# Electronic Ballast interactions

Systems Compatibility Issues Not Standardized Application Dependent 

# Ele tronic Ballast Int ractions Systems Compatibility Issues Not Standardized Application Dependent

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# Introduc tion

• What are the nature and significance of the interactions between electronic ballasts and other building systems?
• Can these interference effects be controlled or mitigated?
• What would be the impact of mandating electronic ballasts? 

# Introduction

• What are the nature and significance of the interactions between electronic ballasts and other building systems? • Can these interference effects be controlled or mitigated? • What would be the impact of mandating

.

electronic ballasts?

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## onic distorti on g enerated by the baE3 s t 

## R ''Id 

# · ·odes of Int ra tion Harmonic distortion generated by the ballast Radiated 

## RF and 

## EMI Radiated IR and visible light • Impedance 

## mismatch with power line carrier systems"

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# S ummary

• Avoiding electronic ballast interaction problems requires a combination of equipment improvements, primarily power supply filtering and input impedance, along with shielding and location selection
• A systems design approach is needed to eliminate interference with PLC systems, due to their unique frequency combinations 

# ·Summary

• Avoiding electronic ballast interaction

. 

## problems requires a combination of equipment improvements, primarily power supply filtering and input impedance, along with shielding and location selection • A systems design approach is needed to eliminate interference with PLC systems, due to their unique frequency combinations
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# Sup plemental 

# Supplemental Information

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# Harmonic Distortion

Generate d b

## y power supp ly Varies from 35% to less than 20% current t total harmonic distortion (THD) at 1 80 to 1 0 0 k Hz
• Similar distortion is produced b y magnetic ballasts and other electronic equipment Increases line losses and neutral current flow, and may affect other electronic equipment Can be controlled by improving power supply design and fi ltering Reducing harmonics may aggravate 

### impedance is atc interference problems 

# Harmonic Distortion
" Generated by power supply " Varies from 35% to less than 20% current total harmonic distortion (THD) at 180 to lOOk Hz " Similar distortion is produced by magnetic ballasts and other electronic equipment " Increases line losses and neutral current flow, and may affect other electronic equipment " Can be controlled by improving power supply design and filtering " Reducing harmonics may aggravate impedance mismatch interference problems 6in te rfere ith the ft de t erent sys t ems hos pit al

equ i pmen t Cause and co 

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# Radiated· F and·
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• Can interfere with theft deterent systems and hospital equipment • Cause and control similar to THD • Physical shielding and maintaining adequate distance from the source can reduce effect

# radiated IR and
. Visible Light

El ectronic b allasts operate at 2 0 to 30 kH z. creati ng a mercury discharge every 1/2 cycle, causing a high frequency flicker S ome of the energy output fro m the lamp is in th e IR , i n the f orm of a modulated IR signal S ome remote control units use moo ulated si gnals to transmit c ommands, and can be confuse d b y modul ated emissions from fluorescent lamp s Industry task force is addressing ways to contro l p roblem b y allocating control fre quencies 

# Radiated IR an . Visible Light

41 Electronic ballasts operate at 20 to 30 kHz. creating a mercury discharge every 

### 1/2 cycle, causing a high frequency flicker

41 Some of the energy output from the lamp is in the IR, in the form of a modulated IR signal

41 Some remote control units use modulated IR signals to transmit commands, and can be confused by modulated IR ,emissions from fluorescent lamps

41 Industry task force is addressing ways to control problem by allocating control frequencies

8• Electronic ballasts produce electrical noise (harmonic



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### False switching or control action to electrical .noise generated by the ballast The PLC control signal typically f rac ti on to 10 0 kH z, can be "a

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### lec tronic balla st due to its low impedanc e at the PLC f requency Can be controlled k eep in g electron i c ba

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• Electronic ballasts produce electrical noise (hannonic distortion) which mimics power line carrier (PLC) signals • Electronic ballasts have low input impedances at the ,frequencies used by PLC systems • False switching or control action can occur due to electrical noise generated by the ballast • The PLC control signal, typically a fraction of a volt at 2 to 100 kHz, can be**'~absorbed"** by the electronic ballast due to its low impedance at the PLC frequency • Can be controlled by keeping PLC systems and electronic ballasts on separate circuits, improving ballast power supply design or coordin,ating or standardizing PLC frequenciesPrincipal Building Activity for Commercial Buildings (Source : EIA, 1992 Commercial Buildings Energy Consumption Survey , Table A68) Activity Number of Buildings

(Thousand) Floor space (Million Sq. Ft.) Buildings Percent Floor Space Percent Education 301 6.3 8,470 12.5 Food Sales & Service 390 8.1 2,248 3.3- Health Care, Nursing & Laboratory 105 2.2 2,988 4.4 Lodging 131 2.7 2,175 3.2 Mercantile & Service 1,272 26.5 12,402 18.3 Office 749 15.6 12,319 18.1 Public Assembly, Order & Safety 338 7.0 5,376 7.9 Religious Worship 366 7.6 3,747 5.5 Garage, Warehouse or Storage 785 16.3 13,136 19.4 Other 369 7.7 5,016 7.4

10 Principal Building Activity for Commercial Buildings (Source: EIA, 1992 Commercial Buildings Energy Consumption Survey, Table A68) Number of Buildings Floor space (Million Sq. Ft.) Activity (Thousand) Buildings Percent Floor Space Percent Education 301 6.3 8,470 12.5 Food Sales & Service 390 8.1 2,248 3.3- Health Care, Nursing 105 2.2 2,988 4.4 & Laboratory Lodging 131 2.7 2,175 3.2 Mercantile & Service 1,272 26.5 12,402 18.3 Office 749 15.6 12,319 18.1 Public Assembly, 338 7.0 5,376 7.9 Order & Safety Religious Worship 366 7.6 3,747 5.5 Garage, Warehouse 785 16.3 13,136 19.4 or Storage Other 369 7.7 5,016 7.4 10Commercial Buildings (Source: EIA, 1992 Commercial Buildings Energy Consumption Survey, Table 3) Number of Buildings (Thousand) Floor space (Million Sq. Ft.) Buildings Percent Floor Space Percent Total 4,806 100 67.876 100 Fluorescent Lighting 4,065 85 62,074 91 Energy Management & Control System (EMCS) 236 5 14,320 21 Fluorescent Lighting and EMCS 55 1 .1 5,146 7.6

11 Commercial Buildings (Source: EIA, 1992 Commercial Buildings Energy Consumption Survey, Table 3) Number ofBuildings Floor space (Million Sq. Ft.) (Thousand) Buildings Percent Floor Space Percent Total 4,806 100 67.876 100 Fluorescent Lighting 4,065 85 62,074 91 Energy Management & 236 5 14,320 21 Control System (EMCS) Fluorescent Lighting and 55 1.1 5,146 7.6 EMCS

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