Ballasts for UV-C Germicidal Lamps

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Starting Types for our Germicidal Ballasts:

Ballasts can be designed with a few different lamp start types to ensure the optimal performance for the uvc bulb type being used.

• Instant Start: High voltage is applied directly to the electrodes with no heating. This sparks the lamp immediately and the heating of the electrodes is done by the electrical arc within the lamp. This mechanism is the cheapest but also the hardest on the life of the electrodes in the lamp.
• Rapid Start: Current is applied to the electrodes at the same time as the high voltage. The current heats the electrode but since there isn’t time between the two mechanisms, the electrodes can spark before they are heated sufficiently. This start is an “in-between” for the other two staring mechanisms. It is more cost efficient than the programmed start and not as hard on the electrodes as the instant start. This is the most common start type.
• Programmed Start: A voltage is applied to the electrode that is too low to start the lamp but preheats the electrodes. After a set amount of time has elapsed, the high sparking voltage is applied. These two steps are pre-programmed into the ballast by the manufacturer based on the components of the ballasts circuitry. This can delay the starting of the lamp by a few seconds but it greatly improves lamp life, especially in applications where there are multiple lamp starts per day.

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We offer both standard designs as well as new customized designs to meet your requirements. We never charge NRE on new designs and our pricing is structured to be very competitive with off-the-shelf options. Just let us know your requirements by entering them here. We offer direct equivalents to many of the standard designs within the industry, with added benefits. Contact us today for a list of standard designs with UL approvals.

How Do UVC Ballasts Function in Disinfection Systems?

A UVC ballast helps to regulate the flow of current to the uvc blub or lamp, providing sufficient voltage to power it. Without a ballast, a mercury based lamp connected directly to a power source will quickly draw high voltage and current, which would result in the lamp becoming overheated and ultimately being destroyed. The function of the ballast is to supply a high voltage for a short period of time so that an arc is formed between two electrodes. Once an arc is formed, the ballast quickly reduces the voltage and draws enough current from the source to produce a steady light output. Our ballasts can operate with either AC or DC input voltage, which it can then transform to between a couple hundred, to a couple of thousand-volts of high output current to light a lamp. Once an ultraviolet lamp is illuminated the ballast regulates the current whilst still having enough potential difference between the diodes to sustain the arc. The cost of ballast depends on the size of the lamp and the power frequency.

UV-C Ballast Selection Tips

UVC Germicidal Spectrum

This is the most potentially dangerous form of UV light and has the shortest UV wavelength (between 200-280 nm). The emitted radiation destroys the DNA of microorganisms, preventing reproduction and causing cell death. They are used commercially for applications such as water purification, surface disinfection and sterilization. When used for disinfection it prolongs shelf life, preserves nutritional value and eliminates health hazards. Germicidal ultraviolet lights are supplied in the form of mercury based tubes or more recently, as LEDs.

Though ultraviolet bulbs and germicidal bulbs look similar to fluorescent lamps, they are very different, hence the requirement of special ballast. To continue to learn more, read our design note: Ballasts for UVC Lamps – The Basics.