What is the main function of ballast?
The functions of ballast are as follows : It provides levelled bed or support for the railway sleepers. It transfers the load from sleepers to subgrade and distributes the load uniformly on subgrade. It holds the sleepers in a firm position while the trains pass by. It prevents the longitudinal and lateral movement of sleepers.
What would make a good ballast?
- It should be hard and tough.
- It should not be brittle and porous.
- It should have sufficient elasticity.
- It should allow easy drainage with minimum leakage.
- It should be wear-resistant and durable.
- It should retain its position laterally and longitudinally under all conditions of traffic.
Why do we use ballast?
The ballast provides for the proper operation of the negative-resistance device by limiting current. Ballasts can also be used simply to limit the current in an ordinary, positive-resistance circuit.
What is ballast used for in building?
Ballast. Ballast is used for many types of building applications and consists of sharp sand and gravel.Ballast is usually mixed with cement and water to create concrete for a variety of landscaping uses. With ballast, the sizing of the grains varies from 0.1mm to 20mm and is produced using a mixture of sharp sand and 4-20mm pea shingle.
What happens if you don't use 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.
What is a purpose of a ballast in electrical?
In essence, a ballast is a type of electrical resistor or reactance, fixed in-line with the circuits that supply mains power to a light bulb. The core role of a lighting ballast is to help control and regulate the supplied current during different operating phases (and voltages) for certain bulb types.
Do I need a ballast for LED lights?
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 are the 3 main important function of a ballast?
Functions of Ballast It transfers the load from sleepers to subgrade and distributes the load uniformly on subgrade. It holds the sleepers in a firm position while the trains pass by. It prevents the longitudinal and lateral movement of sleepers.
What voltage does a ballast put out?
Many fluorescent ballasts are now universal voltage, meaning they can be run on line voltage from 120 to 277 volts. For international or industrial use, 347-480V ballasts are available.
What happens if you don't bypass ballast?
Its job is to protect the fluorescent bulbs by controlling the flow of electrical current into the fixture. Since fluorescent bulbs cannot regulate current on their own, without a ballast, the bulbs can draw too much power and burn out.
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.
What happens if you dont remove ballast for LED?
You could destroy the LEDs. The ballast from fluorescent lights uses a much higher starting voltage (around 600 V) to get them started. It lasts for fractions of a second before dropping down to the normal line voltage. Depending on the LED circuit tolerances, it could be destroyed.
What is ballast and how does it works?
What is a Ballast? Simply put, the ballast is the heart of a fluorescent light fixture sending energy (pumping blood) through the lamp. A ballast provides the correct amount of voltage to start the lamps and regulates the amount of current that flows to them once they're on.
What are the three types of ballast?
There are two lamp families that work with a ballast: fluorescent and HID. And there are two types of ballasts in each family: magnetic and electronic. Magnetic ballasts are the older ballast technology.
Is a ballast the same as a transformer?
A transformer changes the amperage and / or voltage. It literally "Transforms" electrical energy. A ballast is like a capacitor. Think of a ballast as a short-term battery.
What is an example of a ballast?
/ˈbæl.əst/ heavy matter such as sand, stone, or water that is used at the bottom of a ship or a hot-air balloon to make it heavier, or the small stones on which railroads and roads are made: The weed may have been accidentally imported in soil used as ship ballast.
How is an Electrical Ballast Used in Lighting?
The moment they receive electricity, they want to use it all. They'll draw up every ounce they can muster until they become scalding hot , and they'll promptly burn out. You'd be replacing your fluorescent tubes several times a day if it weren't for the ballast they're connected to.
Do All Lights Need a Ballast?
Not all lights need a ballast. It's really only fluorescent lights that require complicated installation. Standard light bulbs and LED lights won't require any ballasts. They work in normal lamps and ceiling fixtures equipped for run of the mill light bulbs. These are much easier to install, control, and use.
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.
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, ...
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.
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.
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.
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!
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.
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 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 ...
Why stones are used in the railway track?
Not any kind of stone is suitable for use as ballast. The ballast used in the railway mainly consists of crushed stone, crushed slag, and improved gravel, etc. Among them, the improved gravel is generally not used except for branch lines or station lines with minimal volume. The most widely used are broken rocks such as Igneous Rock and Hard Limestone. Granite, quartzite, basalt, and limestone are four kinds of rocks widely used.
What is rail ballast?
information / June 4, 2020. June 4, 2020. / 4 minutes of reading. Railway ballast or track ballast refers to crushed stones placed under the railway track. It forms the trackbed for sleepers to lay on. Although some tracks are ballastless, the ballasted track remains a dominant infrastructure of the most railroad tracks.
What is ballast used for?
The function of ballast in railway track. Ballast is a common trackbed structure in the railway transport system, which is used to support track sleepers. A layer of crushed stones will be laid on the roadbed before the tracks are laid, which will then be compacted. Then sleepers and tracks will be laid. Think about the gravity of the train passed ...
What is the movement of a train track called?
This longitudinal horizontal thrust can cause the longitudinal displacement of the rail and sometimes drive the sleeper to move together. This movement is called track creep. The movement of the track can be reduced by making the ballast packed the sleepers.
How does a ballast help a sleeper?
Though the sleeper undertakes quite an amount of pressure, the ballast is needed to scatter pressure by increasing the functional area and reducing the pressure of per unit area. Preventing track creep.
Why do railway tracks have stones?
Because stones distribute the weight of the train and track on the subgrade, it can reduce the vibration and noise caused by the passing of the train and increase the comfort of passengers. At the same time, the stones can disperse ...
Why do we need ballast?
Ballast has strong permeability and can prevent the growth of weeds on the track.
What is ballast in light?
In its simplest form, a ballast uses magnetic energy that erupts into the lamp when it is turned on, stimulating the electrodes to make a current and the lamp glows. Today's fluorescent ballasts are mainly electronic, and they have a number of positive attributes including energy efficiency, reduced flicker of light, and even dimming capabilities.
How does a rapid start ballast work?
Rapid Start. A rapid start ballast works differently from an instant start as it does allow the lamp time to preheat by initially using a low voltage. Then when the lamp's cathodes are nice and warm, the voltage increases to light the lamp. One plus of rapid start ballasts is they work in a parallel lamp service.
What is the job of a fluorescent ballast?
The job of the fluorescent ballast is to manage this entire process by giving the lamp the voltage it needs to get the process done. At the same time it makes sure it doesn't take in so much that it burns out. That is because a fluorescent lamp is inherently has a negative resistance, meaning it will just keep on taking in voltage until its power supply can't take anymore. To combat this, the ballast supplies the opposite resistance -- positive -- to restrict the current.
How does a ballast work?
How Fluorescent Ballasts Work. When a fluorescent lamp is turned on, the lamp's electrodes heat up and release electrons. These mix with the mercury gas and other gases that are in the lamp. When this happens, the electrons actually bump into atoms that are in the gas, releasing wavelengths of ultraviolet light that are consumed by ...
Why use a ballast for a lamp?
Rather than warming up the lamp's electrodes gradually, the ballast a rather large initial voltage to get it going. Although this helps save energy since there's less energy used when compared to other ballast types, the lamp degrades quicker. We recommend this for fixtures that will not turn off and on all the time.
What is a ballast for fluorescent lights?
Fluorescent ballasts come in a variety of types to meet the needs of different fixtures. For instance, ballasts will specify how many fluorescent lamps they can regulate at one time (such as one or four). They also say what types of lamps they work with (such as T5, T8, T10 or T12).
What is the job of a ballast?
Another job of the ballast is to provide the energy -- or voltage -- the lamp needs to get going. The ballast gives the lamp the amount of voltage it needs to create the current – or arc – between its electrodes, and then automatically lowers and monitors the voltage to make sure there is the perfect amount to keep the light going.
