Full Answer
What is the purpose of ballast in lighting?
What is the purpose of a ballast? In a fluorescent lighting system, the ballast regulates the current to the lamps and provides sufficient voltage to start the lamps. Without a ballast to limit its current, a fluorescent lamp connected directly to a high voltage power source would rapidly and uncontrollably increase its current draw.
Which light bulbs need a ballast?
No incandescent bulbs require a ballast. No halogen bulbs require a ballast. All fluorescent bulbs require a ballast. All compact fluorescent (CFL) bulbs require a ballast, which is often integrated. All HID bulbs require a ballast, which is sometimes integrated.
What does a fluorescent light ballast do?
What does ballast do in a fluorescent light? In a fluorescent lighting system, the ballast regulates the current to the lamps and provides sufficient voltage to start the lamps. Without a ballast to limit its current, a fluorescent lamp connected directly to a high voltage power source would rapidly and uncontrollably increase its current draw.
What is a bad ballast?
What are the signs of bad ballast?
- Buzzing. If you hear a strange sound coming from your bulbs or light fixture, like a buzzing or humming noise, that’s often a sign your ballast is going.
- Dimming or flickering.
- No lights at all.
- Changing colors.
- Swollen casing.
- Burn marks.
- Water damage.
- Leaking oil.
What does ballast do in lighting?
In a fluorescent lighting system, the ballast regulates the current to the lamps and provides sufficient voltage to start the lamps. Without a ballast to limit its current, a fluorescent lamp connected directly to a high voltage power source would rapidly and uncontrollably increase its current draw.
How much does it cost to replace a ballast in a light?
A replacement ballast costs about $10-25 depending on capacity and brand. The bite is that an electrician trip charge (which includes 30 or 60 minutes work) is going to be $75-150 probably - for about 5 minutes work on each light fixture.
Do LED lights need a ballast?
No LED bulbs require a ballast, although some are engineered to work with an existing ballast. You will find ballast-compatible or "plug-and-play" LEDs that are designed to replace linear fluorescents, compact fluorescents, or HIDs. Incandescent and halogen lamps do not require a ballast.
What happens when a ballast fails?
The ballast provides enough voltage to start the fluorescent bulbs, and once they are started, it quickly lowers the current to produce just enough electricity to produce a steady light source. Without the ballast, a fluorescent bulb would attach directly to 120-volt current and quickly burn out the bulb.
Can you replace a ballast yourself?
A typical ballast will generally last about 20 years, but cold environments and bad bulbs can decrease this lifespan significantly. You can get a new ballast at a hardware store or home center and install it in about 10 minutes.
How do you know if ballast is bad?
If your fluorescent lighting is displaying any of the signs below, it could be a symptom of a bad ballast:Flickering. ... Buzzing. ... Delayed start. ... Low output. ... Inconsistent lighting levels. ... Switch to an electronic ballast, keep lamp. ... Switch to an electronic ballast, switch to a T8 fluorescent.More items...
Can a bad ballast cause a fire?
Overheated fluorescent lights can cause fires! Overheating of the ballast could result in the following: Ignition of nearby combustible materials. Explosion of the ballast due to the generation of gases inside.
Can you put LED bulbs in old fluorescent fixtures?
You have fluorescent troffers or strip fixtures already, and you're wondering if you can just pop LED tubes in them or if you'll need to change out the fixtures for something designed for LED. Good news: You can absolutely use LED tubes in your existing fixtures!
Can I bypass the ballast for LED lights?
Since LED lights work on low DC voltage, they need a driver. Most T8 LED tubes do not need a ballast. So, if you are going to install a T8 LED tube light, it will require a ballast bypass unless you choose a ballast compatible T8 LED tube.
How do you tell if it's the ballast or the bulb?
Take out your current bulbs and replace them with the new bulbs. If the bulbs fail to light up, then 9 out of 10 times the ballast is culprit. You could also try using a multimeter set to measure resistance.
How do you check a ballast if it works?
To measure it, set your digital multimeter to around a thousand ohms resistance setting. Connect the black leads to the white ground wire on your ballast. Afterward, test every other wire with the red lead. When you do this test, a good ballast will return an “open-loop” or max resistance.
How do you change a light ballast?
2:037:26How to Replace a Fluorescent Light Ballast - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipPiece out in the middle. And there's just some little clamps here but we just have to squeeze. AndMorePiece out in the middle. And there's just some little clamps here but we just have to squeeze. And pull in a little bit. And now we have the ballast exposed. This is what we're gonna replace.
How do you fix a light ballast?
2:077:23How to fix "ANY" fluorescent Light | Ballast Replacement - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipThe ballast is held in place by a screw. Usually once you've loosened this screw. We can cut anyMoreThe ballast is held in place by a screw. Usually once you've loosened this screw. We can cut any wires that are holding the ballast in place.
How do you change a light ballast?
2:037:26How to Replace a Fluorescent Light Ballast - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipPiece out in the middle. And there's just some little clamps here but we just have to squeeze. AndMorePiece out in the middle. And there's just some little clamps here but we just have to squeeze. And pull in a little bit. And now we have the ballast exposed. This is what we're gonna replace.
Will ballast compatible led work without ballast?
The T8 LED tube won't work without the ballast, so you are forced to continue buying and replacing ballasts as long as you have an LED tube that is ONLY ballast dependent.
How much does it cost to replace fluorescent light?
Fluorescent lights range from $25 to $125 per fixture, with an average cost of $75 each. Changing these types of lights takes between 1 and 3 hours, with total labor costs of $50 to $300.
What is ballast in lighting?
What is a ballast? A ballast interacts with the lighting mechanism itself to control, regulate, and ultimately stabilize the light output of the lamp. Here’s the definition in Regency’s online lighting glossary:
What is ballast in fluorescent light?
To put it simply, a ballast is the functional heart of a fluorescent or HID light source. Just as a heart regulates blood flow to your body, a ballast ensures that a lamp stays lit by managing the distribution of energy throughout the fixture. Hearts work to distribute blood via channels, or arteries, in the body to keep a body active and alive.
What is a ballast factor?
Ballast factor is calculated by dividing the lumen output of a lamp-ballast combination by the lumen output of the same lamp (s) on a reference ballast. A ballast factor of <1 means that your fluorescent system will produce less light (lumens) than the reference ballast and a factor of >1 means it will produce more light.
How does a ballast work?
Depending on the conditions in which your lighting system operates, the ballast may also need to provide a determined amount of electrical energy to heat the lamp (referred to as a program start ballast).
How much does a low ballast factor reduce wattage?
These are cost-effective options that reduce the listed wattage on a lamp by 10 to 15 percent while it is lit. (Be careful about using low ballast factor products in cold environments like coolers and freezers.)
What does it mean when you use a ballast?
When the right ballasts are used, the end result can mean a cost-effective lighting solution that is energy efficient and gives you advanced controls over the amount of light produced in your space. Let’s dig a little deeper. What is a ballast? If playback doesn't begin shortly, try restarting your device.
What is a multi ballast system?
Unlike hearts, ballasts can also operate dually – with two or more separate ballasts working together to regulate the light output of multi-lamp fixtures. This solution is a budget and installation-friendly option if you need to simply switch 50 percent of the lamps off within a single fixture.
Why Are Light Ballasts Important?
They not only control the electrical current but they ensure that the proper voltage is delivered to the system when it starts. On turning fluorescent lights on, ballasts prevent shocking the system with too many volts. Without ballasts, the lights would burn out almost immediately, or grow to a wattage above their rating.
How Does a Electrical Ballast Work?
An electrical ballast is more common in LED and newer light fixtures and contains more components than a magnetic ballast. Electrical ballasts contain capacitors resistors and a more involved circuit board to restrict the flow of electricity to a specific wattage. After sufficient power is fed to the system to start it up, the ballast maintains a steady flow of electricity to keep the system running.
Do fluorescent lights need a ballast?
It’s also important to understand that specific kinds of lighting require specific kinds of ballasts. Different bulbs require a specific wattage of electricity to operate efficiently, so when replacing fluorescent lights it is important to match the wattage to your ballast.
Do You Need a Ballast for LED Lights?
Some people might claim that you only need ballasts for fluorescent lights, that LEDs are somehow exempt from requiring them. Or some people might argue that removing the ballasts will make the LEDs somehow more energy efficient. This is simply not true. Like fluorescent lights, LEDs need something to regulate and control the amount of energy they consume. If you remove the ballast, then you’re eliminating the means of regulating energy consumption. This, in turn, will result in less energy efficiency, and the blowout of the diodes.
What is ballast in fluorescent lighting?
What is a ballast? In a fluorescent lighting system, the ballast regulates the current to the lamps and provides sufficient voltage to start the lamps. Without a ballast to limit its current, a fluorescent lamp connected directly to a high voltage power source would rapidly and uncontrollably increase its current draw.
How does a ballast work?
Once the arc is established, the ballast quickly reduces the voltage and regulates the electric current to produce a steady light output. Maintaining an optimum electrode temperature is the key to long lamp life.
How many volts does a ballast use?
Traditionally, ballasts are designed to operate a specific number (usually one to four) and type of lamp (such as a four-foot T8 lamp) at a specific voltage (in North America either 120, 277, or 347 volts).
Do ballasts have a circuit?
Thus, some ballasts have a separate circuit that provides a low voltage to heat the lamp electrodes during lamp starting and typically during lamp operation (Hammer, 1995). To achieve full rated light output and rated lamp life from a fluorescent lighting system, a ballast’s output characteristics must precisely match the electrical requirements ...
What does a ballast do?
According to the Lighting Research Center, a ballast is a tool used to regulate the amount of current in a circuit. Whenever it’s used in fluorescent lighting, the current is limited through the tube. If this process didn’t take place, the florescent lamp connected to a high voltage power source would increase too quickly. This would cause the lamp to overheat and burn out in a span of one second.
How does a ballast properly function?
In order for this to happen, the ballast needs to quickly distribute a high voltage. Once this happens, a light output is created due to the ballast reducing the voltage and regulating the electrical current.
How long does a fluorescent ballast last?
Ballasts usually last around 20 years so replacing these is not a common need. However, cold air and poor quality light bulbs can greatly reduce the lifespan.
What do you need to know when buying a new light fixture?
When shopping for new a light fixture, ensure you find a ballast that’s suitable for whichever fixture purchased. A ballast must match specifically to the light bulb it operates. There are many different types of ballasts out there, so consulting with a professional before making the purchase is a safe option.
Why is it important to contact a professional for fluorescent lighting?
Whenever commercial fluorescent lighting is installed, it is crucial to contact a professional due to the extreme fire hazards and other electrical issues associated with it .
Why is commercial lighting more intense than residential lighting?
Electric say that commercial lighting is more intense than residential lighting because of the various procedures and activities that take place in this setting. Residential lighting produces a weaker magnetic inference and less heat. Whenever commercial fluorescent lighting is installed, it is crucial to contact a professional due to the extreme fire hazards and other electrical issues associated with it.
Can ballasts be replaced?
However, cold air and poor quality light bulbs can greatly reduce the lifespan. Ballasts are easily replaceable and sold at any hardware store. If you’re concerned about the price of replacement, ask Mr. Electric for other alternatives!
What is a magnetic ballast?
Magnetic Ballast. Magnetic ballasts are basically inductors that provide the proper starting and operating electrical condition to power certain lamps. The work as a transformer, providing clean and specific power. Invented in the 1960’s, they say big usage in the 70-90s. They are seen in Metal Halide, mercury vapory, florescent lamps, neon lamp, ...
What are some examples of ballasts?
Metal halide, mercury vapor, and HID are also the prime examples of lights using ballasts. There are two main types of ballasts; magnetic ballast and electric Ballast (aka Electronic Ballast) and we will review both.
What is an LED driver?
An LED driver is an electrical device which regulates the power to an LED light. It has the capacity to regulate power to a single LED Light or strings of LEDs. An LED driver responds effectively to the changing power needs of the LED. The drier provides constant and uniform levels of power to the LED as its electrical properties change ...
What happens to a lamp without a ballast?
Without a ballast, a lamp or a bulb will rapidly increase its current draw and it can become uncontrollable as well. When a ballast is present in a lamp, the power becomes stable, and even if such lamps are connected to high power sources, the ballast will regulate the energy and avoid the current rise.
Why don't LEDs need a ballast?
Why LEDs don’t use a Ballast. LEDs don’t need a ballast because of a number of reasons. First, large amounts of current aren’t needed in LED bulbs. Also, the LEDs typically use Direct current (DC) and thus need an AC to DC converter. This is why when retrofitting to LED Corn Light Bulbs you need to direct wire the socket.
Why is ballast used in T8 bulbs?
Ballast is still used in bulbs and tube lights to avoid current rise in the lights.
When was LED lighting invented?
Invented in the 1960’s, they say big usage in the 70-90s. They are seen in Metal Halide, mercury vapory, florescent lamps, neon lamp, or High Intensity Discharge (HID) lamps. Almost all major parking lot lights and street lights used this technology for about 30 years before LED started taking over around 2010.
