In general, the lower the ballast factor, the less wattage your system will draw. In the automotive world, the ballast factor might be similar to comparing the size of three different four-cylinder engines. In general, a small engine will give you the most fuel efficiency and the least power.
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How does ballast factor affect wattage?
In general, the lower the ballast factor, the less wattage your system will draw. In the automotive world, the ballast factor might be similar to comparing the size of three different four-cylinder engines. In general, a small engine will give you the most fuel efficiency and the least power.
How can you tell if a ballast is electronic or magnetic?
Method One – Use your smart phone camera. 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.
Can you replace a T12 ballast with a T8 ballast?
The easiest and lowest price option to replace a T12 is a T8 linear fluorescent. They have become the go-to option for pre-existing T12s. If you still have magnetic ballasts, switching to a T8 will require a ballast swap. Another option is to move forward with an LED retrofit.
What is the difference between rapid start and instant start ballast?
Rapid start ballasts appear to have a slight turn-on delay compared to the instant start. They will typically not be able to start lamps reliably under 50 degrees F.
What is normal ballast factor?
A ballast factor is a number, typically between 0.70 and 1.2, that tells you how much light a lamp will emit with that ballast.
Can you use LED bulbs with a ballast?
Since plug and play LEDs are compatible with ballasts, you can simply remove a fluorescent bulb and replace it with an LED. Since no additional modification or wiring is required, it’s as easy as replacing incandescent bulbs with LED bulbs in your home.
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.
Can I replace a magnetic ballast with an electronic one?
Fortunately, compatibility isn’t really an issue, as most electronic ballasts have been designed to replace existing magnetic ballasts. A preferable electronic ballast is the T8 model. This option has several advantages over the T10 and T12, including improved lighting efficiency.
What’s the difference between T8 and T12 ballast?
The main difference between T8 and T12 tubes is the tube’s diameter. T12 tubes are 1.5″ in diameter while T8s are just one inch. All other things—socket sizes, lengths, distance between pins—are the same. T8 LED tubes won’t fall out if you try to install them in a T12 fixture—they’ll fit just fine.