New fluorescent ballast energy efficiency regulations took effect in November.
The new rules expand previous regulations to cover seven classes of T12, T8 and T5 fluorescent lamp ballasts.
Outdoor sign and residential-only ballasts, exempted from previous DOE ballast regulations, are now covered and will be significantly affected.
Exempted are dimming ballasts that dim to 50 percent or lower output, T8 magnetic ballasts labeled and marketed only for use in electromagnetic interference- sensitive applications (and sold in packages of 10 or fewer units), and programmed-start ballasts operating 4-foot medium bi-pin lamps that deliver less than 140 milliamperes to each lamp (0.71 ballast factor).
According to manufacturers, many T12 electronic ballasts comply with the new rules, while some are being redesigned and others discontinued. T12 magnetic sign ballasts are being discontinued, with T12 electronic ballasts as an alternative. A large number of residential-only ballasts are being discontinued while some will be re-engineered. Today’s offering of T8 and T5 electronic ballasts complies. The net effect of the regulation appears to be elimination of previously exempted T12 magnetic sign and residential-only ballasts, and a marginal efficiency improvement in the T12 electronic ballast offering.
Learn more from this article I wrote about the regulations for the November issue of ELECTRICAL CONTRACTOR.
