Ballast

If you equip your building with fluorescent tubes, high-intensity gas discharge lamps or linear plug-and-play LED lighting, you depend on ballasts. But which one is right for your application? We clarify. When you use the optimal ballast, you create a cost-effective and energy-efficient lighting solution that also gives you enhanced control over the amount of light produced in your space. Find the ballasts you need for lights and lighting systems easily at eibabo® in the extensive online range. In addition to ballasts in a wide variety of designs (electronic, DALI, KL/LL, EVG and many more), you will also find Powertronic devices and Quicktronic devices, QT-FIT ballasts, warm start devices as well as ignition devices and stabilization devices.

What is a ballast?

In fluorescent lighting, the ballast controls the power supply to the lamps. It provides sufficient starting voltage to start the lamps. Without a ballast, a fluorescent lamp connected directly to the mains voltage would quickly and uncontrollably increase the power consumption. Within a second the lamp would overheat and burn out. When the lamp is started, the ballast provides a brief high-voltage phase to build up an arc between the two lamp electrodes and start the ionization of the gas. This makes the gas inside the lamp electrically conductive. Once the arc is established, the ballast reduces the voltage. From that moment on, it serves to regulate the electric current in order to guarantee a constant light output.

Please note

Fluorescent tubes and gas discharge lamps have a negative, differential resistance during operation. As a result, as the current increases, there is a voltage drop across the lamp. For this reason, never connect gas discharge lamps directly to a voltage source.


In order to achieve the full rated light output and maximum service life of a fluorescent lamp, the output characteristics of a ballast must exactly match the electrical requirements of the lamps being operated. Ballasts are typically designed in such a way that they operate a certain number of a certain lamp type with the necessary voltage. These are therefore also your primary selection criteria for the purchase of a ballast. So in order to find a suitable ballast that is compatible with a specific lamp, you should know the lamp type, lamp quantity and mains voltage.

Why do only certain lamps need a ballast?

Classic incandescent lamps and halogen lamps do not require ballasts. This is because the current flows through a filament. This filament resists the current, causing it to heat up and glow. It takes a lot of heat to illuminate a room bright enough. Therefore, the majority of this energy is used to generate heat and not light. This makes conventional incandescent bulbs very inefficient. LED lights also typically do not require ballasts. Here, LED power supplies and LED drivers regulate the current and voltage. The operation of fluorescent lamps and gas discharge lamps is slightly different. These are filled with gases and emit photons when charged with electricity.

 


photons

Photons are basic subatomic particles or waves that carry the electromagnetic force. In short: they are light particles.


 

So in these lamps there is no filament to resist or regulate the electricity. The ballast is required for this.

What types of ballasts are there?

There are many different types of ballasts. The choice depends on the conditions in which your lighting is working. We distinguish between magnetic (conventional) ballasts and electronic ballasts.

Conventional ballasts are the older technology and used to be responsible for flickering on start-up and lamp buzzing. Conventional ballasts have not been used since 2005 due to their low energy efficiency and high power losses of up to 20%.

Nowadays, most fluorescent tubes and gas discharge lamps are operated with electronic ballasts. Electronic ballasts can emit multiple electrical frequencies without changing the input voltage. This eliminates any flickering and humming. These ballasts are available with different starting technologies:

  • Quick Start
  • Instant start
  • programmed start

 

Instant start ballasts switch the light on the quickest. However, these are designed for longer switching cycles. Frequent turning on and off can shorten lamp life. The devices are called instant starters because they immediately send a high voltage through the lamp to start the cathodes. Typically, instant start ballasts use slightly less power per lamp than quick start ballasts. Instant start lamps work reliably down to 0 °C.

Already knew?

Ballasts are also called 'ballast' in international usage. This designation is derived from their properties. Just as ballast stabilizes a ship's hull, a ballast stabilizes the power supply to a lightbulb or lamp.


The ballasts work more slowly for both programmed start and quick start. However, these do not have the deleterious effects of an instant start ballast when switched on and off more frequently. The ballasts measure the temperature of the tube cathodes and preheat them. This makes starting easier and the lamp switches on immediately as soon as the light switch is pressed. However, quick-start ballasts also have disadvantages:

  • The devices are not very energy efficient.
  • Lamps connected to quick start ballasts do not turn on reliably at very low temperatures.

 

Programmed start ballasts are typically coupled with occupancy sensors or motion sensors and maximize the number of lamp start cycles while maintaining energy efficiency. If you have high-traffic spaces in your building that experience multiple on-off cycles throughout the day, a programmed start ballast may be the best alternative for your lighting. Ballasts with programmed start are reliable even at low temperatures.

When should I replace my ballast?

Although replacement is not common, after a few years changes in ballast performance can become noticeable. If your lamps seem to be fading, humming, flickering or changing colour, it may be time to change the ballast.

Source: eibabo®, Ledvance PTi 150/220-240 ballastImage: Ledvance PTi 150/220-240 ballast

Are ballasts equipped with a DALI interface?

If you want to implement digital light control as part of your building automation, you may use the DALI system.

What is DALI?

DALI is the abbreviation for Digital Addressable Lighting Interface. It represents a programmable, digital interface for lighting scenarios including electronic ballasts. DALI is a protocol for light control in building automation, but not a bus system.


DALI is suitable both for light control in individual rooms and for lighting scenarios in networked building management. As a rule, the modern electronic ballasts from most manufacturers are equipped with DALI interfaces. These interfaces establish direct communication between a control device and the lamps to be controlled. The communication between the control unit and the up to 64 connected devices takes place via a bidirectional two-wire line, so that information is transmitted both from the control unit to the lamps and vice versa. Programming the system is easy and hassle-free. For example, integration into a higher-level KNX building management system is possible via gateways.

We offer you a large selection of ballasts from all well-known manufacturers such as ABB Stotz, Arclite, Ceag Notlichtsysteme, Houben, LEDVANCE as well as Philips lamps, Schuch Licht, Waldmann and Watt24.

 

eibabo - technology store

 

Catalogue content:


In this eibabo® catalogue Light control > Ballast you will find items from the following product groups:

Item overview:

  • Ballast
  • Control gear
  • Control unit
  • Controllers
  • Discharge lamp
  • Fluorescent lamp
  • Fluorescent lamps
  • Headlight bulb
  • Lighting
  • Luminaire control gear
  • Operating devices
  • Power supply


from the following manufacturers:

Manufacturer overview catalogue Ballast:

  • ABB
  • Arclite
  • Ceag
  • Houben
  • LEDVANCE
  • Philips Licht
  • Scharnberger+Has.
  • Schuch
  • Signify Lampen
  • Siteco
  • Zumtobel


 
If you equip your building with fluorescent tubes, high-intensity gas discharge lamps or linear plug-and-play LED lighting, you depend on ballasts. But which one is right for your application? We... read more »
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Ballast - Well informed before you buy

If you equip your building with fluorescent tubes, high-intensity gas discharge lamps or linear plug-and-play LED lighting, you depend on ballasts. But which one is right for your application? We clarify. When you use the optimal ballast, you create a cost-effective and energy-efficient lighting solution that also gives you enhanced control over the amount of light produced in your space. Find the ballasts you need for lights and lighting systems easily at eibabo® in the extensive online range. In addition to ballasts in a wide variety of designs (electronic, DALI, KL/LL, EVG and many more), you will also find Powertronic devices and Quicktronic devices, QT-FIT ballasts, warm start devices as well as ignition devices and stabilization devices.

What is a ballast?

In fluorescent lighting, the ballast controls the power supply to the lamps. It provides sufficient starting voltage to start the lamps. Without a ballast, a fluorescent lamp connected directly to the mains voltage would quickly and uncontrollably increase the power consumption. Within a second the lamp would overheat and burn out. When the lamp is started, the ballast provides a brief high-voltage phase to build up an arc between the two lamp electrodes and start the ionization of the gas. This makes the gas inside the lamp electrically conductive. Once the arc is established, the ballast reduces the voltage. From that moment on, it serves to regulate the electric current in order to guarantee a constant light output.

Please note

Fluorescent tubes and gas discharge lamps have a negative, differential resistance during operation. As a result, as the current increases, there is a voltage drop across the lamp. For this reason, never connect gas discharge lamps directly to a voltage source.


In order to achieve the full rated light output and maximum service life of a fluorescent lamp, the output characteristics of a ballast must exactly match the electrical requirements of the lamps being operated. Ballasts are typically designed in such a way that they operate a certain number of a certain lamp type with the necessary voltage. These are therefore also your primary selection criteria for the purchase of a ballast. So in order to find a suitable ballast that is compatible with a specific lamp, you should know the lamp type, lamp quantity and mains voltage.

Why do only certain lamps need a ballast?

Classic incandescent lamps and halogen lamps do not require ballasts. This is because the current flows through a filament. This filament resists the current, causing it to heat up and glow. It takes a lot of heat to illuminate a room bright enough. Therefore, the majority of this energy is used to generate heat and not light. This makes conventional incandescent bulbs very inefficient. LED lights also typically do not require ballasts. Here, LED power supplies and LED drivers regulate the current and voltage. The operation of fluorescent lamps and gas discharge lamps is slightly different. These are filled with gases and emit photons when charged with electricity.

 


photons

Photons are basic subatomic particles or waves that carry the electromagnetic force. In short: they are light particles.


 

So in these lamps there is no filament to resist or regulate the electricity. The ballast is required for this.

What types of ballasts are there?

There are many different types of ballasts. The choice depends on the conditions in which your lighting is working. We distinguish between magnetic (conventional) ballasts and electronic ballasts.

Conventional ballasts are the older technology and used to be responsible for flickering on start-up and lamp buzzing. Conventional ballasts have not been used since 2005 due to their low energy efficiency and high power losses of up to 20%.

Nowadays, most fluorescent tubes and gas discharge lamps are operated with electronic ballasts. Electronic ballasts can emit multiple electrical frequencies without changing the input voltage. This eliminates any flickering and humming. These ballasts are available with different starting technologies:

  • Quick Start
  • Instant start
  • programmed start

 

Instant start ballasts switch the light on the quickest. However, these are designed for longer switching cycles. Frequent turning on and off can shorten lamp life. The devices are called instant starters because they immediately send a high voltage through the lamp to start the cathodes. Typically, instant start ballasts use slightly less power per lamp than quick start ballasts. Instant start lamps work reliably down to 0 °C.

Already knew?

Ballasts are also called 'ballast' in international usage. This designation is derived from their properties. Just as ballast stabilizes a ship's hull, a ballast stabilizes the power supply to a lightbulb or lamp.


The ballasts work more slowly for both programmed start and quick start. However, these do not have the deleterious effects of an instant start ballast when switched on and off more frequently. The ballasts measure the temperature of the tube cathodes and preheat them. This makes starting easier and the lamp switches on immediately as soon as the light switch is pressed. However, quick-start ballasts also have disadvantages:

  • The devices are not very energy efficient.
  • Lamps connected to quick start ballasts do not turn on reliably at very low temperatures.

 

Programmed start ballasts are typically coupled with occupancy sensors or motion sensors and maximize the number of lamp start cycles while maintaining energy efficiency. If you have high-traffic spaces in your building that experience multiple on-off cycles throughout the day, a programmed start ballast may be the best alternative for your lighting. Ballasts with programmed start are reliable even at low temperatures.

When should I replace my ballast?

Although replacement is not common, after a few years changes in ballast performance can become noticeable. If your lamps seem to be fading, humming, flickering or changing colour, it may be time to change the ballast.

Source: eibabo®, Ledvance PTi 150/220-240 ballastImage: Ledvance PTi 150/220-240 ballast

Are ballasts equipped with a DALI interface?

If you want to implement digital light control as part of your building automation, you may use the DALI system.

What is DALI?

DALI is the abbreviation for Digital Addressable Lighting Interface. It represents a programmable, digital interface for lighting scenarios including electronic ballasts. DALI is a protocol for light control in building automation, but not a bus system.


DALI is suitable both for light control in individual rooms and for lighting scenarios in networked building management. As a rule, the modern electronic ballasts from most manufacturers are equipped with DALI interfaces. These interfaces establish direct communication between a control device and the lamps to be controlled. The communication between the control unit and the up to 64 connected devices takes place via a bidirectional two-wire line, so that information is transmitted both from the control unit to the lamps and vice versa. Programming the system is easy and hassle-free. For example, integration into a higher-level KNX building management system is possible via gateways.

We offer you a large selection of ballasts from all well-known manufacturers such as ABB Stotz, Arclite, Ceag Notlichtsysteme, Houben, LEDVANCE as well as Philips lamps, Schuch Licht, Waldmann and Watt24.

 

eibabo - technology store

 

Catalogue content:


In this eibabo® catalogue Light control > Ballast you will find items from the following product groups:

Item overview:

  • Ballast
  • Control gear
  • Control unit
  • Controllers
  • Discharge lamp
  • Fluorescent lamp
  • Fluorescent lamps
  • Headlight bulb
  • Lighting
  • Luminaire control gear
  • Operating devices
  • Power supply


from the following manufacturers:

Manufacturer overview catalogue Ballast:

  • ABB
  • Arclite
  • Ceag
  • Houben
  • LEDVANCE
  • Philips Licht
  • Scharnberger+Has.
  • Schuch
  • Signify Lampen
  • Siteco
  • Zumtobel
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