Re: Fluorescent light ballasts

Article View: sci.electronics

Article #3845

#3845

From: Torkil Hammer
Date: Fri, 24 Nov 1989 23:51

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In article <5068@ae.sei.cmu.edu> rsd@sei.cmu.edu (Richard S D'Ippolito) writes:
#
#with two 40w tubes, fixture, cord and ballast.  The ballast nameplate reads
#"120V 60Hz .85A", UL, minimun starting temperature 50 deg. F."
#
#More enterprising folks might be able to calculate the power factor.

We can't do so without knowing the efficiency factor, aka cosine of phase
angle, which is measured as the ratio between watts and voltamperes.

Questions:
1. Why is there a minimum starting temp for the ballast?
2. Do today's ballasts come with a capacitor or other phase compensation
to optimize the irregular, but predictable, current pattern of flourescent
tubes?

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References: <22334@gryphon.COM> <4995@ae.sei.cmu.edu> <7835@ttidca.TTI.COM> <5068@ae.sei.cmu.edu>

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Path: arc1-ca.pugleaf.net!utzoo!attcan!uunet!samsung!usc!srhqla!quad1!psivax!torkil
From: torkil@psivax.UUCP (Torkil Hammer)
Newsgroups: sci.electronics
Subject: Re: Fluorescent light ballasts
Message-ID: <2956@psivax.UUCP>
Date: 24 Nov 89 23:51:26 GMT
References: <22334@gryphon.COM> <4995@ae.sei.cmu.edu> <7835@ttidca.TTI.COM> <5068@ae.sei.cmu.edu>
Reply-To: torkil@psivax.UUCP (Torkil Hammer)
Organization: Pacesetter Systems Inc., Sylmar, CA
Lines: 15

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