How do I know what ballast I need?
You can determine whether you have a compatible fixture in seconds. Simply turn the light on, then take a photo of the fixture using your smartphone or digital camera. If there are no dark bands on the resulting image, you have an electronic ballast that will work with direct drop-in LED tubes.
Are all light 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. Today, most fluorescent and HID lamps operate off an electronic ballast.
How do I know if my ballast is T8 or T12?
You will see either T8 or T12 stamped on one side near the end with the prongs. You also will see the lamp’s rated wattage, usually 32 watts for T8 and 40 watts for T12. Measure the diameter of the lamp. T12 lamps are larger than T8 lamps, with a 1 ½-inch diameter.
What happens if you put a T12 bulb in a T8 fixture?
If you place T12 tubes in a fixture with a T8 ballast, you will wear out the ballast and have to replace it. If you place T8 tubes in a fixture with a T12 ballast, then the tubes will have a shorter life due to a higher current through the tube.
Do you need a ballast for LED lights?
Due to the low power draw, LED lights don’t require a ballast per se – but if you’re looking to swap out your existing fluorescent or HID lamps to take advantage of LED technology, it’s likely you’ll want to insert LED lamps directly into the existing fittings.
How are electronic ballasts used for fluorescent lights?
Electronic ballasts Using more sophisticated circuitry and components, ballasts can control the current running through fluorescent lights with greater precision.
What happens when a light comes on with a ballast?
Because it’s only a gentle current, the light will glow quite dimly at first. But as the ballast continues to push current through the filaments, the gas gets hotter and more charged and the light brightens as a result. If your light comes on immediately but takes a few seconds to get fully bright, it has a rapid-start ballast.
How can I tell if my fluorescent light ballast is faulty?
Look at for these signs indicating that it’s your ballast: You can find out whether the issue is with the ballast, starter or the lamp with our guide – Easy Fixes for Slow to Start, Flickering or Faulty Fluorescent Tubes. In order to ensure that the issue is with the ballast, you will want to test it with a multimeter.
Because it’s only a gentle current, the light will glow quite dimly at first. But as the ballast continues to push current through the filaments, the gas gets hotter and more charged and the light brightens as a result. If your light comes on immediately but takes a few seconds to get fully bright, it has a rapid-start ballast.
Electronic ballasts Using more sophisticated circuitry and components, ballasts can control the current running through fluorescent lights with greater precision.
When to check your ballast for light bulbs?
But there is a good chance your ballast could be the cause of your lighting woes if your lights are dim, buzzing, changing colors, or flickering rapidly. You should check all parts of the fixture, including the bulbs.
Can a dimming ballast be used with a rapid start ballast?
Dimmable ballast. A dimmable ballast is very similar to a rapid start ballast, but usually has a capacitor incorporated to give a power factor nearer to unity than a standard rapid start ballast. A quadrac type light dimmer can be used with a dimming ballast, which maintains the heating current while allowing lamp current to be controlled.