Alwayslearningelec
Senior Member
- Location
- NJ
- Occupation
- Estimator
Light fixtures can utilize either electronic or magnetic ballasts. Is this correct? Thanks.
Ballasts
- Thread starter Alwayslearningelec
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Yes, for HID fixtures including fluorescent, Metal Halide, and High Pressure sodium.
Of course, incandescent fixtures don't need a ballast.
stevebea
Senior Member
- Location
- Southeastern PA
Just for the sake of keeping this thread alive there are two types of electronic ballasts, Low frequency and High frequency.
Alwayslearningelec
Senior Member
- Location
- NJ
- Occupation
- Estimator
How often are mag ballasts still used?
Electric-Light
Senior Member
For T12s, magnetic ballasts are outlawed since there is not one available that meets the energy efficiency standards.
Electronic T12 ballasts are still available with primary intended application of spot replacement.
I?ve been told that ballast should be removes before install LED tube, is it true?
- Location
- New Jersey
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- Journeyman Electrician
stevebea
Senior Member
- Location
- Southeastern PA
Yes, the ones I installed operated on line voltage, 120 volt.
Electric-Light
Senior Member
Most HIDs and high output fluorescent (like outdoor signs) and legacy T12 installs are still using magnetic.
Standard fluorescent are now mostly electronic. Refrigerated case lighting are quickly getting replaced by LEDs, which you probably have noticed in major grocers.
I think LEDs will soon replace outdoor signs as colored LEDs produce MUCH vibrant colors and they're way more efficient than putting fluorescent through colored panels.(though, LEDs are not as efficient as fluorescent fore general lighting)
broadgage
Senior Member
- Location
- London, England
Here in the UK, magnetic ballasts are still in widspread use in existing equipment, but the trend is towards electronic ballasts for new equipment.
Almost all new small HID and flourescent fittings are electronic.
Both types are still used for larger HID lamps, with electronic ballasts rapidly gaining ground.
LEDs are often more efficient than very small flourescent lamps and are rapidly replacing these. I suspect that flourescent lamps of 7 watts or less will soon be obsolete.
As others post, LEDs are already far superior when colored light is required for advertising or decorative purposes.
Almost all new small HID and flourescent fittings are electronic.
Both types are still used for larger HID lamps, with electronic ballasts rapidly gaining ground.
LEDs are often more efficient than very small flourescent lamps and are rapidly replacing these. I suspect that flourescent lamps of 7 watts or less will soon be obsolete.
As others post, LEDs are already far superior when colored light is required for advertising or decorative purposes.
Are you sure about that? I think the basic fluorescent fixtures sold at hardware stores still have magnetic ballasts. But I could be wrong. I guess its been a while since I checked.
I haven't noticed, but I wouldn't be supprised. It probably has a lot to do with the lower temp.
Electric-Light
Senior Member
Those with power factor below 0.90 and labeled residential use only are exempt, which can still get installed in commercial locations, but they will never be available in 277v.
stevebea
Senior Member
- Location
- Southeastern PA
I'm not sure I would remove the ballast before you are sure the customer is happy with the LED output.
Electric-Light
Senior Member
I'm not sure I would remove the ballast before you are sure the customer is happy with the LED output.
Happy on day one doesn't mean it will stay that way. There are many cheap Chinese LED lights built using the same kind as keychain and christmas lights.
They already do poorly in long term output maintenance. They do even worse when hundreds of them are clustered together and heat up.
They're fine for keychain lights that are used seconds at a time and maybe even see at most a single digit hour over the useful life, but when they're left on continuously, they decay as much as 50% in 1,000 hours.
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