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Posted By: Obsaleet Fluorescent Lighting calculations - 12/10/12 12:10 AM
I must be getting old!! I connot seem to remember how to find the wattage of a fluorescent fixture. 2 f40's with a magnetic ballast? I think .51 for the ballast.


Ob
Posted By: sparkyinak Re: Fluorescent Lighting calculations - 12/10/12 04:08 AM
It is based on tha ballast rating. If the fixture info is in front of me, I go to manufacters website and find a similar ballast and pad my numbers to be on the safe side
Posted By: gfretwell Re: Fluorescent Lighting calculations - 12/10/12 08:01 AM
I think there is some safety margin built into that "40w".
When I put my clamp on a shop lite fixture with to F40CWs in it I actually get less than 80w, ballast and all.

Someone point out it might just be the meter is not handling the wave form properly tho.
Posted By: sparkyinak Re: Fluorescent Lighting calculations - 12/10/12 09:10 AM
According to the GE Lighting Institute, the watt rating of the bulbs has nothing to do with the draw of the fixture. Hence, use the ballast rating
Posted By: Obsaleet Re: Fluorescent Lighting calculations - 12/16/12 07:15 PM
This is why I am confused. I thought that you add the ballast to the lamps and thats your total. Then I googled just to see and found so many different ways and none ended with the same result.
Posted By: HTSR77 Re: Fluorescent Lighting calculations - 12/16/12 08:40 PM
I agree with SparkinAK. When determining the size of the connected load or branch circuit for lighting, the ballast input in watts is used.
Posted By: HotLine1 Re: Fluorescent Lighting calculations - 12/17/12 04:33 AM
Ballast data is used for actual lighting connected load calcs. Using the bulb wattage (2x40, 4x32,) can be used for a 'ballpark' figurre, which will be higher most of the time, than actual.

The same applies for HID lighting, use ballast data, not bulb wattage.
Posted By: frenchelectrican Re: Fluorescent Lighting calculations - 12/17/12 11:17 AM
Normally I use the ballast data to sized the circuit and I don't bother to read the lamp wattage but useally resvered for ballpark figures plus add about 20% or so so you should land right on the spot.

Merci,
Marc
Posted By: Scott35 Re: Fluorescent Lighting calculations - 12/27/12 10:33 AM
I agree with the previously posts - use the Ballast Data.

BTW, A Magnetic Rapid Start Ballast Load for Driving (2) F40T12 Lamps would be:

Line Input - 120 VAC:
Line Amperes = 0.69A
ANSI Watts = 82W
Average Ballast Factor = 0.84
BEF (Eff. Factor) = 1.02

Line Input - 277 VAC:
Line Amperes = 0.33A
ANSI Watts = 90W
Average Ballast Factor = 0.87
BEF (Eff. Factor) = 1.04

BTW, these figures are for F40T12 Lamps driven with the Cathodes being constantly Heated - AKA Rapid Start / Hot Cathode Operation.
Values will be lower for Instant Start Ballasting.
For Programmed Start Ballasting, the initial or Maximum Values will be similar.

Lamps will almost always draw less Wattage than they are rated at - especially when operated in extremely Cold or Warm environments.

--Scott (EE)
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