HID Ballasts
Each type of ballast listed has its ups and downs (see bottom of this page for more info). Ballasts are required when using Metal Halide/High Pressure Sodium/Mercury Vapor/Low Pressure Sodium lamps (except self ballasted Mercury Vapor). These lamps will take as much power as they can get (never operate a HID lamp without a ballast!). The ballast regulates the current going to the lamp. The most common ballasts available in North America is the CWA (Constant Wattage Autotransformer).
Ballast Circuits
(R)
The reactor ballast is the simplest ballast circuit. This ballast uses one coil to regulate power and does not transform the voltage. This means the ballast input voltage must be the same as the OCV or higher than the required OCV. The R type is commonly used in Europe because the input voltage is higher than in America.
(R) HPF BALLAST (R) HPF BALLAST/IGNITOR (R) NPF BALLAST
(CCR)
The controlled current reactor ballast is in the same family as the (R) reactor ballast but this ballast replaces CWA style circuits.
(HX-HPF/HX-NPF)
The high reactance autotransformer ballast uses two coils. One coil transforms the voltage while the other regulates power. This ballast performs like the (R) ballast but works at lower input voltages and normally has multi voltage input.
HX-HPF BALLAST HX-NPF BALLAST HX-NPF BALLAST
(CWA)
The constant wattage autotransformer ballast uses two coils and is frequently referred to as a lead style ballast. The biggest difference from the reactor and HX-HPF is that the capacitor is connected in series with the ballast secondary coil or in series with the lamp. This ballast offers better power regulation than the reactor and HX-HPF/HPF-NPF. The down side is the CWA ballast is larger, less efficient and more expensive at times.
CWA BALLAST SUPER-CWA BALLAST
(CWI)
The constant wattage isolated transformer is similar to the CWA but the primary and secondary coils are electrically isolated from each other. These ballasts are more common in the Canadian market because of the Canadian Electric Code. These ballasts are normally larger and less efficient than the similar CWA ballasts.
CWI BALLAST CWI BALLAST/IGNITOR CWI BALLAST
(Regulated Lag)
The magnetically regulated ballast is one of the most sophisticated circuit designs. The regulated lag ballast uses three coils to provide the highest power regulation to the lamp. This ballast circuit is beneficial for lamp life and lumen maintenance. It is larger and less efficient than other types of ballasts available. If having problems with input voltage variations this ballast is the best choice.
REGULATED BALLAST/IGNITOR REGULATED BALLAST
CWA (constant wattage autotransformer) (CWA with the cap in series with the lamp only) have been known to over ride some Metal Halide and High Pressure Sodium lamps. European Metal Halide lamps are usually designed for R/HX (reactor/high reactance auto transformer) ballasts. When operated on CWA (CWA with the cap in series with the lamp only) these lamps have reduced lamp life and are notorious for cycling on/off (the lamp warms up and then turns off.).
It is very important to match lamps with the proper ballast system. Each lamp has its own requirements. One ballast system will not operate all types of lamps properly. A ballast cannot be manufactured to match all the requirements. If the lamp requirements are not met (like using a lamp not designed for that ballast) this usually causes less light output and/or shortened lamp life (other problems could very well occur).
Ignitors
Some lamps need ignitors for proper starting. Standard High Pressure Sodium and some Metal Halide lamps need ignitors. Low Pressure Sodium lamps may need an ignitor to light up (depending on the ballast type and open circuit voltage). The ignitor provides the proper starting voltage to the lamp. The voltage depends on the ignitor and ranges from ~600V to 6kV.
Most European MH lamps require the use of an ignitor. Standard North American MH lamps usually do not need or should not be used with ignitors. Using pulse ignition MH lamps on non-ignitor systems could cause premature lamp failure. A standard North American ballast (non-ignitor system) will cause excessive stress on the electrodes. Some pulse ignition lamps may not even light on these ballasts.
Standard North American MH lamps use the Open Circuit Voltage (OCV) for ignition. This type of starting is extremely stressful on lamps. The ballast provides the lamp with the proper voltage (like an ignitor) but with higher current. Lamps designed for this type of starting will have an extra electrode. This electrode (starting electrode) starts the lamp and is usually connected to a switch/resistor (inside the lamp).
Mercury Vapor operates like the Standard North American Metal Halide (self-starting).
Capacitors
Some ballasts (HPF) have capacitors for power regulation. A HPF ballast uses almost the same amount of watts as a NPF but the amp draw is different because the NPF has no cap to regulate power.
(PF) Power Factor (HPF/NPF)
Power factor ranges from 0 - 1.0. A power factor of 1.0 is ideal because it is the most efficient. Ballasts with a power factor 0.9 or greater is a high power factor (HPF). Anything less than 0.9 is a normal power factor (NPF). With HPF ballasts you can put more on a load because the HPF ballast uses less amp draw.
____P (watts)_____ = Power Factor
V (volts) x I (amps)
Common Ballast ANSI (American National Standards Institute) codes for HID lighting.
Mercury Vapor
H46 - 50 watt standard MV
H43 - 75 watt standard MV
H36 - 100 watt standard MV
H42 - 125 watt standard MV (European MV and some high pressure sodium lamps*)
H39 - 175 watt standard MV (Some high pressure sodium lamps*)
H37 - 250 watt standard MV (Some high pressure sodium lamps*)
H33 - 400 watt standard MV (Some high pressure sodium lamps*)
H36 - 1000 watt standard MV (Some high pressure sodium lamps*)
Low Pressure sodium
L69 - 18 watt LPS (SOX/SOX-E)
L70 - 35 watt LPS (SOX/SOX-E)
L71 - 55 watt LPS (SOX/SOX-E)
L72 - 90 watt LPS (SOX/SOX-E)
L73 - 135 watt LPS (SOX/SOX-E)
L74 - 180 watt LPS (SOX/SOX-E)
High Pressure Sodium
S76 - 35 watt standard HPS
S104 - 50 watt White SON
S68 - 50 watt standard HPS
S62 - 70 watt standard HPS
S105 - 100 watt White SON
S54 - 100 watt standard HPS
S55 - 150 watt (55 volt) standard HPS
S56 - 150 watt (100 volt) standard HPS (European SON/HPS lamps)
S66 - 200 watt standard HPS
S50 - 250 watt standard HPS (some metal halide*)
S51 - 400 watt standard HPS (some metal halide and European metal halide*)
SON AGRO - 430 watt SON
S106 - 600 watt standard HPS
S111 - 750 watt standard HPS
S52 - 1000 watt standard HPS
Metal Halide
M130 - 35/39 watt MH
M110 - 50 watt MH (standard and pulse start)
M85 - 70 watt MH (double-ended and BiPin lamps)
M98 - 70 watt MH (standard, pulse start, and operates some double - ended and BiPin lamps)
M139 - 70 watt MH (ceramic metal halide, some double - ended, and some BiPin lamps)
M90 - 100 watt MH (standard, pulse start, and operates some double - ended lamps)
M91 - 100 watt MH (double-ended and BiPin lamps)
M140 - 100 watt MH (ceramic metal halide, some double - ended, and some BiPin lamps)
M81 - 150 watt MH (double - ended and BiPin lamps)
M102 - 150 watt MH (standard, pulse start, and operates some double - ended and BiPin lamps)
M142 - 150 watt MH (ceramic metal halide, some double - ended, and some BiPin lamps)
M107 - 150 watt MH (energy saving probe start / Replaces 175 watt probe start lamps)
M137 - 175 watt MH (pulse start and some European lamps*)
M57 - 175 watt MH (standard probe start and some high pressure sodium lamps*)
M58 - 250 watt MH (standard probe start and some high pressure sodium lamps*)
M80 - 250 watt MH (double-ended and some European lamps*)
M138 - 250 watt MH (pulse start and some European bulbs*)
M59 - 400 watt MH (standard probe start and some high pressure sodium lamps*)
M135 - 400 watt MH (pulse start and some European lamps*)
M128 - 400 watt MH (pulse start lamps)
M47 - 1000 watt MH (standard probe start and some high pressure sodium lamps*)
M141 - 1000 watt MH (pulse start, double ended, and operates some European lamps)
M48 - 1500 watt MH (probe start lamps)
M133 - 1500 watt MH (pulse start, double-ended and some European lamps)
M134 - 2000 watt MH (pulse start - double-ended lamps)
*Note: Not all lamps are compatible. Please contact the lamp manufacturer for proper type ballast (ballast circuit and type)
If having trouble matching lamps and ballasts please feel free to contact me.
Maximum ballast to lamp mounting distance (in feet)
(ANSI Specification)
Wire gauge #10 #12 #14 #16 #18
H38 100MV 750 470 295 185 115
M57 175MH / 175MV 420 250 150 100 65
M58 250MH / 250MV 300 200 125 75 50
M59 400MH / 400MV 200 125 75 50 25
M47 1000MH /1000MV 325 200 125 75 50
M48 1500MH 225 125 75 50 35
The mounting distance for an ignitor + ballast depends on the ignitor and wire type.
Ballast Type Differences
Ballast Types
|
 |
Reactor
|
HX-HPF/NPF
|
CWA
|
CWI
|
Reg Lag
|
|
Ballast Efficiency
|
|
Excellent
|
Good
|
Good
|
Good
|
Fair
|
|
Power Factor
|
|
90/50*
|
90/50*
|
90 Avg.
|
90-100
|
90 Avg.
|
|
Lamp Wattage Regulation
|
|
Good
|
Good
|
Excellent
|
Excellent
|
Outstanding
|
|
Starting/Open Circuit Currents
|
|
Fair
|
Fair
|
Excellent
|
Excellent
|
Excellent
|
|
Current Crest Factor
|
|
Excellent
|
Excellent
|
Good
|
Good
|
Excellent
|
|
Input Voltage Dip Tolerance
|
|
Good
|
Good
|
Excellent
|
Excellent
|
Outstanding
|
|
Lamp Life / Lumen Maintenance
|
Excellent
|
Excellent
|
Good
|
Good
|
Excellent
|
|
Isolation
|
|
No
|
No
|
No
|
Yes
|
Yes
|
|
90/50* = 90 HPF Avg. / 50 NPF Avg.
Drawings, text, and pictures by: Paul Erik Hirvonen
