Electronic ballasts (EB)

Ballasts for fluorescent lamps
The operation of a fluorescent lamp depends on a ballast that stabilises the lamp´s preheat current after connection to the mains and, in conjunction with the starter, also supplies the required lamp ignition voltage after preheating. After lamp ignition, the ballast then serves to limit the lamp current. As fluorescent lamps are characterised by a negative characteristic current-voltage curve, lamp current stabilisation is extremely important with regard to both the lamp´s stable operation and its service life. In addition to this, a lamp´s service life is critically dependent on compliance with the starting conditions (preheat current and ignition voltage). Unfavourable starting conditions cause damage to the electrodes every time the lamp is started and thus reduce the lamp´s service life. Furthermore, care should be taken to prevent cross-discharge in the electrode area during preheating, which also shortens lamp service life.
Ballasts are available in electromagnetic or electronic form. Electromagnetic (inductive) ballasts have to be operated in conjunction with starters for lamp ignition and capacitors for blind current compensation. In addition, capacitors for RFI suppression will also be required for certain circuits. Electronic ballasts can be operated without any additional components.
Electronic ballasts (EB)
VS electronic ballasts are designed for mains voltages of 220 V to 240 V and are used to operate fluorescent lamps at high frequency (20 - 50 kHz). The lamps are ignited with an internally generated ignition voltage, thereby removing the need for an external starter. The power factor (l) > 0.95 also removes the need for compensation, unlike with electromagnetic ballasts. The only exceptions are low-output ELXs models, which attain a power factor of 0.6. Luminaires fitted with electronic ballasts are characterised by low energy consumption as they have substantially lower system power than conventional, inductive applications. This is firstly because the lamp consumes less power to achieve the same luminous flux and secondly the internal loss of an electronic ballast only amounts to approx. 8 % to 10 % of the lamp´s output. Furthermore, thanks to their modern circuitry, the power input of VS electronic ballasts remains constant even in the event of mains voltage fluctuations, thus ensuring permanently low energy consumption.
Vossloh-Schwabe electronic ballasts permit a broad range of applications. For instance, VosslohSchwabe´s product range includes many ballast types for multiple lamp operation. These ballasts reduce installation and component costs and thus enable particularly efficient luminaires. Twin-lamp electronic ballasts permit so-called master-slave operation. The lamps of two single-lamp luminaires are operated by a twin-lamp electronic ballast that is built into the so-called master luminaire. The lamp of the slave luminaire is electrically connected to the electronic ballast.
The use of electronic ballasts makes a lighting system both more convenient and efficient to operate:
reduced power consumption (up to 30 %) at undiminished light output
50 % longer service life
stabilised lamp output
overvoltage protection
no stroboscopic effect
flicker-free lamp start
no need for a starter or capacitor
low wiring effort
no radiated electromagnetic interference
low self-heating due to minimal power loss
automatic shutdown of defective lamps
automatic restart once the lamp has been changed
Vossloh-Schwabe electronic ballasts are developed on the basis of the latest technological and component standards and are produced using state-of-the-art technology, whereby consideration is taken of our customers´ quality standards in our quality assurance system.

Vossloh-Schwabe provides the respective electronic ballast family for the most diverse applications:
ELXs ballasts (warm start)
The family of ELXs ballasts forms a perfect alternative to magnetic ballasts. ELXs ballasts have the same fastening hole spacing as standard electromagnetic ballasts. The lamp is ignited after a preheating time (warm start) of 1.5 seconds. These ballasts are available for system outputs (lamp output plus power loss of the electronic ballast) of up to 25 W. The power factor of these ballasts amounts to approx. 0.6. The average service life of these ballasts totals 30,000 hours with a failure rate of ≤ 0.2 % per 1,000 operating hours.
ELXe ballasts (instant start)
With this ballast family, the lamps ignite immediately after connection to the mains voltage by applying an ignition voltage of max. 1,500 V to the gas discharge path of the lamp. The ignition time totals less than 0.2 seconds. As this puts a severe strain on the electrodes, the realistic number of lamp starts is limited to approx. 10,000 ignitions up to the end of the lamp¢¥s service life. For that reason, ELXe ballasts should only be used for applications demanding fewer than five lamp ignitions per day (e.g. in production sites, warehouses or department stores). As there is no need for preheating, ELXe ballasts only require one connection per electrode for lamp operation. This makes them suitable for use in explosion protected luminaires. In addition to this, they are extremely energy efficient as no lamp electrode losses occur. The average service life of these ballasts totals 50,000 hours with a failure rate of ≤ 0.2 % per 1,000 operating hours.
ELXc ballasts (warm start)
ELXc ballasts ensure the lamp is started following a defined lamp electrode preheating period of approx. 1.5 seconds using a fixed ignition voltage. This particularly gentle lamp start makes over 20,000 lamp starts possible. ELXc ballasts should be used for applications with high switching frequencies (e.g. hotels or offices) where energy savings as well as low maintenance costs are desired. The average service life of these ballasts totals 50,000 hours with a failure rate of ≤ 0.2 % per 1,000 operating hours.
ELXd ballasts (dimmable)
These are ELXc ballasts with an additional dimming function that is controlled via an interface fitted to the ballast. The interface of these ballasts can be either analogue (1-10 Volt) or digital (DALI; PUSH); the interface enables lighting to be ideally adjusted to suit the given need. Control components can also be used as long as they comply with the respective standard (appendix to IEC/EN 60929). When using ELXd ballasts in a lighting system, an energy saving of 75 % can be achieved if the control inputs of the ballasts are coupled with movement detectors and light sensors. The average service life of these ballasts totals 50,000 hours with a failure rate of ≤ 0.2 % per 1,000 operating hours.
To guarantee trouble-free operation and a long service life of the various types of electronic ballast, attention should be paid to the regulations and mounting instructions. In addition, the installation instructions for lighting systems must be observed when installing luminaires with electronic ballasts.