What Element Is Used In Fluorescent Light Fixtures

fluorescent lighting using fluorescent ballasts Fluorescent has long been a popular and cost-constructive source of lighting. Fluorescent ballasts are used for every lamp. Source: Wikipedia

Over the past few years, fluorescent lamps have become the lighting of choice for contractors looking to save on both energy and maintenance costs. Although fluorescent lighting may price a bit more upfront when information technology comes to initial installation, it makes up for it in the amount of free energy saved when compared to traditional incandescent lighting. All fluorescent lamps need fluorescent ballasts in order to operate, but how do they work?

A fluorescent lamp generates light through the use of ii elements -- electricity and mercury vapor. A current of electricity – besides known as the arc – passes through the vapor, resulting in an ultraviolet lite. That light then bounces off a phosphor layer on the inside of the lamp, which makes the bulb light up. The fluorescent ballasts regulate the process.

ShineRetrofits.com offers a broad selection of fluorescent ballast products.

What are Fluorescent Ballasts?

An Instant Start T8 fluorescent ballasts made by GE Lighting An Instant Showtime T8 fluorescent ballast made by GE Lighting.

Quite simply, the ballast keeps the fluorescent lamp from burning out. Without a ballast, the fluorescent lamp would continue increasing the electric current flowing through it until information technology self-destructed. The job of the ballast is to control the amount of electric current running through the lamp so that does not happen.

Another job of the ballast is to provide the free energy -- or voltage -- the lamp needs to get going. The ballast gives the lamp the amount of voltage it needs to create the electric current – or arc – betwixt its electrodes, and and then automatically lowers and monitors the voltage to make certain there is the perfect amount to go along the light going.

Fluorescent ballasts come in a variety of types to come across the needs of different lite fixtures. For instance, ballasts will specify how many fluorescent lamps they tin regulate at once (such equally i or four). They also say what types of lamps they work with (such every bit T5, T8, T10 or T12). Additionally, the fluorescent anchor volition also land the amount of voltage information technology tin can accommodate (such as 120 or 277 volts).

How Fluorescent Ballasts Piece of work

When a fluorescent lamp is turned on, the lamp'due south electrodes oestrus up and release electrons. These mix with the mercury gas and other gases that are in the lamp. When this happens, the electrons bump into atoms that are in the gas, releasing wavelengths of ultraviolet light that are consumed past the fluorescent coating on the inside of the lamp. This and then ultimately produces the low-cal we can see.

The job of the fluorescent ballast is to manage this entire process by giving the lamp the voltage it needs to go the process done. It also makes certain the lamp doesn't accept in so much voltage that it burns out. That is considering a fluorescent lamp inherently has a negative resistance, pregnant it volition proceed taking in voltage until its power supply can't take anymore. To combat this, the fluorescent ballast supplies the opposite resistance -- positive -- to restrict the current.

In its simplest form, a ballast uses magnetic free energy that erupts into the lamp when it is turned on, stimulating the electrodes to make a current and the lamp glows. Today'southward fluorescent ballasts are mainly electronic, and they have a number of positive attributes including free energy efficiency, reduced flicker of lite, and even dimming capabilities.

Types of Fluorescent Ballasts

There are a few different types of fluorescent ballasts to know about.

Instant Showtime

One of the more popular types of ballasts is the instant-get-go ballast. Rather than warming up the lamp'south electrodes gradually, the ballast gives a rather large initial voltage to get it going. Although this helps save energy since in that location'due south less free energy used when compared to other ballast types, the lamp degrades quicker. We recommend this for light fixtures that volition not plough off and on regularly.

Rapid Kickoff

A rapid showtime ballast works differently from an instant offset as information technology does let the lamp time to preheat by initially using a low voltage. When the lamp'south cathodes are nice and warm, the voltage increases to light the lamp. One advantage of rapid commencement ballasts is that they piece of work in a parallel lamp service. That means if yous accept four lamps running on the 1 anchor and two become out, the other ii volition keep working.

Programmed Offset

The programmed showtime ballast operates much like the rapid start. It gradually heats up the lamp's cathodes before initializing the ignition of the lamp. The ballast is able to warm the cathodes at an fifty-fifty higher temperature, assuasive less burn out. You can besides utilise these with lighting fixtures that volition turn on and off often.

Store for a fluorescent anchor on ShineRetrofits.com