How do I Match Ballasts & HID Lamps?
Matching bulbs to ballasts may seem daunting at first but if you stick to American bulbs that meet ANSI standards, it is easy and safe. ANSI is the American National Standards Institute and it decides what the standards are for a variety of products. Ballasts regulate the amount of current that can feed into lamps rendering them safe. Without a ballast, HID lamps would pull too much current and burn out or explode. Metal halide and sodium vapor lamps are the most common consumer used HID (High Intensity Discharge) lamps, replacing mercury vapor lamps because of their toxicity. HID lamps put out many more lumens than fluorescent bulbs and manufacturers can adjust the wavelengths of light the bulb produces to suit specific tasks.
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Instructions
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Look at the information inked on the bulb to determine the wattage and start type on your metal halide or sodium vapor lamp. PS indicates pulse-start rather than the traditional probe start and the ballast should be of the same type. Pulse-start bulbs, the newer technology, put out a burst of energy to kick-start the bulb.
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Determine the ANSI code for the bulb. MH stands for metal halide while the M## or M### is the ANSI code. S stands for sodium vapor lamps while H stands for mercury vapor lamps. For example: 100W PS MH M90, means 100-watt, pulse start, metal halide, M90 ANSI code.
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Match the ballast type to the bulb by looking at the information inked on the ballast. The ballast that matches your metal halide or sodium vapor bulb will also be marked with the same ANSI code as the bulb. For instance, in the example used above, the ballast needed would be a PS M90.
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Tips & Warnings
Newer bulbs may start with the ANSI number but would still be recognizable as M## or M###.
There are new electric start ballasts that you can use on either type of bulb, pulse or probe.
If the lamp is PS, make sure that the ballast is as well or your lamp won't light.
Mixing the wrong ballast with a metal halide lamp can lead to explosive catastrophic failure.
Although advanced European metal halide bulbs may be attractive, it is unlikely that you will find ballasts to match.
References
Resources
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