Evaluation of Operational Characteristics Of Electronic Ballasts For Metal-Halide HID Lamps

Electronic ballasts are needed to shape the voltage and current waveforms which suit the needs of the metal-halide, high-intensity discharge (HID) lamps. This paper deals with the evaluation of the low frequency and the high frequency operations of electronic ballasts. The results are analyzed in terms of lamps operating characteristics. A boost converter works as CCM PFC in both the operations. A DC/DC buck and a full-bridge inverters are used for low frequency operations. An LCC resonant inverter is used for high frequency operations. Simulation results and actual test bench results are shown for both 100 W and 400 W metal-halide HID lamps. It is concluded that the choice is between cost and reliability corresponding to high frequency and low frequency operations, respectively.