I have a project with fluorescent lighting connected to a panel backed by a generator (emergency source). During testing, transfer from normal power to emer power is OK. When transfering back to the normal power source the transfer caused the multivolt, programmable start, electronic fluorescent ballasts to go crazy, provide limited light output from the lamps and flicker. Turning the power off then back on fixed the problem. The transfer switch causes a voltage dip for the instant during transfer which seems to make the ballasts go crazy. Has anyone else run into this problem and what was the fix?
fluor lighting problems
- Thread starter bsh
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hillbilly1
Senior Member
- Location
- North Georgia mountains
- Occupation
- Owner/electrical contractor
Seen it happen a lot, the multi volt ballast do not like generator power. Usually end up having to disconnect the reloc, then reconnect sometimes to get ballast to work correctly. Is the transfer switch a three pole, or a four pole? A inphase monitor may help, as it may be transfering back to at an inopertune moment in the cycle, ie;peak voltage too high or low for a longer cycle.
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LLSolutions
Senior Member
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- Long Island, NY
If the ballasts are line to neutral not line to line only having a 3 pole TS may give you problems. something about the generator and service being on that same neutral gives weird affects at transfer time. I've been lucky so far with 4 pole TS.
hillbilly1
Senior Member
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- North Georgia mountains
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- Owner/electrical contractor
That may be a lot of the problem, a multivolt electronic ballast can be reset to a different voltage by disconnecting the hot AND neutral, then reconnecting to the new voltage.
hillbilly1 said:
I think its more like a voltage regulator circuit where the ballast constantly adjusts to the applied voltage. (I would be very supprised if its not.)
I would think you could swing the voltage from 120 all the way up to 277 and back down, and the ballast should keep the output constant.
It could also be some type of lamp starting problem with the voltage drop during transfer.
Steve
LarryFine
Master Electrician Electric Contractor Richmond VA
- Location
- Henrico County, VA
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- Electrical Contractor
I have seen many electronic-ballasted fluorescents that must be cycled off and on after a power-fluctuating event.
You're very likely correct. A variac and clamp-on ammeter would make for an interesting experiment.steve66 said:
cschmid
Senior Member
- Location
- Northern cold country
you could install a Ups system on the lighting circuits this would stabilize the voltage to the lights during transfers..or maybe a small transformer to stabilize the voltage..as it would except different voltage inputs but the output would always be constant..
- Location
- Massachusetts
If the transfer switch is a modern programmable one I would program in a transition delay of 1 or 2 seconds.
A transition delay is different then a transfer delay. A transition delay parks the switch with both supplies disconnected from the load for the duration of the delay.
Here are some Cummings ATS settings.
That will pull the load of off the generator and let the ballast full discharge, then after the delay period will go back to utility.
This should do the same thing as what you have done with the manual switch.
A transition delay is different then a transfer delay. A transition delay parks the switch with both supplies disconnected from the load for the duration of the delay.
Here are some Cummings ATS settings.
That will pull the load of off the generator and let the ballast full discharge, then after the delay period will go back to utility.
This should do the same thing as what you have done with the manual switch.
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