Fluorescent Ballast
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jumper
Senior Member
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- 3 Hr 2 Min from Winged Horses
In regards to what?
petersonra
Senior Member
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- Northern illinois
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- Semi-retired engineer
Google is probably the best place to start for this kind of question. What do you ahve against looking it up yourself?
GE UltraStart? is a new generation of T8 and Programmed Start (PS) ballasts that addresses the growing demand for energy-saving strategies incorporating occupancy sensors and other automated light controls to meet strict energy legislation. Switching lights off when an area is unoccupied
or filled with daylight makes sense from an energy-savings viewpoint and it is also recommended or required now by several energy regulations.
However, on standard Instant Start (IS) ballasts, lamp life is significantly affected by frequent starting. Programmed Start (PS) ballasts provide a ?soft start? and significantly reduce the cathode degradation occurring from each start. PS ballasts have been available for some time but have suffered from several drawbacks:
(1) they are less efficient than IS ballasts
or filled with daylight makes sense from an energy-savings viewpoint and it is also recommended or required now by several energy regulations.
However, on standard Instant Start (IS) ballasts, lamp life is significantly affected by frequent starting. Programmed Start (PS) ballasts provide a ?soft start? and significantly reduce the cathode degradation occurring from each start. PS ballasts have been available for some time but have suffered from several drawbacks:
(1) they are less efficient than IS ballasts
Programmed Start and Programmed Rapid Start should be the exact same thing. Perhaps some manufacturers include the "Rapid" terminology so you know that they require Rapid Start (non-shunted) sockets.
Program Start Ballasts are typically used whenever occupancy sensors are used. !!!HOWEVER!!!...if you use Sensor Switches WSD line of wall switch sensors no Program Start Ballast is needed.
Program Start Ballasts are typically used whenever occupancy sensors are used. !!!HOWEVER!!!...if you use Sensor Switches WSD line of wall switch sensors no Program Start Ballast is needed.
I know the difference between Instant start, Rapid Start, and Programmed start. What I can't seem to find is what this animal "programmed rapid start" is. I've tried googleing it but apparantly google has been replaced with an online avertising agency, no relivant information can be asertained. And @petersonra, why post any question on any forum when you can just look it up yourself?
TNBaer,
just saw the post, that makes a lot of sense. Thanks!
TNBaer,
just saw the post, that makes a lot of sense. Thanks!
Last edited:
Electric-Light
Senior Member
Semantics.
Rapid start electronic ballasts are rarely used. They do not work with Energy Saver type lamps.
The arc voltage is applied immediately after power on. The voltage is supposed to be low enough that lamps do not start until cathodes are warmed up, however it is hard to control precise open circuit voltage with resonator used for electronic ballasts, so in reality they often prematurely start causing sputtering and thus, not much start cycle advantage over instant start. These are nearly extinct. Starting temp is limited to 50F (for reliable starting)
Programmed start delays discharge voltage application until cathodes are warmed up through sequenced starting program hence "programmed" start. Since cathodes are pre-heated, the starting voltage can be high as desirable. These start at voltage comparable to instant start, so starting temperature is often 0 to -20. One important attribute is series vs parallel. For small scale, its not important.
For large scale, a failed lamp in a chain causes all lamps to go out, therefore, it reduces the group relamping interval before light level is considered unacceptable. I would go with PARALLEL (GE and newest Sylvania)
Any questions, post up.
Rapid start electronic ballasts are rarely used. They do not work with Energy Saver type lamps.
The arc voltage is applied immediately after power on. The voltage is supposed to be low enough that lamps do not start until cathodes are warmed up, however it is hard to control precise open circuit voltage with resonator used for electronic ballasts, so in reality they often prematurely start causing sputtering and thus, not much start cycle advantage over instant start. These are nearly extinct. Starting temp is limited to 50F (for reliable starting)
Programmed start delays discharge voltage application until cathodes are warmed up through sequenced starting program hence "programmed" start. Since cathodes are pre-heated, the starting voltage can be high as desirable. These start at voltage comparable to instant start, so starting temperature is often 0 to -20. One important attribute is series vs parallel. For small scale, its not important.
For large scale, a failed lamp in a chain causes all lamps to go out, therefore, it reduces the group relamping interval before light level is considered unacceptable. I would go with PARALLEL (GE and newest Sylvania)
Any questions, post up.
kwired
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Google will sometimes have hit list that includes this forum, just coming to this forum instead of google is the shortcut method:happyyes:
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