Properties Magazine December 2012 : Page 68
Illuminating Advantages A look at the benefits of using electronic versus magnetic fluorescent ballasts By Jeff Saghy Light Bulb Supply I n the lighting business, the question has come up many times: “Why should we change from the standard magnetic ballast we use to an electronic ballast?” I know the wiring can be differ-ent and the standard red-to-red, blue-to-blue, yellow-to-yellow wiring pattern does not apply. For those who are concerned about the environment, saving electricity and changing the way we light fluorescent products, electronic ballasts are here. The fact is that electronic ballasts have become the standard operating system for fluorescent lights today. The ballast is an essential part of a fluorescent light; they come in vari-ous sizes, shapes and wattage ratings. All compact fluorescent lamps use elec-tronic ballast and some can even be dimmed. The new electronic ballast can run two, three or even four lights where a magnetic ballast can not. Let’s look at why we are changing. diameter) to a T8 (one-inch diameter) instant start. Magnetic ballasts are potted, which means they are filled with a resin to help keep the compo-nents held together and dissipate heat. They are also not energy efficient and cause the starting flicker and humming noise. Magnetic ballasts, when getting old, will hard-start the fluorescent lights causing the “black-ening” on the end of the lights, giving the illusion that the light is old or burning out. Electronic ballasts, how-ever, use electronic components to start a fluorescent lamp without the annoying starting flicker or humming noise associated with magnetic ballast. Electronic ballasts will also operate all existing lamps in a fixture if a single lamp burns out. Efficiency Magnetic ballasts are not energy effi-cient versus electronic ballasts, which increase lamp efficacy and lead to increased energy savings and lower oper-ating costs. Newer electronic ballasts are made to handle universal input of 120 volt or 277 volt and convert it to high frequency AC. Old vs. new Magnetic ballasts use a series of wire coiled to create a magnetic field. This type of ballast has been used for years and has become less popular over the last few years since the stan-dard fluorescent lamp has gone from a rapid start T12 (one-and-a-half inch Costs Magnetic ballasts used to be much cheaper to produce and were the choice for many contractors because of their availability. However, electronic ballasts 7KHQVWRSKLULQJÀ\ E\ QLJKW³URR¿QJFRQWUDFWRUV´ZKRVHRQO\RI¿FHDGGUHVVLVZKHUHYHUWKHLUSLFN XS WUXFNKDSSHQVWREHSDUNHGDWWKHWLPH7KHQR LQVXUDQFH�f;LUUHVSRQVLEOHRSHUDWRUVDUHGULYLQJWKHIHZ UHPDLQLQJKRQHVWURR¿QJFRQWUDFWRUVRXWRIEXVLQHVV8QOHVVWKHFRQVXPHUJHWVZLVHU�f;WKHUHZLOOEHQR TXDOLW\URRIHUVOHIW:HDUHORRNLQJIRUDIHZZLVHFRQVXPHUV,I\RX¿ W WKHE L OO�f; FDOOXVWRGD\  7,5('2)%(,1*5,33('2))" c;  �c;�a;       �c;   6,1&(c; c;(DVWWK6WUHHW&OHYHODQG�f;2+ ZZZFDUH\URR¿QJFRP  b;b; c;c;c; )D[ b;b; a; 68 3URSHUWLHV | December 2012
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