CANbus, which stands for “controller area network” allows different components to communicate with each other without the need for a central controller, which allows the system to notify the operator if there is an issue with the light or system.) Do Other Types of Lights Require a Ballast? (There is another type of HID ballast known as a CANbus system that is sometimes used with cars that have HID headlights installed. They reach full brightness more quickly and since they are more efficient, lamps using them tend to last longer. These ballasts are easier on the lamp while also being more efficient at startup. These ballasts are somewhat slower and it takes a longer time for the lamp to warm up and reach full brightness.Īnother type of ballast is called a pulse-start ballast, which instead of a starting probe use an igniter which pulses alongside the ballast to start the lamp. The probe electrode supplies the initial arc and is then removed from the circuit when the lamp reaches full brightness. Some ballasts are considered probe-start ballasts, in which a separate probe electrode is used to start the lamp. Magnetic ballasts contain a series of internal components that regular voltage and current including a capacitor which stores charge. While most modern HID bulbs work in conjunction with electronic or digital ballasts, traditionally, HID ballasts have belonged to a class known as magnetic ballasts. Digital ballasts may also provide special controls over temperature and brightness, which can optimize the operation of the HID light for longer life. Digital ballasts draw very little energy and are very efficient. Some modern HID ballasts are digital ballasts. Sometimes, electronic ballasts contain modern safety features, such as short circuit protection as well as under or over-voltage protection. Electronic ballasts use a circuit to help regulate the voltage and current supplied to the bulb. The majority of modern HID ballasts are electronic. There are different types of HID ballasts, although all of them perform the same basic function of supplying and mediating voltage and current. After the initial electrical arc, at which point the lamp has warmed up, the ballast drops the voltage and maintains a steady current - this enables the lamp to shine brightly and consistently once it reaches peak brightness, without fading, flickering, or dimming.Īre There Different Types of HID Light Ballasts? The second primary function of the HID ballast is to mediate the voltage and current after startup to ensure the bulb burns at the appropriate light output. Typically, HID lamps require a voltage spike at startup to “heat them up” by creating an arc between the two electrodes in the lamp. The first primary function of the ballast is to provide an adequate start-up voltage. Sometimes, the HID lamp in question contains an integral ballast, but don’t assume that is the case. If you are using an HID lamp, whether it’s for your car’s headlights or to illuminate the space around a parking lot, the bulb needs an HID ballast. What Does an HID Light Ballast Do? (And Why Are They Necessary)įirst things first, to answer a quick question. The HID ballast is a crucial electrical component that mediates voltage and current to the lamp in order to enable it to start up safely, reach and maintain full brightness, and operate without burning out prematurely. (Some HID lamps must also be burned up, down, or even at a specific angle!) Not only must HID lamps be appropriate in terms of wattage (and voltage) for the fixture, they must have the appropriate base type (like an incandescent bulb) as well as a component known as an HID ballast. HID lamps require a much more involved electrical process to start them and warm up before they reach full brightness. You run a current along the filament and it glows. The electroluminescence that actuates incandescent bulbs is much more simplistic. Other types of lighting, such as high-intensity discharge (HID) lamps, are not quite this straightforward. As long as the bulb’s wattage is safe with the requirements of the fixture, you’re good to go. You choose a light bulb that has the appropriate base type for a fixture, then plug or screw it into the socket.įlip the switch - the light comes on. Picture the installation of a halogen bulb or incandescent light bulb.
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