A study of the high intensity discharge lamp-electronic ballast interface

New electronic ballasts for high intensity discharge lamps have been introduced. The purpose of this paper is to identify requirements of the ballast interface from the perspective of the lamp. Acceptable electronic ballasts for HID lamps will result in lamp performance with equivalent or better then ANSI compliant magnetic ballasts. This study addresses proper starting, run-up, and steady state operation of HID lamps on electronic ballasts. Resonant and pulse ignition, run-up current and voltage requirements, acoustic resonance effects, and electrode instabilities are covered. The paper concludes with a summary of ballast requirements necessary to provide long lamp life.