The operational and energy efficiency of lamps and their longevity depend to a large extent on the type of ballast that has been fitted to the light. The ballast is an electrical component that controls the amount of electric current flowing through the lamp, when the latter is switched on and while it is running.
The ballast provides adequate voltage to establish an arc between the two electrodes to switch on the lamp. It then reduces and regulates the voltage to a steady amount as the electrodes are heated to keep the lamp powered on and make it emit light at a consistent level of brightness. When a lamp is hooked directly to a source of electrical power without a ballast to regulate the flow, there is always the risk of the lamp becoming overheated and burning out.
Must be Compatible
There are many different types of ballast. Each type is suited to the specific operational patterns of various different lamps. For instance, some ballasts are not suitable for lamps that are switched on and off frequently. When the ballast and the lamp are not compatible, you can end up reducing the operational efficiency and longevity of the lamp.
Frequent lamp replacement eats into your savings, and you cannot optimize the returns on your infrastructural investment. That is why, business owners should know about the principal types of lamp ballasts—instant and programmed start ballasts—to ensure that they make the right choice for the lamps at their commercial premises.
What are Instant Start Ballasts?
Instant start ballasts are ideal for use with fluorescent lamps that are not switched on and off frequently. Such a type of ballast provides a high amount of voltage to the lamp when it is switched on, but without pre-heating the cathodes either during the start or while the lamp is lighted.
The ballast provides this high mount of voltage to all parts of the lamp, and this usually has the lamp emitting light within about 50 milliseconds. Instant start ballasts do not heat the cathodes of the lamp, so emissive material is released to keep the lamp powered and emitting light.
The greatest advantage of the instant start ballast is that it consumes far less amount of energy than any other type of lamp ballast. In fact, it is considered to be the most energy-efficient ballast solution for most types of fluorescent lamps. This ballast is commonly used by business owners in spaces like restrooms, reception areas, and retail exhibition areas where the lights are not frequently switched on and off. However, this ballast reduces the life span of lamps if fitted on lighting devices that have frequent on/off cycles.
What are Programmed Start Ballasts?
The programmed start ballast is markedly different from the instant start ballast in that the former applies heat to the cathodes of a lamp to switch it on. Also unlike the instant start ballast, the programmed start ballast triggers a specific sequence of events to ultimately power on the light. The steps initiated by the programmed start ballast are listed below.
1. Application of Low-Degree of Heat to the Cathodes or Pre-Heating of the Cathodes
The programmed start ballast reduces the amount of voltage across the lamp before supplying voltage to pre-heat the cathodes. The ballast is programmed to continue supplying voltage till the cathodes reach a temperature of at least 700-degree Celsius. The time until the cathodes are being pre-heated is called the preheat interval.
The voltage across the lamp is kept low during the preheat interval to reduce the amount of glow current. Glow current is the actual electrical current that flows across the cathodes. The more the amount of glow current flowing across the body of the lamp, the more is the blackening of the lamp body. What is more, a large amount of glow current passing between the cathodes results in greater loss of the emissive material. These two developments reduce lamp life significantly. So by doing away with these occurrences, programmed start ballasts prolong the life span of lamps with frequent on/off cycles.
After the above-mentioned first step is complete, the programmed start ballast automatically proceeds to the second step, which is applying voltage across the lamp to establish an arc. The completion of this step results in the lamp emitting light. There is minimal loss of emissive material while voltage is being applied throughout the lamp, and this prolongs the life span of the lighting device.
2. Application of Voltage Across the Lamp
Most sophisticated programmed start ballasts move on from pre-heating the cathodes to supplying voltage across the lamp within 30 milliseconds. This fast transition time minimizes the loss of cathode emissive material that, in turn, increases the life span and improves the operational efficiency of the lamp. Although the instant start ballasts are more energy-efficient, some varieties of programmed start ballasts can reduce the amount of voltage supplied to the cathode to save more electricity. However, the most prolific advantage of programmed start ballasts is that they can facilitate 40,000 starts without degrading the lamp quality.
The above-mentioned differences between instant and programmed start ballasts will help you analyze the lighting operational conditions at your workplace and buy ballasts accordingly.
ABB Bermac. ABB Group. ABM Electric. Absolute Trades Absolute Interior. Accel Electric AC Electrical. Acciona Energy. A C Contracting Inc. Ace Construction. Accurate Glass & Mirror. Action Electric. Active Electrical Solutions Inc.
Aecon
A Group. ADI. Adduco Electrical Solutions Ltd. Adrenaline. Advanced Electrical Controls. Aecon Mining. Aire One Heating and Cooling. Airwise Electrical. Airo Electric. Airon HVAC and Control. A.K.Electric. AJ Electric. Aman homes Inc. Anglo Eastren Ship Management Inc. AR company. Arclin Armatec.
Arrow Plumbing and Heating Inc. Ltd.
Aristi Contracting. Atlas Electric
Arthur Electric
Alberta Inc. Alumicor. All Regions Electric All trade Industrial Inc. Allied Projects LTD. Allied Electrical Services. Alectra Alpha Marathon. Aemada Electrical Contracting Corp. Ambient Mechanical Ltd. Amptrak Electric. Amp-Trak Controls. Amp Pro Electric Ampower Electric. Ampere Ltd. AM PM Electric. AMW. Ancaster Electric Anchor. Apni. Applied Electrical LTD. Armature Electric.
Arbitrary Electric Arva Industries Ascent solutions. Asco Power Technology.
Astra Electric. ATS electrical.
ATS Automation A to Zee Engineering Services. Atomic Energy Canada ( AECL). Avira Industries Avison Electrical AVON Electric .Co. Ltd. AXYZ. AZAP Electrical. Ezratek Babcock Backerhaus Veit B A International Ltd. Balcan Plastic (QC) Barton Electric. Baseview Electric. Baycoat Pvt ltd. Bay Electric Bayview Electric. B&B Climate Care. Beacon Utility Contractors Beckett Electrical. Berg chilling systems Bestech. BC Hydro. Belyea Bros. Heating & Cooling Bell Technical Solutions. Bell Con Electric. Belle-Pak Packing Inc. Benson Cabinetry & Millwork. Bermic Inc. Best Buy BFG Enterprises.
Bimbo Bakehouse
Birnie Electrical Limited. Blue Mountain Plastics Inc. Black & McDonald Limited BMG project consultants Inc. Bradco Electric Bramwood Electrical Brian Little Electric shop BR WEST ELECTRIC. Brooklyn Electrical. B-Safe Electric. Bombardier Bonduell. Boston Electric. Bowman Electric. Bute Electric Inc. Burman & Fellows Group Inc. Burnie Electric. Buston & Dawe Ltd Brennan's Consulting. Bryant Electric Inc.
Brotec Electrical.
Brothers Electrical Works. Buzzbolt Electric Ltd. CCA CC Electrical Contracting CEC Services Ltd. CIE. C. Hunter electrical. Canada Power Products Canada Bread Canadian Armed Forces. Canadian Tire. Canadian General Tower Ltd. Canadian Crane Cannon Automotive Solutions. CBRE. C.R.I. Electric. Callisto Construction Ltd. Campbell and Kennedy Electrical Communications. Campoli Electric Ltd. Camtac Canada Power Products. Canada Post. Canatom Electric Canem Systems Ltd. Alberta, Canada.
Capital.
Caribbean Producers Jamaica td. Cargill Meat Solutions. Carter Georgian Electric Ltd. Cascade Process Controls. Castlemore Electric. Cavanagh Electric. CEC Services Ltd. CEG Inc. Centreline. Centennial Electric Century Electrical Contractors. Cgc. City Of Toronto City Of Winnipeg.
Chambers Electric.
Chrysler Canada CLAC union Clayton Electric CLI Electric. CMS Electric. CN Rail Cobra Power Code 3 Electric. Cola Cola Weston. Cold Storage.
Complete Electrical Services
Component element. Com-plex Systems Ltd. Comstock Canada Ltd. Consilium Electrical. Constrel. Con's Electric. ConServices. Controlled Electric. Convergint Technologies Ltd. Cogent Power Burlington. Copperclad Systems. Corlan Electric. COT Electric. Cpu Electrical. Crimson Electrical. CRS crane systems Inc. Crotech Electric Ltd.
CTL Electrical.
CUSW. Current Electrical Solutions. Currier Power. Culleton Electrical Services CW-services (contract for Fedex Canada) Damass Danmar Electric. Dani. Danik Electric. D.A.R.T Electric Ltd. Defence Construction Canada. Dental Mart. Diageo Inc. Discovery Electric. D. Sayers Electric. D.D.MAC Electric. DDSPL. Deerbrook Electric. Deerfield Electric. Deerhurst Resort. Delmarc Electric. Deno Electric. Dennis Eden Electrical Contracting Department Of Defence. Dependable Mechanical Systems Inc.
Dependable Group Of Companies
DMJ Distributors, Australia. Deman Construction. Defran Electric. Descon Conveyor Solutions. Diamond Electric. Direct Power Electrical Inc. Distinttech. Diz Construction Corp. DK Plus Electrical Dorval Electric. DoFasco. Domtar
DP Electric DSL Solutions. DTK Automations.
Delat Deville Electric. Dragon Electric Inc. Durock Electric. Ducon Contractors and Homes. Duplex Electric. DYNA MIG, A Division of F&P Mfg., Inc. DW Inc. Eagle Press and Equipment. Eaton. EC power and Lighting Ltd. Edge Automation. Edson Packaging Machinery Ltd. Egar Tool and Dir Enersource Hydro. Enercon. Energy Alliance. Energy Network Services. Engie Multitech. Enriam Dynamics. EnWin Utilities. Electra. Electricians To Go Electric By Nature. Electric Ltd. Electrical Services- Alberta
Electrical smart services.
Electrical System Integration and Maintenance Electrical Mechanical Innovations. Electric Group Ltd. Electrofrost. Electrostar. Electrotech Inc. Elephas Control Systems Elko Elecrtic. Elkonor Electrical. Eltor Electrical. Elite Electric EMR Inc. Emer Electric EMCS Enek Electrical.
Encore
EPI Electric Contractors. E.S Fox. Essar Ess plus masters.
Fitzpatrick Electric Contractors FH Automation Flakeboard Ltd. Fleetwood Metal Industries. Flex-n-gate Electric. Flo. Fluor - Alberta IBEW FM Sylan FMS Electrical Ltd. Force Automation. Ford Canada Foretech Electric. Fortis Electric Ltd. FOS Electric systems. Foxwood Electric. Frontier Kemper ULC Frontline Electrical Services. Future Electric Future Tech. FULL Service Electric. FULL Scale Electric. Galmar Electrical Contr. Inc. GAK Technology Ltd. Genco Electric. Gengroup. Genuine Electric Gidds. Girard Electric. Give & Go. Giessler Electric. Guaranteed Electric. Grande Cache Coal Ltd (Alberta) Grande Electric. GTA Electrical Enterprises Inc.
GTAA
GE Water & Process Technologies. Generac Power Systems. Gem Tech Systems. Georgian Shores Electric Georgia pacific Canada Inc. GGE Services. Gibraltar Electric. GM motors Canada GMZ Electrical Inc. Gobbo Systems Inc. Go Green TTC. Goldcorp Inc. Goldgen Co. Golddome Electric. Grantek Goodman Construction Greatdealsmarket.ca Great Canadian wiring co. Grayley Electrical. Grand Cache Coal Corp. Grand River Enterprises. Graywood Electric Ltd. GR Electric. GRT Electric. GTAA
GTA SMART WIRING SOLUTIONS INC.
Guild Electrich G&W Canada Corporation. HFX Solar. H&G Control Company. Hammer Electric. Hamilton Electric. Hamilton School Board. Handling Specialty. Hanson safe electrical solutions Inc. Handy Andy Lett Contracting. Hartwell Electrical. Hart-well Electrical Company limited Heritage Electric Contracting ltd. Hi-Lite Electric Inc. Hilario Electrical. HLS Linen Services. Homelight Electrical. Holcim. Holley Electric. Honda of Canada Mfg. Houle Electric. Hotwire Electric. Horowitz Development. Humber College. Hubbell Canada.
Hunsingers
H&R Electric. Hydro H&P Electrical Hydro One Corporation. Hydroform Solutions. IB Electrics. Ibew353 Ibew 353 North. IBEW 115 (Brockville). IBEW 151. Ibew2085. IBEW424 IBEW Local 586. Ibew773. IBEW 804. Iconic. ICS lumber. IBI Group. IG Electric IGPC Electric Igman Electric Ltd. Illumilight. Impact Electric. IMTT-Newfoundland, Ltd. Impact Electrical & Mechanical Ltd. Indoc Cranes (Saskachewan). Industrial Electrical Contrators Ltd. Industrial Contracting Solutions (ICS) Ingram. Innowave Electric Inc.
Inner-Phase electric .
Inner quest services. Intact Electric. Integrity Tool and Mold. Intergal Energy Services Ltd. Internazionale Electrical Contractors.
International Electric
IPE Canada. IRIS Power. ISS Facility. Infinite Electric.
Innovative Automation
Internazional Electrical Contractors.
Integrity Fire
Invista. Innowave Electric
IPE Canada.
Ippolito Fruit and Produce. Izek Jacobs Industrial Services. J & W Electric. Jade Taylor Electric Ltd. Jake Electric. Jan K Overweel. Janick Electric Ltd. Jay Electric. Jesstec Industries Inc JD Electric. JD Irving Ltd. JG Rogers Corp. JFM Inc. JMR. Joe-Tech Electric. Joint Apprenticeship Council. JP Power Ltd Jselectric Inc.
JYD
JW Morris. J&W Electric K & K Reno Services Inc. Kanata Utilities Ltd. Kamnik Electric. Karmax Heavy Stamping. Kelloggs Canada. KEI Ken Keeler Electric. Kennedy Electric. K O Electric Power and Control Inc. Kiewit: Construction, Engineering and Mining Services. Kinder Electromechanical.
Kruger Packaging. LaBelle Electric Ltd. Lancor Electric Land Mark Electric Inc. Langen Electric Ltd. Langguth America. Larlin Electric. Lariviere Electric Lasco Electric Inc. Lazer Electrical Solutions. Lemco Electric Les Services administratif Cominar Inc. Leslie Electric Company Leslie Electrical. Lexsan Electrical. Leitner Poma Leighton Electric. Liebherr Electric. Linamar Line Electrical Ltd. Lincoln Electric Company Of Canada. Lite On Site. Lighting Contracting. Lightron Site Electric. Linex Manufacturing~Linamar. Linergy Manufacturing. Lion Electric. Listowel Technologies Inc. Lobar Const.. Local 1687. Local 530. Lockerbie and hole Co Ltd. London Airport YXU London Spark Electric Services. Locus Electrical Contractors Ltd. Lorik Tools. Lovett Electrical. Lowes Canada. Lucid Electric. McEachern Electric Ltd. Maclean Engineering. Mafna Air technology Inc. Magna International Mag Electric. Malton Electric
Manctor Brampton Branch. Manny's Electrical Maple Stamping Maple ridge power and light. Mapleview Electric Co Ltd. Mars Wrigley Confectionary. Marlen Technical Services Ltd. Martinrea O/A Rollstar Metal Forming.
Mass Electric.
Masse electric. Massi Automated Systems. Mastercard Master Electric. Mayfair Electric.
Max Aicher North America.
McAdoo Electric. McCormick Canada. Melitron Corp. Mellon. Merge Electric. Meridian Housing Foundation. Merlin Plastics. Metro Wide Electric.
Metrican Stamping Inc.
Messina Electric Mainway Electrical. Masse Marzz Electric Martin Electric. Martec Construction Services
Manav Electrical
Meridian. Meter City Central. Metric Electric Ltd. Micro Electric. Ming Electric Mikes Electric Ltd. Millennium Electric. Mill Street Brewer. Mitchell Electric.
Mitrex.
Minelli Maintenance Ltd. M.W.H. Petroleum.
M & M HVAC.
Montgomery Electric. Modatek Systems (Magna). Modern Niagara Electric. Moldpro Moore Electrical Inc. Morrow Equipment. MTI. MTE Controls. Mott Electric. Motion Electric. Mp Electrical Services Ltd.
Mr. Electric.
Muddy York Electric. Munger. Murray Electric Cont. Ltd. Musashi. Musico Electric Ltd. Multitech Trades Corp. Multitap Electrical Services. MPRO Electrical MWS Solutions. MVJ Electric. MVP Electric. MXX Electrical. Mykon Electric.
Nadir Electric.
National Steel Car. National Oilwell Varco. Naylor Group Inc. NewLine Electrical Services Net Electric. New Rubber Technologies Canada. New Electric. Nabors. Narlee Electric. Nathan Electric.
New 5 electrical inc.
Niagara Electric. Nicholson Electrical Services Nola Electric. Nord Electric. Northern Telecom. North America Construction. Northfield Electric. Northern Transformer Corp. North Country Electric Inc. Novin Electrical. North Country Electric. North Star Electric. North Wind Solutions Nortown Electrical Contractors Ltd. Nortex Electric NSW Electric Contractors. Nuforce & Security Co. Ltd. Nexus Electric. Oconnor Electric. OEC Canada Inc. O\’Brien LS. Ohmax Electrical Incoporated. Okey Lamp. Olkamar Electric. Omega Electric. On and Off Electric. Ontario Electrical Construction. Ontario Electric.
Ontario Power
ONR Ontario Northland Rail Orangeville Fire Equipment Orion Electric Ltd. Orlick Industries Ltd. Ontario Power Generation (OPG) Optimal Power Solutions Ltd. Outback Electric. OZZ Electric Inc. Onyx-Fire. Optimum Electric
Opus Mechanical.
Panson Electric. Parmalot Patrick Sparck Electric. Paynel Electrical Contractors. Parkers Tea & Coffee Ltd. Peace River Coal ( Anglo American ). Pearson Electrotechnology Centre-Montreal. Pepsi. Perfect Renovations Group. PCL Construction. PCL energy. PCS electric. PG. Pch Electrical PHE P.N.P Electric Panson Electric Service Ltd. Particular Electric.
Phasecorp Electric Ltd.
Phazer Electric. Phase 1 Electric. Phase4electric Pine Valley Electric. Pivot Systems Alberta. Pivot Systems Mississauga. PHEONIX ELECTRIC LTD. PLA Automation
Plan Group. Platinum Electrical Contractors. Platinum Electrical – Industrial
Plaza Electric. PNP Electric. Poirier Electric. Polar Pak Inc.
Polycon Electric. POS Electric Ltd. Potash Corp. Power Works Electrical Services.
Power Op. PPG
Practical Electric Contracting Inc. Precise Parklink Inc.
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