Em ballast/battery back-up

[Alwayslearningelec]

Is there a difference between the two and if so what is it? Thanks.

Also, have you ever seen fixtures on a EM circuit(generator) with em ballast/ battery backup)

Thanks.

 

[defears]

An emergency ballast is a battery. Usually does 1 of the tubes in a fixture.

Batteries are still used on generator lighting circuits because of the time it takes to start.

 

[stevebea]

Also, have you ever seen fixtures on a EM circuit(generator) with em ballast/ battery backup)

Thanks.[/QUOTE]

Yes, we have that very setup at our shop, but not by design.... the genny was added a few years later.

 

[Alwayslearningelec]

An emergency ballast is a battery. Usually does 1 of the tubes in a fixture.

Batteries are still used on generator lighting circuits because of the time it takes to start.

So battery backup means it has an EM ballast? Also, when the designation on a drawing says EM/NL whcih means emergency nightlight what exactly is that. Is that different than just an EM designation? THanks.

 

[steve66]

So battery backup means it has an EM ballast? Also, when the designation on a drawing says EM/NL whcih means emergency nightlight what exactly is that. Is that different than just an EM designation? THanks.

Yes, I would normally call battery backup the same as an EM ballast. Although, you can also have a central battery system that runs multiple standard light fixtures.

A nightlight would be unswitched: it stays on 24/7.

You can also have fixtures with an EM ballast that are switched. If power is lost while they are switched off, they turn on. The do this by monitoring a separate unswitched hot wire.

P.S. Emergency ballasts can also be integral to the fixture, or they can be remote mounted.

 

[jumper]

Steve66 pretty much said what I was going to, so I will just add that a EM battery can be separate from the ballast. It is not always one package.

 

[Electric-Light]

There are two types.. Generator rated and standard. The generator rated one puts out nearly full output for a few minutes. Standard is usually rated for 90 minutes of battery life

 

[hillbilly1]

There are two types.. Generator rated and standard. The generator rated one puts out nearly full output for a few minutes. Standard is usually rated for 90 minutes of battery life

Interesting, never heard or seen a generator rated one! Learn something new every day!

 

[jmellc]

Most of these lights I've worked with are a pain. I always reccomend a separate EM wallpack light, much simpler & more reliable. I've seen some 2x4 troffers with EM ballasts & 2 std ballasts that seem to lose a ballast once a year or more.