Compatible ballast for CFLs
Compatible ballast for CFLs
The English electronics manufacturer Triteco recently introduced a very compact electronic ballast intended for use with modular compact fluorescent lamps, mainly in residential applications. One major advantage of the ballast is its compatibility with most lamps on the market: The ballast comes in three models: One to be used with any CFL from 5 to 13 W, one with 18-W lamps, and the third with any CFL from 26-32 W.
The unit weighs only 60 grams, and the format is compact: 70 mm long and 48 mm in diameter. The ballasts are available in both 110-120-volt and 220-240-volt versions. The power factor of the ballast is >0.9, and the THD is close to 15%.
The product is currently undergoing independent testing. According to the manufacturer, the electronics compensates for use with lamps of different wattage, and the relative losses with lower-wattage lamps are only marginally higher. The rated life is >30000 hours.
The ballast is available in models for both pendant and surface-mounted lamps. Triteco intends to sell the ballast in large quantities to luminaire manufacturers. It is, for instance, equipped with a European standard 40-mm shade ring (where the lamp shade can be attached to the ballast) and mounting-bracket accessories.
Wholesale prices for the ballast are about £8.50 (US$13) for 10 000 units, and about £6 (US$9) for quantities over 100000.
Nils Borg