A ballast is an electrical device that supplies sufficient voltage to start the flow of arc current in a fluorescent lamp, and then regulates the proper arc current to the lamp.
What is an electronic ballast?
Electronic Ballasts are able to operate lamps at high frequencies because they utilize semi-conductor component circuitry instead of the standard electro-magnetic transformer circuit operating at line frequency.
What is Active Input Ballast ?
Active Input Ballasts utilize semi-conductor circuitry to correct for power factor and current harmonics. The Universal Lighting HP series is considered an Active Input Electronic Ballast.
Do electronic ballasts run cooler?
Electronic ballasts generate less heat than electro-magnetic ballasts by using highly efficient semi-conductor circuitry. This saves money on air conditioning costs.
Are electronic ballasts lighter?
Electronic ballasts are lighter in weight than electro-magnetic ballasts because they utilize semi-conductor circuitry instead of a transformer based design.
Are electronic ballasts cheaper to operate?
Electronic ballasts pay for themselves over time because they use 10 to 30 percent less energy to create the same amount of light as electro-magnetic ballasts.
Do electronic ballasts provide flicker free light?
Electronic ballasts operate the lamps at roughly 25KHZ where electro-magnetic ballasts operate a 60HZ. The high frequency operation prevents stroboscopic effect, and makes the light appear continuous to the human eye with no perceptible flicker.
Do electronic ballasts make noise?
Because electronic ballasts do not have the auto transformer that is inherent to an electro-magnetic ballast, the characteristic "hum" of a magnetic ballast is not present in an electronic ballast.
What does retrofit mean?
Retrofitting a fixture means converting it from one type of light source to another. Most commonly, this term is used when converting an incandescent fixture to a compact fluorescent fixture (CFF) or replacing the magnetic choke with the Active input ballast in case of fluorescent fixtures.
What is power factor?
In case of a Lighting fixture / ballast, Power factor is the ratio of the useful power of the fixture to the power drawn. A ballast (or fixture) is considered High Power Factor (HPF)if it is rated at greater than 90%. To be HPF, the ballast is accompanied by a capacitor, either internal or external to the ballast. Its purpose is to reduce the amperage during start up and regulate power quality to the lamp.
Can AIB technology work on solar?
Yes, AIB technology is even more suited for solar, for the benefit that the inverter is not overloaded since it has no inductive loads. Solar systems fitted with AIB technology can power more lights than an equivalent system fitted with ordinary chokes and starters.
Refcolite, Energy Conversion, Solar Outdoor Lighting
