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

[2014-03-27]

Fluorescent lighting fixtures produce a vibration (a slight buzzing sound) that originates in the core and coil assembly of fluorescent ballast. The buzzing sound can increase based on a variety of factors, including: • The fashion in which the ballast is mounted in the fixture • The design of the fluorescent lamp fixture • Reverberating characteristics of the ceiling, walls, floors and furniture • Ballast size: generally, the larger the ballast, the more humming it generates One characteristic of iron-cored electromagnetic ballasts operating at 60 Hz, is the generation of audible noise. Noise can be increased by high temperatures, and it is amplified by certain luminaire designs. The best ballasts use high quality materials and workmanship to reduce noise. Noise is rated A, B, C, or D in decreasing order of preference. An "A" rated ballast will hum softly; a "D" rated ballast will make a loud buzz. The number of ballasts, their sound rating, and the nature of ambient noise in the room determine whether or not a system will create an audible disturbance. Virtually all energy-efficient magnetic ballasts for F40T12 and F32T8 lamps are "A" rated, with a few exceptions, such as low temperature ballasts. Still, the hum of magnetic ballasts may be perceptible in a particularly quiet environment such as a library. Well-designed electronic high-frequency ballasts, on the other hand, should emit no perceptible hum. All electronic ballasts are "A" rated for sound. To help sort through the variations, all ballasts carry a published sound rating of A, B, C, or D. These sound ratings are based on measurements of average ambient noise levels during conditions of normal occupancy. The following chart illustrates the average ambient noise level per application, and the corresponding recommended sound rating. Ballast Losses: A ballast, as an electric circuit, has electric energy losses. Ballast losses are obtained from catalogues of ballast manufacturers. Energy efficient ballasts have lower losses....

[2014-03-27]

You cannot use a mercury ballast with a metal halide lamp. The power supplied by a mercury ballast for starting and for cycling is different from the metal halides requirements and the mismatch can cause explosive failure of the metal halide lamp. Metal halide bulbs must be run using matching metal halide ballasts. Metal halide (MH) ballasts are required to start the lamp, regulate the lamp starting and lamp operating currents, and provide appropriate sustaining supply voltage. (See "What are warm-up and restrike times for metal halide lamps?") Starting the lamp: In MH lamps, ballasts provide the starting voltage and ignition pulses (pulse-start lamps) necessary to ignite the lamp. Probe-start MH ballasts, however, can take as long as 10 to 20 minutes to restrike (re-start) a lamp. Pulse-start MH ballasts can restrike the lamp within 2 to 8 minutes of an interruption in current, because they provide high-voltage pulses to start these lamps. Regulating lamp current and power: The ballast regulates the lamp operating current flowing through the lamp after the lamp has been started. The ballast is set to deliver relatively stable power to the lamp while regulating the lamp current despite typical line voltage fluctuations. This maximizes lamp life and ensures other performance characteristics such as color and light output. Providing appropriate sustaining voltage: MH ballasts must maintain suitable voltage and current wave shape to the lamp. MH lamp voltage typically increases over time, and the ballast must continue to provide sufficient voltage to the lamp as it ages. In addition, the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) and/or the lamp manufacturers specify a suitable current wave shape to the lamp to achieve good lumen maintenance. Lamp current crest factor (CCF) is defined by ANSI as the ratio of the peak value of lamp current to the root-mean-square value of the current. A low CCF (between 1.4 and 1.6) contributes to good lamp lumen maintenance and longer life. Uses Because they provide a wide light spectrum, metal halide lamps are often preferred for use in reef aquariums which need bright, high intensity light sources. For the same reason they are also frequently chosen for the indoor growing of plants. Other uses include applications that require bright outdoor lighting such as baseball stadiums and Metal Halide Flood Light Fixtures....

[2014-03-26]

All gas discharge lamps, including fluorescent lamps, require a ballast to operate. The fluorescent lamp 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. 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 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. A ballast, like any electrical device, generates heat. To ensure maximum ballast life, it is imperative that operating temperatures be kept as low as possible. Burned-out or failing lamps, or high temperatures in or around the fixture, can cause the ballast to overheat, resulting in premature failure. For additional information regarding heat and recommendations for maximizing ballast life and performance, consult Universal Lighting Technologies' catalogs. Most fluorescent ballasts incorporate internal automatic-resetting thermal protection, which deactivates the ballast should it overheat. Normal operation resumes once the ballast has cooled sufficiently. Cycling will continue until the cause of overheating is corrected....

[2014-03-26]

The ballast of a fluorescent luminaire installed indoors, including a replacement fluorescent ballast for this type of luminaire A simple reactance ballast in a fluorescent luminaire with straight tubular lamps The special provisions for electric-discharge lighting systems of 1,000V or less can be found in Part XII of Art. 410. As noted in 410.130(E), "The ballast of a fluorescent luminaire installed indoors shall have integral thermal protection. Replacement ballasts shall also have thermal protection integral with the ballast." In accordance with the National Electrical Code (NEC), all canned and potted electronic fluorescent ballasts require built-in Class P Thermal Protection. This protection is provided by a switching device that shuts down the circuit if the ballast temperature rises to 105°C or greater. The switching device will reset so the ballast will resume operation once the ballast cools down. This off-again, on-again cycling will continue until the cause of the excess heat is eliminated. A simple reactance ballast in a fluorescent luminaire with straight tubular lamps, a ballast in a fluorescent exit luminaire, and a ballast in a fluorescent luminaire used for egress lighting and energized only during a failure of the normal supply are not required to have thermal protection....

[2014-03-24]

In accordance with the National Electrical Code (NEC), all canned and potted electronic fluorescent ballasts require built-in Class P Thermal Protection. This protection is provided by a switching device that shuts down the circuit if the ballast temperature rises to 105°C or greater. A ballast, like any electrical device, generates heat. To ensure maximum ballast life, it is imperative that operating temperatures be kept as low as possible. Burned-out or failing lamps, or high temperatures in or around the fixture, can cause the ballast to overheat, resulting in premature failure. For additional information regarding heat and recommendations for maximizing ballast life and performance, consult Universal Lighting Technologies' catalogs. Most fluorescent lamp ballasts incorporate internal automatic-resetting thermal protection, which deactivates the ballast should it overheat. Normal operation resumes once the ballast has cooled sufficiently. Cycling will continue until the cause of overheating is corrected. Ballasts manufactured before 1984 may contain non-resetting thermal protection, which permanently deactivates the ballast, or no thermal protection at all. The switching device will reset so the ballast will resume operation once the ballast cools down. This off-again, on-again cycling will continue until the cause of the excess heat is eliminated....

[2014-03-24]

Traditional metal halide lamps (also called "probe start"), and high-pressure mercury vapor (HPMV) lamps utilize an auxiliary electrode to facilitate starting. MH lamps use probe-start, electromagnetic ballasts 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.These lamps are filled with a relatively low pressure of argon gas. Breakdown occurs when several hundreds of volts are applied. The lower the fill pressure, the lower the breakdown voltage and less electrode heating occurs in the subsequent glow mode. Without enough electrode heat the arc mode will not develop. There is a trade off of breakdown voltage and GAT with fill pressure for these lamps. For most mercury vapor lamps sinusoidal output voltages around 220 Vrms suffice. For most metal halide lamps, highly peaked (distorted) output voltages around 300 Vrms suffice. Failing to attain a GAT will destroy lamp electrodes in less than 100 hours. The pulse start metal halide and high pressure sodium (HPS) lamps dispense with the auxiliary electrode, but have breakdown voltage requirements in the range of several thousand volts. An "ignitor" adds a narrow (µsec wide) pulse near the peak of the output voltage waveform. Some lamps require more than one pulse per half cycle. The minimum output voltage requirement (min. OCV) assures that a GAT will occur. At room temperature, mercury interacts with argon to reduce breakdown voltage. In cold weather or refrigerated spaces, the breakdown voltage requirement goes up. Standard metal halide and mercury vapor ballasts have to supply sufficient output voltage for low temperature starting. This effect is not present in pulse start metal halide and HPS lamps. probe-start magnetic ballasts and lamps for operation of lamps up to 400 W were virtually eliminated from new luminaires to meet new efficiency standards. The law requires a minimum ballast efficiency of 88% for pulse start ballasts and a minimum ballast efficiency of 94% for magnetic probe start ballasts. Compliant luminaires now bear a capital “E” printed in a circle on their packaging and ballast label.The pulse voltage requirement for pulse start lamps assures low temperature starting....

[2014-03-19]

Fluorescent 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. • LAMP WATTAGE REGULATION – The ability of a ballast to control lamp wattage as the incoming line voltage varies.Line voltage variation can be caused by fluctuations in supply from the power company. Public utility commissions normally permit the utility company ±6% line voltage variation. This allows them to respond to excessive peak demands such as summer air conditioning loads or winter fuel shortages. Line voltage can also vary because of the length of the wiring run or conductor size used in an installation. Long runs produce voltage drops. Non-Regulating ballasts produce large changes in light output as line voltage changes. A 1% line voltage change will cause a 2.5% light output change. Lead-type regulating ballasts are designed for ±10% line voltage variation and a 1% change in line voltage will produce a 1.5% change in lamp wattage. Lag type regulators are the best at controlling lamp light output. Each 1% change in line voltage produces only a 0.8% change in lamp wattage...

[2014-03-17]

Fluorescent lamps are reasonably efficient at converting input power to light. Nevertheless, much of the power supplied into a fluorescent lamp-ballast system produces waste heat energy. A complete lighting system redesign may save more energy and reduce costs than simple lamp-to-lamp replacement as fewer fixtures/lamp/ballast combinations may be required. Do not mix different lamp types in the same fixtures to avoid voltage and current imbalance and premature failure.Standard ballasts more than five years old may fail when used with lower wattage lamps.All fluorescent lamps, especially T8 lamps, must be supplied with a matching ballast.T8 lamps produce better light and use less energy when combined with electronic ballasts. Energy efficient lamps and ballasts fall into two categories: "Energy Saving" and "High Performance"Energy Saving ballasts contain more copper windings for improved efficiency.Energy Saving lamps consume less energy and produce less light output. (Example: 34 watt fluorescent v.s. 40 watt fluorescent) High Performance ballasts use electronic circuitry to further increase ballast efficiency.High Performance lamps (also known as T8) contain a different phosphor coating to deliver higher light output and better light quality with lower energy input. There are three primary means of to improving the efficiency of a fluorescent lamp-ballast system: Reduce the ballast losses. Operate the lamp(s) at a high frequency. Reduce losses attributable to the lamp electrodes. Newer, more energy-efficient ballasts, both magnetic and electronic, exploit one or more of these techniques to improve lamp-ballast system efficacy, measured in lumens per watt. The losses in magnetic ballast have been reduced by substituting copper conductors for aluminum and by using higher grade magnetic components. Ballast losses may also be reduced by using a single ballast to drive three or four lamps, instead of only one or two. Careful circuit design increases efficiency of electronic ballasts. In addition, electronic ballasts, which convert the 60 Hz supply frequency to high frequency, operate fluorescent lamps more efficiently than is possible at 60 Hz. Finally, in rapid start circuits, some magnetic ballasts improve efficacy by removing power to the lamp...

[2014-03-13]

All gas discharge lamps, including fluorescent lamps, require a ballast to operate. fluorescent magnetic and electronic ballasts are intended to operate an average of 50 000 hours (at maximum rated case temperature). The useful life of a fluorescent ballast depends on the daily hours of operation and the operating temperature, the latter being the most critical. It is important to note that increasing the operating temperature by 10°C will cut the life expectancy in half, and lowering it by 10°C, will double ballast life. 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.)Crest factor is the ratio of the peak current value divided by the RMS current value. High current crest factors will reduce the life of the lamp. Many STANDARD electronic types of ballasts have low crest factors. Ballasts are designed to optimally operate a unique lamp type; however, some ballasts will adequately operate more than one type of lamp. In these cases, optimum lamp performance is generally not achieved under all conditions. Less than optimum conditions may affect the lamp's starting characteristics, light output, and operating life....

[2014-03-12]

High-pressure sodium ballast lamps use high pressures of sodium, in an excited state, to generate light. A ballast, in series with an AC current voltage source, supplies the lamp with a near-constant stream of current. Sodium ballast lamps are widely used in streetlights and security lighting, as well as applications requiring high color rendering. Building your own sodium ballast lamp, whether by assembling your own materials or purchasing a sodium ballast kit, is more economical than purchasing a manufactured sodium ballast lamp. Induction ballast generator and bulb kits are manufactured by Global Lighting. Our external induction bulbs typically have a longer life (80k Hrs-100k Hrs) than internal induction bulbs (50k Hrs). HPS ballast and bulb kits are new and come complete with bulb, starter, HPS ballast core, capacitor, mounting hardware and full factory warranty. For high pressure sodium ballast and bulb wiring...