Need Help with Ballast Type

[pvh]

Can someone tell me what's the different between the different between magnetic and electronic ballast? Also can a DE bulb ballast be use on a SE bulb? Also what is a probe start ballast?

Thanks.

 

[UncleJT]

Can someone tell me what's the different between the different between magnetic and electronic ballast?

Electronic high-frequency ballasts increase lamp-ballast efficacy, leading to increased energy efficiency and lower operating costs. Electronic ballasts operate lamps using electronic switching power supply circuits. Electronic ballasts take incoming 60 Hz power (120 or 277 volts) and convert it to high-frequency AC (usually 20 to 40 kHz). Electronic ballasts are more efficient than magnetic ballasts in converting input power to the proper lamp power, and their operating of fluorescent lamps at higher frequencies reduces end losses, resulting in an overall lamp-ballast system efficacy increase of 15% to 20%. Magnetic ballast have a huge transformer that converts the power needed.

Also can a DE bulb ballast be use on a SE bulb?

Many can, some can't. Many times, it depends if the ballast is tuned for a specific DE lamp or not.

Also what is a probe start ballast?

Here is a good article that explains the differences between probe-start and pulse start:

http://www.lrc.rpi.edu/programs/nlpip/lightinganswers/mwmhl/differenceProbePulse.asp