How does a fluorescent magnetic ballast work?
In short, a coiled length of wire in a circuit (an inductor) opposes change in the current flowing through it (see How Inductors Work for details). The transformer elements in a magnetic ballast use this principle to regulate the current in a fluorescent lamp.
What are the four basic types of fluorescent ballasts?
Types of fluorescent ballasts
- Rapid start ballasts work kind of like preheating an oven.
- Programmed start ballasts are typically paired with occupancy or motion sensors.
- Probe start ballasts are the older type and not very easy on the HID lamp.
- Pulse start ballasts don’t use a starting probe electrode.
What is the difference between magnetic ballast and electronic ballast?
What’s the Difference between an Electronic Ballast and a Magnetic Ballast? Electronic ballasts alter the flow of electricity in the light bulb by using a series of induction coils that are separated from one another. In contrast, magnetic ballast uses 1 induction coil and not a series.
How do you know if a ballast is magnetic or electronic?
Method One – Use your smart phone camera Stand under the light or a place close to the light and point your cell phone camera at the light. If you can see some strong dark strips flickering in your camera, it must be a magnetic ballast based light. Otherwise it should be an electronic ballast based light.
How do you test a magnetic ballast?
Disconnect primary supply to ballast and check all secondary leads for grounds. A short will give a low reading on the low resistance (OHMS) scale of the multimeter or the light will light on a simple continuity tester. This can be accomplished at the socket contacts or by probe puncturing the ballast leads.
What are magnetic ballasts?
A magnetic ballast is a piece of lighting equipment often used in small and large growrooms. There are three basic types of ballasts: magnetic, electronic, and digital. Like all ballasts, a magnetic ballast regulates the voltage a fluorescent light receives so that the bulb doesn’t overheat and immediately explode.
How do I know if my ballast is electronic or magnetic?
You can determine whether you have a compatible fixture in seconds. Simply turn the light on, then take a photo of the fixture using your smartphone or digital camera. If there are no dark bands on the resulting image, you have an electronic ballast that will work with direct drop-in LED tubes.
What are the disadvantages of magnetic ballast?
Some disadvantages of the inductive ballast are: they are less efficient than capacitive ballasts, they cost more, they weigh more, and they take up more space. Magnetic ballasts are typically used in reactors using medium pressure (MP) lamps.
Can I replace a magnetic ballast with an electronic ballast?
Fortunately, compatibility isn’t really an issue, as most electronic ballasts have been designed to replace existing magnetic ballasts. A preferable electronic ballast is the T8 model. This option has several advantages over the T10 and T12, including improved lighting efficiency.
What is the blue wire on a ballast?
The ballast has a hot and neutral wire at one end to receive power, and two blue wires a red one at the other end to supply power to the lights.
Does a magnetic ballast need a starter?
No Starters Required Magnetic ballasts required a starter to get the lamp lit, electronic ballasts do not require a starter.