Electronic Ballast interactions

Systems Compatibility Issues

Not Standardized

Application Dependent

EERM97500 COMMENT 0FF

Ele tronic Ballast Int ractions 

Systems Compatibility Issues 

Not Standardized 

Application Dependent 

1 
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?

EERM97500 COMMENT 0FF

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? 

2 
onic distortion generated by the baE3st

R ''Id

EERM97500 COMMENT 0FF

· ·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" 

3 
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

EERM97500 COMMENT 0FF

· 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 

4 
Supplemental

EERM97500 COMMENT 0FF

Supplemental Information 

5 
Harmonic Distortion

Generated by power supply

Varies from 35% to less than 20% current t total harmonic

distortion (THD) at 1 80 to 1 00k 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 is atc

interference problems

EERM97500 COMMENT 0FF

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 

6 
interfere ith theft deterent systems hospital

equipment

Cause and control similar to THD

• Physical shieldin.ing and maintaining adequate distance from the

source can reduce effect

EERM97500 COMMENT 0FF

Radiated· F and· . I 

• 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

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

discharge every 1/2 cycle, causing a high frequency flicker

Some of the energy output from the lamp is in the IR, in the

form of a modulated IR signal

Some remote control units use moo ulated signals to

transmit commands, and can be confuse d by modulated

emissions from fluorescent lamps

Industry task force is addressing ways to contro l problem by

allocating control fre quencies

EERM97500 COMMENT 0FF

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

distortion) which mimics power line carrier (PLC) signals

Electronic ballasts have impedance m n as t the

. frequencies used by PLC systems

False switching or control action to electrical

.noise generated by the ballast

The PLC control signal typically fraction to

100 kHz, can be "absorbed" the electronic ballast due to its

low impedance at the PLC frequency

Can be controlled keeping electronic

ballasts separate circuits, improving ballast power supply

design or coordinating or standardizing frequencies

9

EERM97500 COMMENT 0FF

ower Lin • arrl r . yst ms 

• 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 frequencies 
Principal 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

EERM97500 COMMENT 0FF

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 

10 
Commercial 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

EERM97500 COMMENT 0FF

Commercial Buildings 

(Source: EIA, 1992 Commercial Buildings Energy Consumption Survey, Table 3) 

Number of Buildings 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 

11