![]() There are also some hybrid ballasts that use magnetic ballast components while being run by some electronics for increased efficiency.ĭespite the fact that electronic ballasts are a newer, more efficient technology, magnetic ballasts still offer an important benefit: they work well in cold temperatures. They regulate energy more efficiently than magnetic ballasts and therefore run lights at a lower cost. (See the video below.)Įlectronic ballasts (for either fluorescent or HID lamps) are a newer technology, and they're replacing magnetic ballasts in many settings. Magnetic ballasts for HID lamps include core and coil ballasts and F-can ballasts. Core and coil are extremely popular for their low cost, long life, and versatility, but they are also noisy so for indoor applications - especially in quiet environments - you would typically want an F-can ballast or an upgrade to an electronic HID ballast. ![]() The frequent hum and flickering of fluorescent lights in the past was due to magnetic ballasts modulating current at a lower cycle rate. Magnetic ballasts are an older technology, and they're no longer manufactured for fluorescent lights (due to legislation), though they are for HID lamps like metal halides and high pressure sodium bulbs. There are two main types of ballast technology: electromagnetic (commonly just called “magnetic”) and electronic. Since they do not have a filament to resist or regulate this electricity, the ballast does this work. All of these require lighting ballasts. Without going into detail about how these lamps work, each is filled with gases that become excited and emit photons (which we perceive as light) when charged by electricity. This leaves us with gas discharge lamps, including fluorescent, metal halide, high pressure sodium, low pressure sodium, and mercury vapor lamps. LED lights also do NOT need ballasts, but use a different kind of electrical regulator called a driver. ![]() The vast majority of energy goes toward producing heat rather than light. Of course it requires a lot of heat to cause a bright enough glow to light up a room, and this is why incandescent bulbs are so inefficient. This resistance is what causes the filament to "incandesce," or glow from the heat. This is because the electricity flows through a filament that resists or effectively regulates the flow. Incandescent light bulbs - including halogen lamps - do NOT require ballasts.
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