....

[2014-03-28]

The most common and simplest type of HID ballast available. The only purpose of this type of ballast is to limit the current being fed to the lamp. Reactor ballasts can only be used when the line voltage is greater than the lamp starting voltage. Reactors are the most compact, economical and most efficient ballasts because their job is to perform only one function. However, reactor ballasts are not recommended where power fluctuations are greater than +/- 5% because they offer little regulation capability. Ballasts are required for many kinds of lamps which build up resistance the longer they are lighted. These lamps, including fluorescent lamps and HID lamps, would continue to draw more and more current the longer they are lit. Eventually the bulb overheats and could possibly explode. The probe start metal halide ballast kits are factory new and come complete with ballast core, capacitors and all mounting hardware. Available in 50W, 70W 100W 150W, 175W, 250W, 400W, 1000W and 1500W kits. For wiring instructions. Metal halide lamps are one of three types of high intensity discharge (HID) lamps in general use. The other two types are mercury and high-pressure sodium lamps. HID lamps have bright light output making them perfect for outdoor lighting. By adding a capacitor (typically dry type) across the line, the power factor of the reactor system can be increased to be better than 90%. Adding the capacitor drops the required input current for starting and operating conditions down to as low as 50% lower than is needed for the normal power factor reactor system. This allows for more lamps and ballasts per circuit using the same wire gauge....

[2014-03-28]

Metal halide (MH) lamps are available in low, mid-range, and high wattages from 35 to 2000 watts (W). Mid-wattage MH lamps range from 175 to 400 W. All major lamp manufacturers offer MH lamps in this range, commonly in wattages of 175, 200, 225, 250, 300, 320, 350, 360, and 400.Metal halide (MH) lamps, as with all HID lamps, use a ballast to regulate circuit conditions – voltage, current, and waveform – for starting and operating the device. A lighting ballast has three primary functions: establish an electric arc through the lamp limit current through the lamp after ignition compensate for variations in line voltage and ensure consistent lumen output MH lamps are a type of high-intensity discharge (HID) lamp that offers long lamp life, high efficacy, and good color rendering properties. In general, they are energy efficient and allow for good optical control. These qualities make them attractive for applications such as retail establishments, where both low operating cost and good light quality are important. Because of their long life, MH lamps are also appropriate for buildings with high ceilings and other facilities in which lighting is constantly in use for many hours at a time. They are popular choices for high-bay and low-bay industrial operations, warehouses, street lighting, and stadium and sports lighting. Like other gas-discharge lamps, all MH lamps require a ballast to operate. MH lamps provide white light in a variety of correlated color temperatures (CCTs) ranging from 3200 to 5200 Kelvin, and are commonly available with a color rendering index (CRI) of 65 to 70, but can also have a CRI of 90 or above. They are superior in color characteristic to most high-pressure sodium (HPS) and mercury vapor (MV) lamps that have lower CRI values. MH lamps compete with HPS lamps for outdoor applications such as streetlights, roadway lights, security lights, and pedestrian walkways. HPS lamps provide more photopic lumens per watt, but the whiter light of MH lamps provides better peripheral visibility at low illumination levels. When lamps are cold, the core and coil ballasts operating voltage may not be enough to create an arc and rely on two primary starting methods: probe-start and pulse-start. Traditional MH lamps use probe-start, magnetic ballast technology, which employs the use of two operating electrodes and a third, starting probe electrode in the arc tube. Probe-start ballasts start lamps when it discharges a high open circuit voltage between the starting probe and one of the operating electrodes. Once the lamp is started, a bi-metal switch shuts off the starting probe electrode from the circuit. Market demand for probe-start ballasts began to wane once industry realized the third electrode and other moving parts such as the switch led to inconsistencies in the lamp’s lumen and color output over their lifetimes. The development of pulse-start electronic and electromagnetic ballasts, which create arcs by generating a high-voltage pulse using a circuit called an igniter, also moved industry away from probe-start ballasts. Benefits of pulse start Metal Halide lamps A metal halide lamp using an electronic ballast is about 70% more energy efficient than typical standard HID electromagnetic ballasts with probe-start metal halide lamps....