What is Ballast

Simply turn on the light fixture and capture a photo of it using your smartphone or digital camera. If the resulting image does not show any dark bands, it indicates that the fixture is equipped with an electronic ballast, which is compatible with direct drop-in LED tubes (with some exceptions, as explained in the next section).

Without a ballast, a lamp or bulb will experience a significant increase in its current draw, leading to uncontrollable behavior. The absence of a ballast prevents the power from stabilizing, which can be problematic when these lamps are connected to high power sources. However, with a ballast in place, the energy is regulated, preventing any sudden rise in current.

You risk damaging the LEDs if you fail to bypass the ballast on LED lights. The ballast in fluorescent lights requires a significantly higher starting voltage (around 600 V) to initiate them, which quickly drops to the regular line voltage. Depending on the tolerances of the LED circuit, it is possible for the LEDs to be destroyed.

The primary distinction between T8 and T12 tubes lies in their diameter. T12 tubes have a diameter of 1.5 inches, whereas T8s are only one inch in diameter. Despite this difference, the socket sizes, lengths, and distance between pins remain the same for both types. Therefore, if you attempt to install T8 LED tubes in a T12 fixture, they will fit perfectly without any issues.

Overheating of fluorescent lights can potentially lead to fires. The excessive heat generated by the ballast can cause nearby combustible materials to ignite and may even result in the ballast itself exploding due to the buildup of gases.

A lack of electrical power, a malfunctioning ballast, a faulty starter, or dead bulbs can all cause a fluorescent light to stop working after changing bulbs. It is important to first check for power, then inspect the starter (if applicable), and finally examine the bulbs. If none of these steps resolve the issue, it may be necessary to replace the ballast.

The typical lifespan of a fluorescent light ballast ranges from 10 to 15 years. It is important to note that any ballast that surpasses this age should be regarded as having an increased likelihood of malfunctioning.

Standard ballasts typically consist of a core and coil assembly. In the case of a typical fixture with two 4-foot 40-watt T-12 fluorescent lamps, the ballast itself consumes approximately 13 to 16 watts of electricity. Therefore, when considering the total consumption of the two lamps along with the ballast, it amounts to around 93 to 96 watts.

There is no need to worry about using the wrong LED tube for your fixture when you opt for a ballast compatible tube. This is because, when you install these tubes, you will first remove or “bypass” the fixture’s ballast. By doing so, the power from the building will directly go to the lamp sockets, bypassing the ballast.

Yes, it is possible to replace fluorescent tubes with LED tubes or LED-integrated fixtures. If you only need to replace the bulbs, you have the option to use plug-and-play, direct-wire, or hybrid LED tubes. Among these options, plug-and-play tubes are the most convenient to install since they do not require any rewiring of the fixture.