Power quality design implications of high frequency lighting ballasts and controls

It is pointed out that solid-state high-frequency ballasts for fluorescent lamps offer the potential of large energy savings. Depending on the lamp and ballast configuration the savings could be as large as 60%, and this does not include secondary savings, such as air-conditioning (higher-efficiency lamps and ballasts put less heat into the conditioned space). It is noted that most high frequency ballasts today have solved the problems of living with dirty power lines and do not inject large amounts of harmonics back on the power lines. The author discusses how this is done and at what cost. It is argued that the cost is affordable in consideration of the energy reduction capabilities, but more support is needed from the power companies to reduce the payback times for the end user.<>