Magnetic Ballast For Fluorescent Lamp

So at different stages of the lamp s life different light levels will be produced.

Magnetic ballast for fluorescent lamp.

An old fluorescent lamp or an aging bad ballast. The top is a high power factor rapid start series ballast for two 30 40 w lamps. Several magnetic ballasts for fluorescent lamps. For the fluorescent family both t12 linear fluorescents and two pin cfls use magnetic ballasts.

Ballast compatible plug and play or direct drop in led tubes make upgrading to cost saving long life led technology easy. The middle is a low power factor preheat ballast for a single 30 40 w lamp while the bottom ballast is a simple inductor used with a 15 w preheat lamp. When magnetic ballasts break it is often blamed on the bulb. Fluorescent lamps almost always experience color variation and fading.

There are two lamp families that work with a ballast. The ballast provides enough voltage to start the fluorescent bulbs and once they are started it quickly lowers the current to produce just enough electricity to produce a steady light source. After mounting the new ballast replace the ballast compartment cover and bulbs and it should be good for another 20 years. Simply take the fluorescent tubes out of your fixture and put the led tubes in.

And there are two types of ballasts in each family. Dim light or low lumen output is almost always the cause of one of two things. While magnetic ballasts in fluorescent lamps work at a frequency of 60hz electronic ballasts greatly increase that frequency to 20 000hz. All fluorescent light fixtures consist of at least lamp s lamp holders ballast and internal wiring.

Signs that your magnetic ballast has broken. In time the ballast may need to be replaced. The ballast is used to create the voltage and current necessary to start and illuminate the fluorescent lamp. Some older types have starters too.

A quick way to determine if your fluorescent fixtures will work with direct drop in led tubes. Magnetic fixtures required a separate starter to kick start the flow of. Confirm that the new ballast matches the old one photo below and then install it as shown in photo 4. They re often a feature of lighting that s activated by motion detection sensors for example toilets in workplaces or public venues and allows the fluorescent light to last for a long time.

Photos 2 and 3 show how to remove the old ballast from the fluorescent light fixture.