Fluorescent Light Ballast Output Voltage

Though this makes them energy efficient it also shortens their life as the surge of voltage every time they re switched on damages them over time.

Fluorescent light ballast output voltage.

Rather than pre heat the electrodes the ballast uses a high voltage boost around 600 volts to heat and light the filaments and then the mercury gas. Providing the proper voltage to establish an arc between the two electrodes. Some are rated for only 120 volts others for only 277 volts used in commercial environments. Regulating the electric current flowing through the lamp to stabilize light output.

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. Commercial cfls use a separate ballast. Cfls for the home have a built in ballast at the base of the bulb. Newer fluorescent ballasts are usually rated for both 120 volts and 277 volts.

The amount of illumination in the fluorescent bulb is controlled by a ballast that is connected to the fixture. The flicker index used for measuring perceptible light modulation has a range from 0 00 to 1 00 with 0 indicating the lowest possibility of flickering and 1 indicating the highest. If your fluorescent fixture is not working properly use a multimeter also called a volt ohm meter to check the fixture s voltage to determine if the problem is the ballast or another component. In all fluorescent lighting systems the ballast s basic tasks include.

It is not a fluorescent tube that is voltage rated it is a ballast that is used to raise the secondary voltage to fire the tube.