Ballasts

Ballasts

A common mistake made is to use instant-start ballasts for switching applications when upgrading fluorescent systems. Lamp life can be shortened for fluorescent systems that are switched with occupancy sensors. The new program-start ballasts designs are recommended instead.

Program-start ballasts extend lamp-operating life and reduce replacement lamp cost. This new ballast design precisely controls the timing of the application of starting and warming cathode voltage to the lamp. Program-start ballasts can outperform rapid-start ballasts by providing from 50,000 to 100,000 starts and an estimated 50% longer lamp life. Buildings commonly have different fluorescent lighting system voltages in various parts of the facility. Many older systems were originally 120-V incandescent that were later converted to fluorescent systems. Later, newer parts of the building often had a 277-V fluorescent system.

New models of electronic ballasts feature universal input voltage that will accept any line voltage between 120-277 V. Input circuitry automatically uses the applied voltage without special taps or switches.

Maintenance personnel can save valuable time when replacing a failed ballast because they don't have to stop and figure out which lighting system voltage applies.

The traditional lighting design for conference rooms has two lighting systems. An incandescent system usually uses recessed cans and is dimmed with wall dimmers. A fixed-light fluorescent system is installed for ambient lighting.

Affordable, line-voltage fluorescent dimming ballasts provide a single system solution. The overhead incandescent system can be removed and the ballasts in the fluorescent system can be replaced with line-voltage dimming ballasts that connect to the existing incandescent wall-box dimmer(s). Lower maintenance cost is the principal benefit.