What is a T5 ballast?

T5 Fluorescent Systems | Lighting Answers | NLPIP. Volume 6 Issue 1. July 2002. ballast – A device required by electric-discharge light sources such as fluorescent or HID lamps to regulate voltage and current supplied to the lamp during start and throughout operation.

Can you use T8 ballast for T5?

A T8 ballast is generally not compatible with a T5 linear fluorescent lamp. The pin sockets will only line up and complete a circuit in a correctly sized ballast. The exact design of each ballast differs across manufacturers. There are a few ballasts which can be rewired for T5 or T8 bulbs.

Does T5 have ballast?

T5 lamps need special ballasts to operate. T5 lamps operate at frequencies greater than 20 kilohertz. Instant start, rapid start, and programmed start electronic ballasts are available for T5 lamp operation. Ballasts for T5 lamps are available for 120-, 277-, 240-, and 347-volt operations.

What are T 5 bulbs?

What does T5 mean? The “T” in lamp nomenclature represents the shape of the lamp-tubular. The number following the “T” usually represents the diameter of the lamp in eighths of an inch (1 inch equals 2.5 centimeters). T5 lamps have a diameter equal to 5 times an eighth of an inch, or 5/8″.

Do I have a bad ballast?

If it stays on the same side, you have a bad ballast. · The bulb demonstrates a color change: The most popular way to tell if your bulbs are going bad is if they change color. HID bulbs such as D1, D2, D3, and D4 bulbs will start to turn pink when they are going bad.

Does the bulb have to match my ballast?

Yes Ballasts and Bulbs Should be Matched. HID bulbs generally need specific ballasts, and any given ballast can usually safely and effectively operate only one type or a few types of HID bulbs. The bulb wattage must be matched to the ballast. A smaller bulb will usually be fed a wattage close to what the proper bulb takes, and will generally overheat and may catastrophically fail.

What is the difference between a ballast for T12 and T8?

T12 and T8 lamps also differ on the ballast that they are operated with most of the time . T12 primarily run off a magnetic ballasts and T8 bulbs operate on electronic ballasts. That’s not always the case as sometimes people changed their T12 ballast to be electronic years ago.

What is a rapid start ballast?

Rapid start. A rapid start ballast applies voltage and heats the cathodes simultaneously. It provides superior lamp life and more cycle life, but uses slightly more energy as the cathodes in each end of the lamp continue to consume heating power as the lamp operates.