Optimized design of the electronic ballast for metal halide lamps

Abstract

For both indoor and outdoor lighting, the metal halide (MH) lamp has much better properties than other discharge lamps in color stability, color rendering, light efficiency and life cycle. So, the electronic ballast plays an important role in the MH lamp lighting. However, there are two factors to be considered. One is how to design the electronic ballast architecture such as volume, weight and circuit topology, the other is how to match electronic ballasts and lamps with high efficiency, high stability and long lamp life. Most of all, it is an important point that the operating temperature of igniting MH lamps can be controlled under safety range. In this paper, an optimal design for electronic ballasts involving small volume, concise circuit, higher energy efficiency, and stable system is held. Therefore, the ballast is the most sophisticated design which can also be applied for other high intensity discharge lamps. Finally, the performance of the optimal design verifies with 150 watts electronic ballast.