1. Where can I find information about the UltraMax™ electronic ballast system?
With GE's new line of UltraMax™ ballasts, lighting systems save more energy, become more adaptable, and deliver optimal lamp performance.
- UltraMax™ ballasts can virtually "read" the incoming voltage and adapt automatically to any voltage from 108V to 305V.
- Multi-Voltage Control (MVC) means fewer models handling more jobs, which reduces inventory requirements.
- UltraMax™'s high-efficiency design results in ultra-cool operation, providing AC energy savings during peak demand periods.
- UltraMax™ is the only full line of T8 ballasts with a UL type CC anti-arc rating.
2. Why do fluorescent lamps need a ballast?
Fluorescent light bulbs need a ballast because they use a gas to create light. When the gas is excited by electricity, it emits invisible ultraviolet light that hits the white coating inside the fluorescent bulb. The coating changes the ultraviolet light into light you can see. (Because fluorescent bulbs don't use heat to create light, they are far more energy-efficient than regular incandescent bulbs.)
The combination of gas, electricity, and coating in a fluorescent bulb is so effective at producing light that, without something to regulate the electricity flowing into the bulb, the light will continue to gain intensity until the bulb stops working. That's where a ballast comes in. It supplies the initial electricity that creates the light, and then it regulates the amount of electricity flowing through the bulb so that the right amount of light is emitted.