Use and Care Guide

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Understanding T8

Fluorescent Ballasts

A comprehensive range of solutions…from GE,

the name you trust.

GE introduced the first fluorescent ballast more than 60 years ago.

Today we are providing high-frequency electronic ballasts for almost

every fluorescent application.

With our UltraMax

and UltraStart

ballasts,

we are bringing you the future in ballast

performance.

GE revolutionizes lighting again with breakthrough technology. Our

patented UltraMax

instant-start and UltraStart

programmed start

electronic ballasts transform the power of light into efficiency and

savings from store shelves to the installation site. The foundation of

the “Ultra” family of ballasts starts with its high efficiency ratings.

High efficiency ballasts are a minimum of 90% efficiency with some

ballasts nearly 95% efficient which means the ballast only consumes

5-10% of the total system power. These high efficiency ballasts

exceed minimum high efficiency standards as established by almost

all energy advocate groups, utility rebate programs and the NEMA

Premium

ballast program. The ballasts are marked with the Ultra

brand as well as the NEMA Premium

ballast mark. These ballasts

have multi-voltage control (MVC), which automatically adjusts to

handle voltage from 120V through 277V. That cuts the ballast

models you need to stock from 40 down to 13, which can dramatically

reduce inventory carrying costs. UltraMax

ballasts have ArcGuard

Protection, too, with a UL Type CC Anti-Arc Rating. Plus, they’re

ultra-lamp-friendly, with a low lamp current crest factor of 1.4 for

optimal lamp performance. Both UltraMax

and UltraStart

have

anti-striation control for better light quality with no lamp striations

(spiraling). And the small, low-profile design of these ballasts makes

retrofits effortless at the job site. Also unique to our programmed start

UltraStart

ballasts is parallel lamp operation which means that

if one lamp fails the others remain on, and quick starting times of

less than 700 milliseconds which is necessary in avoiding delays

with automatic sensors.

GE Fluorescent Ballast Types

Electronic Instant Start

The most common fluorescent ballast is the instant start and is used

typically in long 3 to 10-hour lamp cycle applications. These ballasts

are energy efficient and can deliver 20% to 40% energy savings when

installed with energy-efficient lamps in building retrofits. These ballasts

deliver >550 open circuit volts when starting lamps and operate lamps

at high frequencies which offers flicker-free operation and better lamp

efficiencies.The ballasts are significantly quieter than conventional

magnetic ballasts and are backed by GE’s ultra system 5-year ballast

limited warranty and extended lamp warranties.

UltraMax

Professional Series

A family of high-efficiency GE T8 instant-start electronic linear

fluorescent ballasts designed to optimize GE’s T8 Ultra lamps for

optimal system energy savings. UltraMax

ballasts have a low lamp

current crest factor and virtually “read” and adapt to incoming volt-

age from 108V to 305V. Other features include UL Type CC Anti-Arc

Rating and anti-striation control to eliminate lamp striations and

spiraling. These ballasts are offered in ballast factors: low wattage

(.77), normal light (.87), normal-high (N+) (1.0) and high (>1.15).

UltraMax

General Series

Offered in dedicated or multi-volt (120-277V), these high-

performance T8 instant-start ballasts also meet minimum

efficiency requirements as established with the NEMA Premium

ballast program. These ballasts are offered in ballast factors: low

wattage (.77), normal light (.87), and high (>1.15).

Programmed Start

Programmed Start electronic ballasts have a lamp starting method

that preheats lamp filaments before applying an open circuit

voltage (OCV) to start the lamp. Use Programmed Start ballasts to

ensure long lamp life when turning lamps on and off more than five

times in a day or in conjunction with any automatic light control

or sensor. This type of starting circuit keeps lamp-end blackening

to a minimum and improves lamp life performance, especially in

applications where the lamps are frequently switched on and off.

UltraStart

is a family of high-efficiency GE Programmed Start

electronic linear fluorescent ballasts that also exceed NEMA

Premium

ballast efficiency requirements but are designed to

optimize GE’s T8 Ultra lamps in frequently switched applications.

Instant start ballasts provide 7,000-13,000 starts before 50% lamp

failure. UltraStart

provides greater than 100,000 starts before 50%

lamp failure. UltraStart

ballasts provide the same energy savings

and convenience of instant start ballasts but with the longer lamp

life offered a programmed start ballast. These ballasts are offered

in ballast factors: programmed start x-low wattage (XL) (.60), low

wattage (.71), normal light (.87), and high (>1.15).

Ballast Date Codes

Date Codes

GE electronic ballast manufacturing date codes are located on

the upper right-hand corner of the label. The code lists the month,

year and day of manufacture. A typical code is C16-073, where the

month is listed as A (January), B (February), C (March) as in this

code followed by the year 16 (2016) and the date of manufacture

073 (the 73rd day of 2016).

Ballast Life

GE electronic ballasts are designed and manufactured to an

average life expectancy of 60,000 hours of operation at maximum

rated case temperatures. As a rule of thumb, ballast life is doubled

for every 10C reduction in ballast case temperature. However there

are other variables such as transients, voltage sags and swells,

ambient temperature, etc., which affect ballast life as well.

Summary of content (4 pages)

PAGE 1
Understanding T8 Fluorescent Ballasts A comprehensive range of solutions…from GE, the name you trust. GE introduced the first fluorescent ballast more than 60 years ago. Today we are providing high-frequency electronic ballasts for almost every fluorescent application. With our UltraMax® and UltraStart® ballasts, we are bringing you the future in ballast performance. GE revolutionizes lighting again with breakthrough technology.
PAGE 2
Instant Start vs. Rapid Start Sockets When using programmed start or dimming ballasts in fixtures, sockets must be 2-pin rapid start type. Fixtures with T8 instant start ballasts must use jumpered rapid start sockets or shunted lamp holders (internal to the lamp holder) that bridge the lamp bi-pins together into one contact on each side of the lamp.
PAGE 3
Instant Start and Programmed Rapid Start Ballasts There are two major families of ballasts. While the current limiting function is the same, these ballasts differ in how they start the lamp. Instant Start (IS) Ballasts apply a relatively high voltage (e.g. 550 volts) to get the discharge going and the lamp starts instantaneously.
PAGE 4
As ballasts decrease in size, the operation frequency increases. The increased frequency of operation makes capacitive effects more pronounced. Capacitive effects come from a high frequency lead wire being in proximity to another lead wire or the grounded metal of the fixture. Worse capacitive effects result when the lead wires are closer and the frequency is higher. When installing ballasts into fixtures, the wiring needs to be routed point to point and if possible, the excess wire trimmed out.