Electronic balast??

[Rob]

http://www.tanamerica.com/salonelectricalpower.html

Here is TA website claiming that these ballast accomplish this.

Is this BS or is there any truth to it. I can see a few claims, but some of the others are a little out there if you ask me.

[Brian Oshman]

Electronic ballasts will put out more then a comparable choke or mag ballast of the same wattage. The electronic ballast raises the operating frequency from line voltage, 60Hz to about 20KHz. Choke and mag operate at line frequency.

What this does is smooth out the waveform (less flicker) and the lamp will in a sense burn more rapidly as the polarity of the waveform switches back and forth. Unlike a battery which provides direct current, polarity in one direction negative to positive, alternating current switches polarity from positive to negative back and forth at a specified frquency. Line voltage switches back and forth 60 times a second whereas the electronic ballast is switching back and forth 20,000 times a second.

During the cycle the voltage drops down to zero and then ramps back up in the oposite polarity to peak and then goes back the other way at frquency speed.

The lamp has less chance of dipping to zero output during the cycle change at the higher frequency but the drawback is that the lamp is being used up more rapidly and will not last as long.

Plan on more lamp changes with these ballasts. You may use a little less electricity (not much) and create a little less heat but the savings will more then be chewed up in more lamp changes and more labor to do so.

[Rob]

according to the website, your lamps will last longer..

Significantly reduced energy costs ...see annual savings on chart below
Reduced radiant heat...even more savings...less annual AC consumption
Higher energy efficiency
Longer lamp life
Longer ballast life
Improved UV output
Lower maintenance costs
Lower freight cost

[EliteMike]

can old beds be retrofitted with electronic? Rob I seen an article about these a long time ago, I'm not sure if i was even into tanning at the time. Same thing they are saying, but Brian seems to debunk it. ??

The lamp has less chance of dipping to zero output during the cycle change at the higher frequency but the drawback is that the lamp is being used up more rapidly and will not last as long.

This is what I'm confused about, I always thought the worst thing for a lamp was the on off cycle. I know this isn't the same as killing the power completely and it happens at a fraction of a second, but wouldn't more consistent power actually save the components?

[Rob]

anyone else have any imput??

I would really like to know the facts...not just the marketing hype.

[EliteMike]

I know all my overhead lighting is electronic

[Rob]

i am sure that the theory, its a great idea. I just am looking for facts and not marketing bs.

[Rob]

anyone??

Brian has given me some great info. Just wondered if anyone else wanted to pony up and add their 2 cents!!

[Rob]

Electronic Ballast vs. Magnetic Choke

I never knew there was anything called a magnetic Choke. I thought it was either magnetic OR choke?

[Brian Oshman]

A magnetic ballast has two coils and magnetically transfer the current from one coil to the other without any physical connection. Essentially a transformer.

A choke ballast or inductor is a single coil that is electrically coupled to line voltage, no magnetic transfer.

[Rob]

Thanks Brian.

[EWoll]

• Electronic ballasts, due to high frequency operation, provide more UV output than magnetic ballasts.
• Electronic ballasts are more energy efficient than magnetic ballasts, resulting in cost savings for salon owners. In addition to reduced power consumption, electronic ballasts generate far less heat than magnetic ballasts, allowing salon owners to reduce their utility costs – less need for ac to cool salons. >>
• Reduced heat also results in more comfort for users.>>
• The results above are achieved with no negative impact to lamp life. >>

>>
Please advise if any additional information is required. >>
>>
Sincerely,>>
>>
Tom Kim>>

[EWoll]

Last post was an excerpt from an email sent to us from the ballast mfg.

Sorry, I know this thread is pretty old. But that our two cents worth

[thenewsundeck]

In my opinion...if Brian says it, it is GOLDEN!

[danggirl]

electronic ballast will give you a better tan and longer lamp life. There has been alot of studies on this subject. Look on the N.E.C. website and search about this on there they have alot of great information on this subject.

[solarmeter®]

Has anyone tried a 5.0 meter with same kind (and age) of lamps on E-ballast vs conventional and seen either higher or lower output?

[solarmeter®]

What? Nobody has tried this? Even Brian?

[Jack]

I got some numbers on this. I will have to look them up and post them. I have several salons and I have changed most of my base beds from the old magnetic sundash beds (Sundash 226gf) to the new sundash 332 pro with the electronic ballast. The new beds lamps last way longer. I can easily get 700 to 800 hours out of the lamps. In fact at this point the output was still great but lamps actually started to burn out so I needed to change my lamps. The older sundash beds only got 400-500 hours before they needed to get changed. Without a doubt the lamps last longer use less electricity and create way less heat. I put an amp proble on my new beds and they only draw about 11 amps compared to 15 amps on my old beds. The new ones also have 6 more lamps as well. When I find my number I will post them