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In a fluorescent lighting system, the ballast regulates the current to the lamps and provides sufficient voltage to start the lamps. Once the arc is established, the ballast quickly reduces the voltage and regulates the electric current to produce a steady light output.
What is the output voltage of a fluorescent ballast?
Fluorescent lamps use a ballast which transforms line voltage to a voltage to start up and operate the lamp(s). Newer fluorescent ballasts are usually rated for both 120 volts and 277 volts. Some are rated for only 120 volts, others for only 277 volts (used in commercial environments).
How does a fluorescent starter work?
When you turn on a fluorescent tube, the starter is a closed switch. The filaments at the ends of the tube are heated by electricity, and they create a cloud of electrons inside the tube. When it opens, the voltage across the tube allows a stream of electrons to flow across the tube and ionize the mercury vapor.
How do you tell if a ballast is blown?
One probe of the multimeter should touch the hot wire connections, while the other touches the neutral wire connections. If the ballast is good, an analog multimeter has a needle that will sweep to the right across the measuring scale. If the ballast is bad, then the needle won’t move.
Why do my fluorescent lights not turn on?
The fluorescent tube won’t turn on No electrical power due to a tripped breaker or blown fuse. A dead or dying ballast. A dead starter. A dead bulb.
Why do fluorescent lights not turn on sometimes?
If you find your fluorescent light won’t turn on sometimes, there could be a variety of reasons why. It could be as simple as needing to replace the bulb or plug the light itself in; or, it could be something more serious, such as a blown fuse or a damaged/dying starter.
Can a fluorescent light work without a ballast?
Reverted question “ Can I make a fluorescent light work without a ballast?” yes, you can, but you need something to reduce the current as the bulb warms up. So, you can drive a fluorescent with a pulse width adjustable power supply, but this is what is in an ‘electronic’ ballast.
What happens if you use wrong ballast?
If you use a wrong sized ballast the LRC will not be tuned so you are likely to not start the lamp at all. There is the possibility of burning out components pre-maturely also due to overcurrent and overvoltage conditions particularly if using a larger ballast on a smaller fixture.
Does a ballast increase voltage?
Without a ballast to limit its current, a fluorescent lamp connected directly to a high voltage power source would rapidly and uncontrollably increase its current draw. Once the arc is established, the ballast quickly reduces the voltage and regulates the electric current to produce a steady light output.
Is a ballast the same as a starter?
In older fluorescent fixtures, the ballast, or choke, is a transformer that limits the current flowing into the tube, while the starter provides the high voltage needed to excite the tube when it is turned on.
What are the two function of ballast?
The functions of ballast are as follows : It provides levelled bed or support for the railway sleepers. It transfers the load from sleepers to subgrade and distributes the load uniformly on subgrade. It holds the sleepers in a firm position while the trains pass by.
How do you start a fluorescent light without a starter?
If you do not find a starter, unplug the light or shut off the power, then remove the deflector above the tube and look there, or disassemble the base if the light is a desk or floor model. To remove a starter, press it inward and twist it counterclockwise a quarter turn; it should pop out.
Why are my fluorescent lights flickering?
If your fluorescent bulbs flicker, most likely the problem is with the bulb itself. If the bulb is very dark on either end, it may be defective and burned out. The best way to test the functionality of a bulb is to put it into a fixture you know works. Flickering fluorescent lights can also be a result of temperature.
How do I know if my ballast is T8 or T12?
If no markings are available, the size in diameter of the tube is the easiest way to determine the type you have installed. T8 tubes are 1-inch in diameter and T12 tubes are 1 1/2 -inch.
How long do ballasts last?
According to the Certified Ballast Manufacturers Association, the average magnetic ballast lasts about 75,000 hours, or 12 to 15 years with normal use. The optimum economic life of a fluorescent lighting system with magnetic ballasts is usually about 15 years.
Why does my fluorescent light take so long to turn on?
Most fluorescent light fixtures also have a component called a ballast, which controls the current through the fixture. If the ballast is malfunctioning, it too can cause the light to take a while to turn on. You should never assume the ballast is the problem unless you have exhausted the other alternatives.
Do fluorescent lights work in cold weather?
Temperature Range Many fluorescent lights can’t operate if the air temperature is below 50 degrees Fahrenheit, which is not always due to the lights themselves but instead often has to do with the type of ballast used in the light fixture. Magnetic ballasts don’t work in cold temperatures.
Should a fluorescent ballast get hot?
Overheating ballasts often exhibit symptoms. They may cause the bulb to flicker, shine, dim, or not work at all. A further test would be to check for heat from the ballast. Ballasts usually run hot, about 140 degrees F, but if one is so hot that you can’t keep your hands on it, it is likely the culprit.
