Before answering what an emergency ballast for an LED tube is, we will define a ballast. A ballast is an electronic device that regulates or limits the amount of electric current in the light circuit.
If a ballast is not used, then the current will not be regulated and the light system can be damaged in case the current rises. It transforms raw power into a form needed by the light source.
Now, speaking of emergency ballast, it is a ballast that is designed to be operated in an emergency mode i.e. when there is a disruption in the main power supply. Emergency ballasts can provide lighting in an emergency mode as they operate off a rechargeable battery.
So, an emergency ballast for LED tube is a ballast that transforms your normal LED tube into an emergency LED tube.
There is a difference between a ballast used in a fluorescent and a driver used in an LED. But these two terms are used interchangeably in the case of an LED.
Ballasts were popular for fluorescent tubes before LEDs. After the LEDs came into the market, LED drivers were also introduced as LEDs require little power in the form of DC which was to be delivered by those drivers.
They are specifically to be called LED drivers but some people called them LED ballasts picking the term from their fluorescent counterparts.
Emergency ballast used in LED is the emergency driver and it is different from fluorescent ballast although they have similar functions.
The function of an emergency fluorescent ballast is to generate a spike of high AC voltage that strikes an arc. The AC passes from cathode to anode inside the discharge tube to turn the lamp on. After that, fluorescent ballast regulates the current passing through the tube.
Unlike fluorescent tubes, LEDs require a DC source of low voltage. So, the emergency ballast for LED (i.e. LED driver) converts AC of high voltage into DC of low voltage. So, the LED driver acts as AC to DC converter.
LED does not require a fluorescent ballast as a driver is capable of performing many similar functions and the operation is also more efficient. Also, LEDs are much smaller than fluorescent tubes and a fluorescent ballast doesn’t fit there. The LED driver can be designed in smaller sizes and hence is suited for LEDs.
Most of the emergency LED ballasts come with a dimming feature as this will save some battery charge and help to extend the power backup life. The illumination output during emergency mode will be less than that during normal mode.
However, some ballasts do not have this feature and they provide full power to LED tubes in emergency mode like that in normal mode.
It depends on your lighting needs whether to go for emergency ballast with a dimming feature or not. If the dimming feature doesn’t affect your business operations, you can opt for dimming LED ballast. If that does like the operation of a surgery room, then opt for non-dimming LED ballast.
An LED emergency ballast or driver can supply power to an LED tube for a minimum of 90 minutes in emergency mode.
Sanforce is a top leading manufacturer and distributor of emergency lighting products including emergency ballast for LED tubes. The LED emergency ballasts offered by us are certified and meet standards of safety. We offer the best ballasts or drivers currently available in the market. If you are checking out at Sanforce, there is no need to look further.
Sanforce is at the forefront when it comes to manufacturing and distributing quality and cost-effective emergency ballasts for LED or fluorescent tubes. In addition to the readily available emergency ballasts, we can also supply customised emergency ballasts to meet your specific lighting needs.
Safety is our primary concern. So, the emergency lighting products offered by Sanforce have various certifications and they meet usage and safety standards.
They have certificates such as CE, RoHs, EMC, SASO, etc. You can find them on Our Factory Page, download and view them.
As a leading supplier of emergency lighting products, we supply our genuine products in different parts of the world including the UK, the UAE and several other countries.
To contact Sanforce, you can click on “Request A Quote” which you find at the top of our site or webpage. All you need to do is fill up the form by entering your name, email, phone number, subject and message itself and then submit it to us to send us a no-obligation free quote request. For bulk orders, we can also send samples of our lighting products.
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