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Home / Knowledge & News / News / What are the differences between emergency ballasts and regular ballasts?

What are the differences between emergency ballasts and regular ballasts?

Emergency ballasts and regular ballasts serve different purposes and have distinct features. 
1.Primary Function:
Regular Ballasts: Regular ballasts are primarily designed to regulate the electrical current flowing to fluorescent or HID (high-intensity discharge) lamps, ensuring proper operation and longevity of the lamps.
Emergency Ballasts: Emergency ballasts are designed to provide backup power to lighting fixtures during power outages. They are equipped with batteries that can supply power to the lamps for a limited duration when the main power source fails.
2.Power Source:
Regular Ballasts: Regular ballasts rely on the building's primary electrical supply to operate.
Emergency Ballasts: Emergency ballasts have built-in rechargeable batteries that are charged when the main power is available. During an outage, these batteries supply power to the lamps.
3.Operation:
Regular Ballasts: Regular ballasts operate continuously as long as there is power supplied to the lighting fixture.
Emergency Ballasts: Emergency ballasts are typically in a standby mode while the main power is available. They switch to emergency mode and provide power to the lamps only when the main power source fails.
4.Duration of Operation:
Regular Ballasts: Regular ballasts do not provide backup power, so the duration of operation depends entirely on the availability of the main power supply.
Emergency Ballasts: Emergency ballasts provide backup power for a limited duration, typically ranging from 90 minutes to a few hours, depending on the specific model and battery capacity.
5.Installation and Wiring:
Regular Ballasts: Regular ballasts are installed in the lighting fixture to regulate the electrical current. Wiring configurations may vary based on the type of lamp and ballast.
Emergency Ballasts: Emergency ballasts are installed similarly to regular ballasts but require additional wiring to connect the batteries and ensure proper functionality during emergencies.
The main difference lies in their primary function: regular ballasts regulate power for normal operation, while emergency ballasts provide backup power during outages to ensure continued illumination for safety purposes.

Fluorescent Emergency Inverter
Features:
*Emergency Inverter-ELS Series -T8 1X36W
*Fluorescent emergency inverter with painted durable steel housing.
*Nickel-Cadmium battery, charger and inverter circuit contained.
*Meets or exceeds all NEC and Life Safety Code emergency lighting requirements.
*Cold starts and operates specified lamp types, LED Charge indicator light and push-to-test switch.
*110/240 VAC voltage operation, 60~180 minutes operation.
*Complies IEC60598-2-22
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