What Is a Lamp Ballast?

Fluorescent lamps, HID (high intensity discharge) light bulbs and other gas discharge types of lighting use a ballast to regulate the flow of current, ensuring they are not overheated or burned out.

The most common job of a ballast is to provide a boost of electrical power to lamps during their switch-on phase, so they can jump-start their electrodes into an arc, completing it between the two ends of the lamp and giving you the light you need. If the bulb couldn’t get this initial electrical boost, it would be unable to light up, and would quickly fail.

A ballast also works to regulate the amount of electricity that lamps continue to draw from mains power after they’re switched on, so they don’t keep pulling as much from the wall for long periods of time. If they did, they would quickly burn out or shatter.

Electronic ballasts are more energy efficient and less likely to overheat than magnetic ballasts, which are the type most commonly used in fluorescent lights. They also tend to be quieter and faster to switch than magnetic ballasts, resulting in reduced noise levels for your fixtures and improved light quality.

They also operate at a higher frequency than electromagnetic ballasts, which helps to eliminate the flickering effect and contribute to energy conservation efforts across the country. In addition, electronic ballasts are more stable in their operation and will last longer than their magnetic counterparts.

Dimming ballasts are special ballasts that, when used together with a dimmer, vary the light output of a lamp. They can be a great option when you need to meet Title 24 compliance requirements on ballast-dependent lighting systems, or just want to save some money by turning half your light bulbs off without leaving a room completely dark.

These types of ballasts also give you the option to adjust light output according to your surroundings. Some models can be programmed to turn off half your lights automatically when the room is empty or during specific hours of the day.

The more dimmable your ballast, the lower its light output will be, which can help you to comply with more stringent power reduction codes and energy efficiency requirements. This can be a particularly effective solution for meeting requirements imposed on high-use areas such as offices or public spaces.

A common application for dimmable ballast is in commercial applications where you need to control the light output of multiple lamps within a single fixture. These are usually more budget-friendly and installation-friendly options for a smaller space, and are ideal for situations where you need to reduce lighting costs while still keeping the room well lit during the daytime.

If you’re looking to install a dimmable ballast in a multi-lamp fixture, it’s important to choose a model that’s compatible with your existing controls. Some models allow you to control the output of all your lamps at once, while others offer a separate dimmable setting for each individual lamp.