There's

more to

GE lighting
than meets

the eye.

BALLASTS FOR
H D LAMPS

General Electric

EALLASTS

FOR HIGH INTENSITY

DISCffi

High lntensity Discharge lamps are those which have a gaseous discharge arc tube, operating
at pressures and current densities sufficient to generate desired quantities of visibJe radiaiion
within their arcs alone These lamp types have become popu ar primarily for three reasons:

1. High Eff iciency more lumens per watt of power consumed.

2. Compact source permits good light control by use of reflectors and refractors.
3. Long lanrp life and good lumen maintenance - Reduces operat ng expenses.
The three principal HID lamp types now rn common use are mercury, metal halide, and high
pressu re sod iu m (Lucalox").
The relative efficiencies in producing ight are between 38 and 57 lurnens per watt for mercury,

between 80 and 100 for metal ha ide, and between B0 and 140 for high pressure sodium.

The best incandescent lamps produce only about 20 lumens per watt.
WHAT AND WHY A BALLAST

These HID lamps have sornething else in common they all have a negative resistance cl]aracteristic. which means they must have an external device to iimit the current when voltage is
applied to them, or else they will be quickly destroyed. A ballast is the device used to lin,it

this current.

ln addltion the ballast provides suff cient voltage to start the amp and operate it in a stable
manner. ln all cases the ballast serves to match the votage required for the larf p to the avarlab e line voltage. This is done by a transforrner which s an integral part of the ballast

LAMP ELECTRICAL CHARACTERISTICS

Several lamp electrical characteristics have an irnportant effect on ballasting, and should be

understood before discLrssing the

baL ast

types

STARTING VOLTAGE
Mercury and rnetal hal de lamps have spec al starting elecirodes which perm t them to start at relative y
ow vo talles The design of the Luca ox lamp does
not permii the use of a starting e ectrode so a specia
slarting device is required to deliver nterraittent
puses of 2500 volts oT moTe lo onrze the gases n
the arc tube and start the arc.
When mercury and meta ha ide larnps are started
at ow temperatures ess vaporized mercury s avail-

i\

st

onizat on A higher
startrng vo iage than that used for start ng at higher
temperatuTes s required For exarape, a 400 watt
mercLrry lamp requires 225 volts to start rellably at
20oF whereas 190 volts s sulf cient for slart ng at
f50oF Theba astmustprovideth sminirl-lumstarting
voltaqe throuqhout ts ranqe oi line volis. The ba last
narneplaies or lterature will usua y indrcate the min
rmum lemperature for realible starting atthe min mum
I ne voltage for wh ch the ba ast is recoaamended
Light ng Systems Department bal asts for raost

able n the arc tube to

ass

app ications wil provide stariing down

(-40o F for Lucaloxl.

to

20o

STARTING CU RR ENT
Thrs is the cuTrent ava able to the lamp dur ng the
frsi haf minute or so of warm-uo. lf ihe current s
too low. the laTnp may never warm up lt the current
is too h gh, the lamp lfe wl be shortened
LAIMP OPERATING VOLTAGE

For mercury and metal-hal de amps. the Lamp operating vo tage is a most constant throughout I fe. Due

Res ste.e.l Trademark oi Genera

Ee.tfl.Company

to rnanLrfacturingto eTances, however indrv dLral

lamps may have some variation in operat ng voltage

For examp e, the 400 watt mercury lamp has a nominal operatrng voltage of 135 volts but the vo iage oJ

of araps rnay vary from T25 volts to 145

volts Depend ng on the ba ast type. lamp wattage
may vary consideraby with the amp votage. The
operatrng voltage of a HPS amp continues to increase throughout the ife of the lamp. and the ba last
a group

must be careful y designed lo m n m ze the change rn

amp watts as the voltage changes. For example, the
400 watt HPS amp has a nom na range of 90 to

115 vots and increases to 140 volts at end of lfe

LAMP OPEBATING WATTS

A mercury or n]eta hal de amp w ll operate at its

nom

na wattage only if the amp votage and line

votage s nominal Theoretcal y, the tota effect of

these variables can cause the lamp waiis to vary as
much as i20% from nominal. However. due to the
statist cal distribution ol these var ab es over 99% of
a arge group will vary no more than
110% from norn na H gh pressure sod um amps can

the lamps n

vary as much as 120% since the amp votage

creases throLrghout the I fe of

the

in

amp.

LAMP CUBBENT CREST FACTOR

Crest Factor s the ratio of peak to RMS va Lre of

the lamp operatlng current. The lamp standards al ow
a maximurn crest factor of 2.0 for mercury amps
and 1 B for r.etal halide and Lucalox lamps Too htgh
a crest lactor wil accelerate lLrmen depreciation

GEItIERAt@^ITECTBIC

HIGH PRESSURE SODIUM SYSTEMS

The high pressure sodium or Lucalox lamp, both in physical appearance and operaiing
characteristics, is considerably different from the other HID lamp types. Larger, and
generally more costly, ballasts are required for this lamp.
Two characteristics of the Lucalox lamp account for the principal diflerence in ballast
requirements. The voltage required to start the lamp is much greater than that required
for other HID types, necessitating an auxiliary starting circuit which supplies a high
voltage pulse of 2500 volts peak or greater. Also, the lamp voltage increases with age
over a wide range, and the ballast must control the lamp watts within a specitic range
over the range of lamp voltage - the trapezoid.
The trapezoid is specif ied by the lamp manufacturers. The end of lam p life usually occurs
when the lamp voltage increases to the lamp dropoui point, at which time the lamp will
cycle on and off at regular intervals.
HIGH PRESSURE SODIUM BALLAST TYPES
STEADILUX ft' BALLAST

The Steadilux ballast is a hybrid des gn wh ch comb nes a conventional core

and coil and capacitor with an electronic control The electronically regulated
bal ast uses sol d state components and ncorporates a feedback loop wh ch
rneasures lamp volts and larnp current The contro c rcuit rnonitcrs the data
and controls the amp watts at pre_determined levels depending on the input
data. The Steadilux ba ast achieves 11% regu at on of lamp watts for 410%
ne voltaqe varlation.
BEGULATOR BALLAST
A r. ag netic reg Lr lator ballast is available for 70, 100 150, 200, 250, 310 and 400
watt Lucalox lamps which noi only compensates for the change n lamp voltage,
but corrects for variations in ne voltage The ballast s the equ valent of a
voltage regulating translormer supp ylng the amp through a reactor, w th all
the elements combined on a single core and coil
It shou d be noted how much more closely the lamp watls are contro led by th s
ballast, co mpared to the reactor

or

auio-reg ulator NocornparisonwthSteadi ux.

AUTO.REGULATOR BALLAST
This balLast s s m lar to the mercury auto_regulator, but has spec al core s ots
leakage reactance and starting aid to provide the necessary operational char
acter stics unique to the Lucalox lamp.

Theauto-regulatorbaliastmaybeoperatedonlneswithll0%voltagevariation,
but amp wattage regu ation and power factor gets worse as the lamp ages
Th s type of ba ast s ava lable for 200, 250 and '1000 watt Lucalox ar.ps for
allstandard voltaees
REACTOB BALLAST

The reacior bal ast can be des gned to g ve satisfactory performance w th the
Lucalox lamp. Useo with appropr ate starting aids and open circu t voltage, it
will g ive reasonab y co nslant wattage to th e Lu calox an'rp over the spec fied
range of operatrng lamp volts. Su tab e for 15% I ne voltage variations on y.
The 50, 70 T00 and 150 watt reaciors are suitable for operation directlv on
120 vot systern The 200, 250,310 and 400 watt reactors are suitable for
operation directly on 208 or 240 vo I system, but can be suppl ed with a su tab e
arrto lransformer lor use on 120. 277 and 480 voit lines The l000wattreactor
s furn shed for use on 480 vo t I ne only
LAG BALLAST

The lag balLast has the same operating characterstics as the reactor ballast
since the lag is simpy a reacior-auto transformer comblnation wound on a
common core Suitable for a5% ine voltage variation only.
This type of baLlast is available for 50, 70, 100 and 150 watt Lucalox amps on 240
and 277 vo t systerl1s for 200 and 250 watt Lucalox lamps on 1 20 volt systems

r"'Tr.demark of General

ectrrc ComDanv

MERCURY SYSTEMS
The mercury lamp is the easiest of the HID lamps to ballast because of its inherent
stability. The lamp voltage changes very little,<3%, through tife.

rvrencunv BALLAST TypEs

BEGU LATOR BALLAST (CW]

The regulator ba ast has primary and secondary windings electrica ly iso ated from each other and current

limting is provided by a capacitor in series with the lar.p The capacitor makes it a ead crcuit rather
than a ag circu t. ln some des gns a separate peaking capacitor may be used to ncrease the open
circuit vo tage for low temperature stariing The ballast is so designed that the seconclary portion of the
core operates n magnet c saiurat on. The secondary current remarns essent ally constant over a w de Tange
of pr rnary voltage variat ons, prov d ng excellent regulation of lhe lamp waltage.
Any llne voltage can be accommodated w th th s design. Duai votageratingsareavailable,suchasl20x24O.
or 240 x 480, w th the pr mary coils connected in parallel or in series
Excellent regulation for change in I ne voltage is prov ded by this bal ast Line voltage changes oi :!13% wi I
cause only r:2 or 3% change in lamp watts The power factor usually about 95%, is inherenfly good ancl
the line curreni during starting is always ess than it rs dLlring operation L ne voltage d ps are no problem
with ihis ballast since it will to erate dips of about 50% for at teast 4 seconds duration.

Thechiefvirtueofthereguatorballastisitseaseofappl

--*F

caton.licanbe nstalledonanycircuitwthmnmLtm

concern for line voltage variation, votage d ps, ground ng or fus ng, and

-E[g---l,

wt

provide good perforrnance

UTO.R EGULATOR BALLAST (CWA)

The auto regulator bal ast cornbines an autotransjormer with the regulator c rcuit By using a pori on of
the primary windrng common with the secondary, ts size is reduced. Snce ony the secondary winding

contr butes to good regulat on the degree of regulaiton depends on ihe amount of primary voltage coup ed
rnto the secondary.
The auto-regulator provides lower cost, sjze, and weight than the regulator and its osses are somewhat
lower lts regulation rs ,/ery good though sornewhat ess than ihe regulator usually about t5% change
in lamp watts for 110% change in line volts. lt enjoys the other ree'ulator advanlages, ncluding good power
factor low line starttng current and good tolerance to ltne vo tage d ps.
A disadvantage of the auto regulator compared to the regulator bal ast is ts lack of isolation between
ts primary and secondary wind nq.

BEACTOR BALLAST

The simplest practcal bal ast is the reactor

lt s simply an rnductive choke coil in series wtth the lamp,

ine of suitable voltage S nce this c rcuit is hiejh V nductive, a low I ne oower
iactor of approxianately 509; s obtained The power factor may be correctecl w th an across,lhe ine caoacitor
n ts favor. the reactor ba ast is ow tn cost and has low losses, and is cornparatively sma I and ight.
t inherenily provrdes good reguaton of larnp watts wth variatons n lamp vots about 3% change in
lamp watts with 11% change n larnp vots lt has a very ow crest factor of about 1.4 and provicjes high
operaied directly from

starting curreft to the larnp for fast warra-ull.

There are disadvantages to the Teactor. howeveT lt has a low power factor Llnl(]ss correcled by an expensive capacitor Lamp watts vary 110% with 157; change n line vots tcan onybe used on ine voltages
whrch prov de reliable startrng and amp stability
thrs s usirally 240 volts or 277 volts for the lower
wattage amps and 480 volts for the higher wattage.- The ine cLtrrent is hrgher for start ng than operat ng.
\,'/hich mLlst be taken into account when installlng fus ng or circurt breakers Th s ba last will to erate line
voltage dips of ony about 15%, and may be as srnall as 107; for high voltage lamps For reasons of both
cold weather starl ng and regu ation its use s irniied to ines where 15% I ne voltage is mainta ned
n spite of its drawbacks the reactor ba ast propery appl ed can make a good, rellable, low cost llgh|ng
instal ation

LAG BALLAST (HIGH REACTANCE)

The lag ballast, tn efiect conssts of an aLrtotransformer plus a reactor combined on a single structLtre.
This ballast gives perforrnance s raiar to the reactor but with the capabi ity of operation on other I ne

voltages
Like the reactor

the ag ba ast has an nherent low power factor but rnay be corrected by us ng a capacitor operating on an extended higher votage windng to save capacrtor costs. Ths ballast is seldom
made today for high power Jactor operation since ts add tional cost puts it n a price c ass with ballasts having

better perforrnance. lts chief application is for operation on 120 volt c rcurts w lh no power factor coTrect on
required
The lag ba ast ava lable at 120 vo ts has about the same virtues and drawbacks as the reactor ballast. lt is
necessar ly larger in size than the reactor. and consequent y is sontewhat cosilier and has higher losses.

0000000i1

METAL HALIDE SYSTEMS

The metal halide lamps bear a strong family resemblance to mercury lamps, and their
electrical characteristics (operating volts and amps) closely parallel those of the equivalent ratings of mercury lamps. The arc tubes of ihese lamps contain' in addition to
mercury, aertain metallic additives, usually halide compounds of the iodide family, which
give the lamp its unusually high lumen eificiency and color characte ristics. However,
these metallic addjtives, due to the nature of their ionization phenomena, have two
signiticant effects on the ballast requirements. First, a h ig her ballast open circuit voltage
is needed to start the arc at a specified temperature. Second, during the warm-up
cycle, a period of low conduction characteristics of the arc plasma occurs, and the
reigniiion voltage requirements needed to reestablish the arc each half cycle exceed
the sustainjng voltage normally available from a standard mercury ballasi When a
mercury ballast is used with a metal halide lamp, this condition exists and the arc
will be extinguished, ihe lamp will cool and restart, and continue to repeat this cycle.
This condition worsens as the lamp ages and even though a mercury ballast may operate
a new Iamp satisfactorily, trouble usually starts after a few thousand hours of operation.
To overcome these deficiencies, a spec ial ballast type has been developed for the metalhalide lamp. This ballast is referred to as a "lead-peaked" or "peak-lead" ballast

METAL HALIDE BALLAST TYPES

AUTO-REGULATOR (PEAK LEAD) BALLAST
Theelecircal crcuitof thsbatastisidentica to the me rc Lr ry auto-reg u lator. The big d iffere nce is the mag netic
circuit of the peak lead A portion of the core uncler the secondary w nding contains one oT Tnore arge

slots, provid ng a loca ized restrlction and saturat on. This core slot produces a h ghly peaked wave shape
of open c rcu t voltage corapared to the usua s ne wave ocv oi a mercury ballast. lt s imporlant to note
that a mercury ballasawith a peak ng capacttor, even though it also prov des a peaked OCV wili not work with
ameta halidetamp The peaked voltage d isappears as soon as th e lam p fires and the prese nce of the capac itor
connected across the lamp aggravates the arc instability on warm-up and cycllng resu ts
The stot in the meial halide ballasi prov des a high vo tage peak lor start ng the lamp. lt reduces the RMS
value ol the open circuit voltage which essens the physical volt-ampere size of the ballast. lt provides a
h gher susta ning vottage to the lamp so that it w I ride-through the warm Llp onizat on deficiency without
ext ngu shing the lamp ltreducesthe oif-time olthelampstartngcurrent,theperioddurngthecurrentwave
shap6 wherJthe current dwells near zero for an appreciable part of each half-cyc e thereby iurther irnproving
the lamp siability. F na y, it prov des the lower crest factor requ red by the lamp for ong ife
The rnetal hal de bal ast usua ly provicles regu ation somewhere between an auto regulator bal ast and a ag
or reactor bat ast. For a 110% I ne vo tage change. the lamp watts wiLl vary about a10%. This bal asi exhibits
most of ihe other advanlages of the auto-regulator bal ast: high power factor, low line start ng current, and
good to erance to ine voltage diP.

LIGHTING SYS TEMS CHARACTERISTICS

HID BALLAST CHAFACTERISTICS

.Line Current - on some ba ast types the ine cLlrrent as the amp

starts is less than the final oJeratlng current, so that fuses and circuii
breaker ratings can be based strlci y on the operating currentvalues
For other ballasts, the llne starting curTent may be cons derabJy
higher than the flnal operat ng value, so fuses, circu t breakers,
and P.E contro sw tches must be sized to accommodate this higher

.Power Factor - to be classed as high power factor a bal ast rnust

have a power factor of at least 90% Anything less is considered
Norrnal Power Factor" or "Low Power

Factor

Mlost ballasts which

are norrna power factor are down around 50% This rneans that a
norma power factor ballast has alrnost twice the line current as a
high power factor ballast, and makes less effic ent Llse ol the dis
tributon systern This requ res larger wire sizes, arger switches
c rcu t breakers and d slribut on transformers tor the equ va ent
connecled load

.Line voltage Regulation - this is the change n lamp watis due to

line voltage variation Consideraton should be given to the varia-

tion n lne voltage to be expected on a paricu ar system where

H D amps w lbe applied to nsure that the regulating capabil tv
of the ba ast is matched to the regulation of the power system
A majorty of modern power distrtbution systems aTe required to
operate between a5% of nomina ine voltage, although systems

ly encountered wh ch may vary as much as 10% or

rnore fTom noraina . Recent power shortages have occas oned
brown-outs in sorne aTeas, wh ch cou d create a lamp starting
problem with those ballasts des gned for 15?i operation n anv
case the expected regulation of the power system lne votage
s an mportant cons deration n ballast se ection
aTe occas ona

.Extinction Voltage (Dip Tolerance) a power systems are subject

to dips n the I ne vo taqe as loads are switched in and out' or as
other transient condiions occLlr A good, stiff, well-requlated distribution c rcLrit will se dom see voltage d ps of rnore than 10%, but
on some circu ts, d ps of 20 30% may be encountered occasionally

f the ballast ls not

capable

of rding through

the voltage dip

and susta ning the lamp, the amp will exiingu sh and recycle

GENERAL ELECTRIC BALLAST CIRCUITS AND OPERATING CHABACTERISTICS

Staninq

Dip.

107"

Med um

1617

High

17

10-35%

N/ed iu m

1618

Hlgher

1A-zo)a

Low

1 4-1 5

Higher

1O 2A%

Med iu m

92 99%

50-60%

H sh

18-20

90-95%

40 5A%

Med ir m

1A-20

H gher

1A-2O%

Low

1 4-1 .5

her

1O 2A%

Med iu rn

141s

4A-50%

H gh

27.

60-85%

H gher

30 45%

14-187.

s9-90%

Lower

40-50

30-35%

99-65%

Lower

Voltage

EGI J LATOR
%

Vo tage

AUTO-REGULATOR

110%

L
Voltage

c
A

REACTOR

120 Volt

90%

for

HPF

35 150 Watt

208 & 240volt

for

25%
41%

200-400 Watt

480 Voli
for
1OO0 Watt

LAG

24O & 277 Va

90%

50 150 Wati

HPF
25%

120 Volt
200 & 250 Wati

14-t

47%

REGU LATOR

"1,

It
r!

Any

.t 13%

Vo tage

AUTO-REGULATOR

ti0%
M

10%

Voitage

E
R

244 & 277 Voll

for

REACTOR

c
U

90%

HPF

.i99 i.99.Yi'l

2A%

480 Volt
for

40-50%
NPF

700 & 1000 Watt

120 Volt

MH

EA
TL
AI
LD
E

AUTO

R EG U

00 400 Watt

!5L

2A%

40-50

-10%

2A%

90-95%

H ig

LATOR

Vo taqe

16-1

BALLAST
ELECTRICAL DATA
(Approximate See noie)
NOTE S

Typicalvalues when operatinq a nominal lamp oi the type shown:

/cr
-eis

LUCALOX BALLAST aequlator Tvpe (CW)

Fleactor Tvoe lNormal Power Fact

LU

10c)0

LU 310

310

480
204

48

204
24A
204

244
2TT

100

66

37

337

50

30
31
30

27a

120

22

244
277

12

16

204

LU 70

120
204

16

2TT

12

t1

244
4AO

120
2aa

12
a

277

:16

436

2Aa

1c)62

480

241

274
224
117
127

34

39
39

4A

32

4a

45

92
93
58
66
66
66

20
17

132

l5
36
37
37
3:l

o
1a 2A

2A

15

t3
tl
t5

11
34

36

10
a

TA

lorl tHiqh Reaclance

39

250

2.]a
LU-150

226
214

150

147

210

LUCALOX BALLAST

_
20a
24A
277

4i30

LU 250

120
2AA

244

2TT

4ao
124
204
24A
277

99
58
50

70

106

277
244

I
I

129

t2a

r5 20

Norhal Power Faclorl aHioh Rea.Ian.e

32

2A

r6

25
29

26
30+

12

t5

12

t1

.10 50

21

12

11

6
6
3

12

to

LU

]50

150

LU

IOO

100

LU 70

277
60

2TT

19
6

26
23

187

ra9

t2a

127

70

15 20

31

34
33

LU

LU-1000
LU 4OO

480
400
244
2TT

480

I c)62

23

l9

434
:165

11

3a
3a
2T

l5
LU-2sO

250

210
LU

2OO

15O

23
24

tl
to

234

18
t9
17

10

194

2TT

12

204

12

?oo
24A
2TT

LU

276

l5

150

204
240
277

480
LU lOO

208
244
277

70

9
a

4ao

124
2aa

2!0
277
U

5[J

50

204
244
2TT

480

243

197
196

3
2

465

t6
12

294

8T

294

90

10

16
14

a7
a5

1a 2a

195

11/
i 3l

1/

132

10

132

t3
tl

132

94
94

t3
6

19

r6

6A

6a
67

TA

6
6
3

'

H gher than .orma lne starl ng current to cover e ectron. oadln! eiiects
iNeweectrca datawrl beprnted n next iss!e oi GEP-635 l

OTHEB TEBMS FOF BALLAST TYPES

G.E.
Other Manulacturers
ne!! aror ....,CW tC,onstait \'Vattagel
a!to req! ator..CWA iconstant waltaqe a!lo-lra.siormerl
.r L ea.l tor H PS
or Peak Lead ior meta halde
Lag. -.,,.,.,.,
H gh Reactance

WARNING
operalrng
Srze bran.h cr.u ls l. ac..nrnrodale
'ne
amperes or lne-slarl nq amperes wh chever s arger

BALLAST ELECTRICAL DATA

NlETAL HALI DE BALLAST

I5i)0

_
120
20

a/

277

67

214

63

T6

55
to90

.1

120
2TT

35
29

277

r8

48

63
x2

90,1

.1 2

2T

21

12.)

204
277
4AO

t20

17
2A

tl

2(]a
244

15
l3
12

120
204
24a

ta
ll

2f7
M E FICU FIY

10
26
13

t1

BALLAS']

I t02

H35

7aa

2(]4
?.10

277
H33

120
2AA
2.10

4ao

Ft33

12t-)

72

12

J3

31

75

277

to
I

99

ts39

13

12(]

2c]4

2TT

H3a

98

1l

24a

50 60

19

277

4ao

21
11

10

r20

2aa

.-e

18

24
2A
18

240
H37

SERIES TYPE

12

277

99

NOTE S

3
3

11
6

3
3
2

19 2

111

WARNING

Ia

overrhe percenl a owab e l.e vortaqe var atro. ranqe Thevo teae
L.
l
o, d^p. l" r- / | , o e ., fr
-'5oaoa
r'6.oo d'1s l-!-^d | c pro
o d'-'pq,'o
d ooesred
a to'or,a -lD"'o
n- ^ .. ",o,b"t.d ',n. o.o,
the iu I ran!e oi a owabre ne vo lage var ar on
controt amp warls wrlir n
the prescr becl lm ls of operairon thio!qhour rhe rated fe oi the amo as
dei ned by traDezo da rmtsinANS slanctards for H qh Pressure sodiLm
p
2 '.^
Merc!ryreaclorba asts srcd ns,attaqetO0lo4OOmaybe!sedar5OHZas
iolows 277 volts (60 Hzlal250 vorts l5O Hzt and 240 v. rs i6O Hzta122O vo rs
i50 Hzl Reaclors usecl o. 220vols are o. y adeq!.1e ior anrp sra.tinq 1o O!F
'd b"l l.\
ao--Ol
4Ol tr
o^
oed 1e olro.e .dr d r r FF N. e N.
\o . on - o-o, p...
-.;.;--i,"
spe.ied luseisl sho! d be rated 3 limes maxrmum
';
' may''
c!rrent F!sinO
nren!plro.s The l!s .g ol a reaclor type baltast shoa d b;
5 For ele.tn.a dala on dua wallage or s rq -a \ratta.rc m! I vo 1 bat a:ts retcr
ado
..r".vteno
o.o"Ivar es

'

s u e bra.ch c rc! 1s to a...nrmorlale ne operal n!l

amperes or .c sl..1 nq .mperes nr'lr.heler s arqer

I ooo.r,.a,4p,.,

e.a 1pa 0n-r"1o

qla dnptoo..r Iio
.e,L,
readaiorbal asls l5per.entiatota of 23 percerl ior th{r rwo amptooo
watllior the mercury auto resulator ll0percenriorthemer.!ry ag mer
.!ry reaclor and metal halde aulo reg!iator ba lasls whe. np!t vo tage

99

correspond nq ba as1 lyDe

To obta n typ cal lne watts lor lum .aires a.Jd aDproximate y 3 per.ent to

1 Krlowatts oi co.stanl c!rrent lransiormer capac iy per ba astrecohmencted

ior proper operat on
tt Note ihat these srarl .g curre.is are power tacro. capac tor currenrs wh ch
f ow rf lhe amp.lrawsnoc!rrent.lorexamDte hot resiarl co.d r o.s Norma
line start n9 current wi lbe ower
A Senes lamo operai o.
lfdepe.denl lamp operal on

For furlher nlormat on see Amerca. Nariofa Sla.cJa.cts

specii cat o.s C82 J CA?6.andC7Ar3O0

tnsrt!te iANS

THE STEADILUX BALLAST STORY

GE's Steadilux ballasted luminaires incorporate ihe most advanced and sophisticated
ballast design technology available for high intensity discharge (HlD) lighting in the
ind ustry today. Utilizing space-age solid state com ponents, the Stead ilux ballast provides
delinite economical and operaiing benefits not realized with other HID iype ballasts.

STEADILUX

REGULATOR

WHAT IS THE STEADILUX BALLAST?

Conventional ballast desig ns use steel cores with coil windings and capacitors to achieve
the proper electrical characteristics necessary to reliably operate high pressure sodium
(HPS) lamps in itially and through lif e. Electronic ballasts range f rom conventional ballasts
with electronics added to high frequency, solid state electronic ballasts. The Steadilux
ballast is a hybrid design which combines a conventional core and coil and capacitor
with an electronic control.
WHY IS THE STEADILUX BALLAST BETTER THAN A CONVENTIONAL BALLAST?
The electronically regulated ballast uses solid state components and incorporates a feedback loop which measures lamp volts and lamp current. The control circuit monitors the
data and controls the lamp watts at pre-determined levels, depending on the input data.
The best conve niional H PS reg u lator desig n ballast available controls lam p watts to with in
an approximate 1 1% spread tor t lOo/" line voltage variation. The Steadilux ballast
a.chieves t1% regulation of lamp watts for 410% line voltage variation while holding nearly
constant lamp lumens throughoui lamp life.
Normally, a HPS lamp will deliver about 90% of its original lamp lumens at the mean
point in its life and lighiing design calculations are based on th is mean lumen maintenance.
When an electronically regulated ballast is used, the precise control of lamp wattage
compensates for the normal lumen depreciation; and the lumen output of the lamp remains
almost constant. The in put wattage goes up slowly over life, but never rises morelnan2%
Superior control of the lamp output means that 10% fewer fixtures are needed for
equivalent maintained footcandle levels. With 1Ol" fewer f ixiures to own and maintain,
costs will be correspondingly less. Greater energy savings result from not only fewer
fixtures but also an input wattage reduction for each fixture. These savings are possible
because lamp lumen output does not depreciate when electronically regulated (Steadilux)
ballasts are used. The output of the luminaire will depreciate slightly because of dirt
accumulation, but the lamp itself will continue to operate close to iis rated lumen output
th roug hout life.
WHERE IS THE STEADILUX BALLAST USED?
The Steadilux ballast is the choice where better energy usage and regulation is desired
Energy usage is at least 10% more eff icient and constant lumen output allows more
accuracy in lig hting desig n. While electronically regulated ballasts have been used mainly
for industrial applications, they can be used on roadways as well. In designing roadway
lighting systems, the nearly constant lamp lumen output produced by electronically
regulated ballasts allows you to use a lower wattage HPS lamp to maintain the same
minimum light level. Energy savings are so substantial that the payback for converting
a mercury or fluorescent system to HPS with Steadilux ballasted luminaires is usually
two years.
Remember these features of the Steadilux ballast.
1. Maintained footcandle levels achieved through nearly constant lumen output
2. Lower wattage consumption per fixture
3. Superior regulation
These feaiures provide these benefit to you.
1 . 10% fewer f ixtures
2. Lower energy cost
3. Lower owning and operating costs.

GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY

Lighting Systems Departmenl, Hendersonville, N.
1r /80 (2OM) D

28739

GEirERAr.

@'tecTRrc