What voltage is a fluorescent ballast?

Asked by: Jodi Jones

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).

What is the output voltage on a light ballast?

Specifications

What is the voltage of a fluorescent tube?

“Fluorescent tubes and electroluminescent panels typically require 200 to 600 V for starting and running illumination.” A fluorescent light is a type of gas discharge tube, which contains an inert gas (such as argon, neon, or krypton) and mercury vapor.

What voltage are T8 ballast put out?

These ballasts deliver >550 open circuit volts when starting lamps and operate lamps at high frequencies which offers flicker-free operation and better lamp efficiencies.

What is ballast voltage?

Traditionally, ballasts are designed to operate a specific number (usually one to four) and type of lamp (such as a four-foot T8 lamp) at a specific voltage (in North America either 120, 277, or 347 volts).

How do you check voltage on a ballast?

Test the ballast’s voltage with a multimeter. Attach the multimeter’s leads to the sockets at the ends of the ballast. If the reading is not between five and nine volts, replace the ballast. Adjust the multimeter to measure frequency and replace the ballast if the reading is not between 20 and 50 kilohertz.

How much power does a fluorescent ballast use?

They consume eight to 10 watts when operating with the lamp in the circuit. The ballast will consume about four watts when the lamps are removed although the ballast is still energized. Electronic ballasts start and regulate fluorescent lamps with the use of electronic components.

How do you check a ballast with a digital multimeter?

To measure it, set your digital multimeter to around a thousand ohms resistance setting. Connect the black leads to the white ground wire on your ballast. Afterward, test every other wire with the red lead. When you do this test, a good ballast will return an “open-loop” or max resistance.

What is the voltage required to keep a fluorescent tube operational?

Fluorescent starters are a timed switch and it provides ignition voltage to the fluorescent lamp. The ignition voltage is as high as 1000 V to initiate a discharge in the argon gas lying between electrodes. The switch opens and closes until the fluorescent tube ‘strikes’ and lights-up.

Are fluorescent tubes AC or DC?

Fluorescent tubes are almost always powered with AC, but this circuit uses DC. Basically, this circuit is a voltage doubler composed by two 1N4007 diodes and two high voltage electrolytic capacitors of 10 μF 350 V. Such capacitors can be easily salvaged from compact fluorescent lamps.

How do you test a fluorescent light ballast?

Your other test lead to the wires. And see if your meter still reads open line it should read open line open line if you have an analog meter it should not move.

What is the output voltage of a metal halide ballast?

120-277V

Most metal halide ballasts operate on 120-277V.

Are all fluorescent ballasts the same?

And there are two types of ballasts in each family: magnetic and electronic. Magnetic ballasts are the older ballast technology. For the fluorescent family, both T12 linear fluorescents and two-pin CFLs use magnetic ballasts. For HIDs, some metal halides and HPS lamps use magnetic ballasts.

How do you determine the wattage of a ballast?

There’s also a common way to estimate the system wattage of a fluorescent fixture if you don’t have a ballast catalog handy: multiply the lamp wattage by the number of lamps and the ballast factor.

How do I know if I have a T8 or T12 ballast?

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.

Is my ballast magnetic or electronic?

Stand under the light or a place close to the light and point your cell phone camera at the light. If you can see some strong dark strips flickering in your camera, it must be a magnetic ballast based light. Otherwise it should be an electronic ballast based light.

How do I bypass the ballast on a fluorescent light fixture?

How to Bypass A Ballast

1. Step 1: Disconnect All Power So There is No Electrical Current. …
2. Step 2: Find the Ballast. …
3. Step 3: Locate and Cut Only the Hot and Neutral Wires. …
4. Step 4: Cut the Socket Lead Wires. …
5. Step 5: Remove the Ballast (if you wish) …
6. Step 6: Connect the Wires. …
7. Step 7: Reattach Any Coverings and Turn On.

What is the difference between an electronic ballast and a magnetic ballast?

Magnetic ballasts work at a frequency of around 60 Hz, whereas electronic ballasts work at an increased frequency of around 20,000 Hz. This is why fluorescent lamps using electronic ballasts do not flicker or emit any buzzing sounds. Electronic ballasts are also quite smaller in size and weight.

How do you switch from a magnetic ballast to an electronic ballast?

How to Switch From a Magnetic Ballast to an Electronic Ballast

1. Turn off the breaker for the circuit governing the fluorescent light. …
2. Place a stepladder beneath the light fixture, if necessary. …
3. Remove the wire nuts from the black and white wires connecting the ballast to the electrical circuit.

Can a fluorescent ballast shock you?

UL said in a release that its recent testing confirmed that luminaires with magnetic ballasts intended for F40T12 fluorescent lamps may pose a risk of electric shock during installation of LED lamps intended for direct substitution of a fluorescent lamp while the circuit is energized.

What happens if you wire a ballast wrong?

If a ballast fails, it can cause a short, burn out tubes or even cause a fire, so it must be replaced. Lights that don’t turn on, fluorescent tubes blackened near their ends, and brown, burnt tube electrodes are all indicators that a ballast is bad.

What do I do with the yellow wires on a ballast?

The common yellow wires connect from the ballast to push-in connectors on one of the right holders of lamp 1 or 2. Two yellow wires connect the common lampholders together.

Which wire is hot on a ballast?

Generally, the hot wire on the ballast is black, and the neutral is white. The other colors are the wires that connect the ballast to the fluorescent tube holders and to each other.

What gauge is ballast wire?

18 AWG

Ballast wires are 18 AWG. Use a blue wire connector for up to four 18 AWG wire connections. Use orange wire connector for more than four 18 AWG wire connections. Light fixtures from the factory are wired with the ballast wires connected directly to the lampholders.

How is a ballast wired?

Individual wires of one ballast connect to the one side of the fixture, individual wires from the other ballast connect to the other side of the fixture. The common wires of each ballast are connected to the other side of the fixture from each of the individual wires.

How many wires does a ballast have?

Wires on the Replacement Ballast / Transformer



The replacement ballast provides 5 wires: black, white, blue, blue (equivalent) and red. Incoming electrical power at the fixture connects to the line BLACK and WHITE wires shown on the diagram.

What is inside a fluorescent light ballast?

That I took all the tar out of because ballasts are filled with tar. To make them run quieter. And also to help dissipate heat and this model is to run 2 4 foot 40 watt lamps.