Products

Electronic Ballasts for UVC Germicidal Lamps

Light Sources and strategic partner LightTech offer an extensive line of electronic ballasts, covering a wide range of UVC germicidal lamps.

Choosing the right ballast is essential because system performance is dependent on the interaction between the lamp and ballast.

Here is why:
As elements in an electrical circuit, germicidal lamps are referred to as “active” elements because they generate harmonic and transient voltages and currents. They exhibit a seemingly strange characteristic – the voltage decreases with increasing current. This process is known as negative AC resistance. Therefore, gas discharge devices, such as germicidal lamps, are inherently unstable; once lit, the current increases without limit unless other circuit elements - ballasts - are used to restore and maintain operation.

At Light Sources and LightTech, we have available a number of electronic ballasts that match our lamps. If you need help with a ballast- give us a call and we will help you to match the ballast to the lamp. Germicidal Sales: (203) 799-7877.

Purpose of Ballasts

An electronic ballast serves two main purposes. One, it provides enough voltage to break down the rare gas contained in the lamp to initiate electron flow (ARC), and two, it limits the current flow.

For some UVC germicidal lamps, the ballast also needs to provide heat to the electrodes at the lamp ends. This is important for lamps that are turned on and off more than three times per day.

Ballast Benefits of Electronic HF Operation:

High efficiency
Light weight
Small size
Hight power factor
Insensitive to line voltage variation
Operation on multiple voltages