🚀 go-pugleaf

I have a question or two that is more appropriate for this group 
than the *.aquaria groups where this thread comes up from time to time.

Our background is keeping fish as a hobby and one of the factors
that can be varied is the type of lighting used over aquariums. In
the hobby trade there are simple incadescent bulb hoods sold for
low cost, fluorescent versions that allow a wide selection of lighting,
and finally exotic lamps called Metal Hallide. Some of us build
our own and experiment with various bulb combinations and control gear.

On the subject of fluorescent lights there are convientional
inductor ballasts or ballast/transformers used for trigger-start 
and rapid-start systems, respectively. There are also 'electronic'
or solid-state ballasts. 

(1)	How do truely solid-state electronic 'ballasts' operate?

(2)	What is their advantage over the simple iron cored coil?

(3)	Is there more than one scheme? 
The electronic one that I dismantled was in a cheap shop light 
(2 x 40W 4ft bulbs), but it had a smallish coil in series with a 
largish capacitor. (Sorry didn't have an LCR meter handy and both were 
un marked). The starter was a typical thermal glow switch, but 
instead of a cylindrical cannister it was moulded plastic, and not 
meant to be replaced.

(4)	Are there application notes, schematics, ready made modules or 
electronic ballast replacements, available?

Thanks in advance.

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Peter J. Stonard        +                                /^\  /^\
Grass Valley Group      +                       /^\     /   \/
Grass Valley, CA. 95945 +                     /     \ /    /  
pjs@gvgspd.gvg.tek.com  +     Fish keeper in the Sierra Foothills
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If it looks like; sounds like; quacks like; an Opinion. It's mine.