light.pdf

800-451-2606 or (440) 248-3510 Fax (800) 451-2605 www.venturelighting.com E-mail: [email protected]

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T E C H N I C A L I N F O R M A T I O N

Metal Halide Technical Intro 90Explains metal halide benefits

Uni-Form® Pulse Start Systems 91Explains benefits and features of Uni-Formlamps and Opti-Wave™ ballasts

LAMPSLight Output 93

Explains lamp lumen measurements

Light Color 94Explains CCT, CRI and spectral distribution

Designing for Low Light Levels 95Discusses eye color sensitivity and light level factors that affect lighting design

Proper Use of MH Lamps 96Follow these guidelines for safe operation and maximum design performance

Lamp Life & Group Relamping 97Consider “rated life” and “economic life” for group relamping in your lighting decisions

Open-rated Lamps 98Venture’s protected lamps meet insurance industry recommendations and requirements of the2005 National Electrical Code® (NEC)

BALLASTS Ballast Introduction and History 99

Explains the need for ballasts

Ballast Types 100Compare ballast functions and available circuit types

Ballast Performance 101Review the significant ballast design variables that affect specifications

Lamp Starting 102Explains HID system starting characteristics

Capacitors 102Identifies the function and operation of the basic technologies

Ignitors 103Ignitors optimize lamp starting and life

Remote Mounting 103Summarizes maximum remote ballast distances

Grounding & Wiring 104These electrical requirements assure safe ballast installation

Circuit Loading 104Review open circuit, starting and operating current and how they relate to proper circuit loading

Agency Certification 104These are the recognized certification marks for theU.S. and Canada

Ignitor & Capacitor Figures 105Bulb and Base Comparison 105Bracket Figures 106Glossary 107

IntroductionMetal halide lighting users expect long life, highlumen output, quick starting and energy efficiency.Venture’s Uni-Form® pulse start lamps attain a newlevel of performance including a wide range ofwattages to serve a growing list of applications.Each lamp type is optimized for maintainedlumens, life and color consistency. Uni-Formpulse start lamps warm up quickly because of theirdesign, and restart quickly after a power outage.Their full performance potential is realized onlywhen the lamp operates on the right ballast.

Consensus standards among lamp and ballastmanufacturers assure compatibility of various lighting components. In North America, ANSIcodes are used. Internationally, IEC codes areused. These codes assure that lamps and components from different manufacturers worktogether. They describe product physical dimensions as well as thermal and electrical requirements.

Opti-Wave™ ballasts were developed especially forthe Uni-Form pulse start lamp family. These highlyefficient ballasts offer superior lamp regulationcharacteristics for optimal color uniformity.Growing evidence also shows higher maintainedlumens on Opti-Wave ballasts. Venture also makespulse start CWA ballasts for Uni-Form pulse startlamps as well as a full line of CWA ballasts forprobe start metal halide lamps.

Venture Lighting makes both lamps and ballastsand supports industry standards. Venture optimizes lamps and ballasts for peak system performance that goes beyond the standards. This is reflected in our warranty policy whenVenture lamps and ballasts are used together. This technical reference provides information on our lamps and ballasts.

Designed to be better

Section Index

http://www.venturelighting.com


The Metal Halide AdvantageT E C H N I C A L I N F O R M A T I O N

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CharacteristicsThe unique characteristics of metal halide lightingprovide high performance such as:

Long Life Metal halide lamps have an average life of 15,000-20,000+ hours, more than ten times that ofincandescent lamps.

Better Light QualityThe output of metal halide lamps is closer to natural sunlight than most other light sources.People prefer white light because of better visualacuity, even at lower light levels.

Designable Color Metal halide lamps can be designed to producealmost any color temperature desired, from 2700Kto 20,000K. Specialty colors, including blue, green,aqua and pink, can also be produced.

Excellent Color RenderingMetal halide lamps offer excellent color renderingwith a 65-90 CRI (color rendering index).

Compact Size Metal halide lamps generate high light levels from a compact light source. This allows for smaller,more controllable luminaires.

Versatility Metal halide lamps are unaffected by ambient temperature and are equally suited for indoor oroutdoor use. Extensive size and wattage optionsallow for many applications.

High Efficiency Metal halide lamps generate 65-115 lumens perwatt, more than incandescent, fluorescent or mercury vapor lamps. (see chart at right)

Positive Environmental Impact Since metal halide lamps deliver light more efficiently than incandescent, widespread acceptance of the technology has had a positive effect on air quality and the environmental wastestream. Lower electrical power generating requirements means less air pollution. Efficientlong-life systems mean less landfill waste.

TechnologyGoes Head-to-HeadMH vs. IncandescentA 100 watt metal halide lamp provides five timesthe lumen output of a 100 watt incandescent lamp, and will last 20 times longer. Although incandescent has a low initial lamp cost, metalhalide has lower total operating cost over life.

MH vs. Mercury VaporMercury lamps have long life, but are not as energy efficient as metal halide, producing only 35-58 lumens per watt. Their limited blue-green lightspectrum has a lower CRI than metal halide.

MH vs. HPSWhile HPS lamps offer long life, they do not deliverthe same light quality as metal halide. Because oftheir dominant sodium content, HPS lamps yieldstrong yellow light (2200K) and have a very poorCRI of 20-25. The full spectrum light of metalhalide lamps has a much higher CRI.

MH vs. FluorescentFluorescent lamps are harder to direct because oftheir larger size. One 100 watt metal halide lampproduces the same light as three 48” high outputT8 fluorescent lamps. Metal halide lamps also tolerate a wider operating temperature range.Fluorescents are often limited to temperature-controlled indoor applications. T8 fluorescentlamps perform optimally at approximately 77°F(25°C), degrading measurably as temperaturevaries. T5 lamps perform similarly, but peak at95°F (35°C).

Wider Range of ApplicationsSpecifiers can now select from a broad variety of lamp types and wattages to suit almost anyapplication. Metal halide lighting is used todayindoors and out, for industrial, commercial, retail and municipal spaces. Popular for sports facilities, and site lighting, it is increasingly found in supermarkets, big box retail, offices and lobbies.

The Most Advanced TechnologyA major advancement in metal halide lighting wasthe introduction of Venture’s revolutionary Uni-Form® pulse start system. This second generationtechnology holds the future for metal halide. Uni-Form pulse start systems offer up to 50%more lumens per system watt than do traditionalmetal halide lamps and ballasts. Its capabilitiescontinue to improve. Recently, Venture became the only manufacturer to offer Uni-Form pulse startlamps optimized for horizontal-only operation. Ourhigh wattage e-Lamp™, designed to operate onhigh frequency electronic ballasts with built-in dimming down to 35% power, is another uniquenew high performance product. New developmentswill soon bring better lumen maintenance and evenmore wattage options for specifiers.

Metal halide generates light closer to sunlightthan any other HID light source.

A more efficient light source also means less waste.

Five times more efficient than incandescent LUMENS PER WATT

WHITE LIGHT SOURCES

0 20 40 60 80 100 120

Incandescent 15-35

Fluorescent 30-98

White HPS 40-47

Metal Halide 65-115

Mercury 35-58



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Pulse Start Technical InformationT E C H N I C A L I N F O R M A T I O N

UNI-FORM® PULSE STARTLAMP TECHNOLOGYUni-Form pulse start lamps provide superior performance compared to traditional metal halidelamps. The specific benefits are higher efficacy,better color uniformity, faster warm-up, improvedlumen maintenance and longer life. It all takesplace in Venture’s revolutionary formed-body arc tube.

One key to superior lamp performance is heatmanagement. In traditional arc tubes, uneven heating prevented optimum arc enhancement.Venture created an exclusive, tipless formed-bodyarc tube, sculpted to follow the actual curve of thearc stream. The shape creates a more uniformtemperature profile. Higher temperatures drawmore halides into the stream, resulting in more light generated. Our unique sculpting process alsomolds each arc tube for improved color uniformity.

SYSTEM SOLUTIONSVenture’s pulse start system technology, actualizedin Uni-Form pulse start lamps and Opti-Wave™

ballasts, represents advancement as important asthe invention of the metal halide lamp. Everychange in arc tube design, lamp construction andthe ballast enhances overall system performance.This metal halide focus allows us to offer a vastarray of integrated packages, providing optimumlighting efficacy and quality for virtually any application.

HIGH PERFORMANCEDESIGNFormed-Body Arc TubeThe shape of our formed-body quartz arc tube follows the actual curve of the arc stream, preventinguneven temperatures in the arc tube surface. Thissignificantly improved thermalperformance allows morehalides to be pulled intothe arc and more light tobe emitted.

Reduced PinchSealsThe large pinch fins ontraditional metal halidearc tubes radiate heat.Reducing the quartz massin the arc tube helps in producing a more uniformthermal profile which results ingreater lamp efficacy.

Tipless Arc TubeThe exhaust tip on traditional arctubes creates a cold spot whichdegrades arc tube performance.The exclusive tipless design ensures a totally uniform arc tube shape, improving efficacy andcolor uniformity.

High Voltage Pulse IgnitionHigh voltage pulse starting eliminates the starterelectrode, bi-metal switch and resistor of standardprobe start lamps. It also provides quicker breakdown of gases; so starting (cold and hot) is faster.

Higher Fill PressureOur formed-body design and pulse ignition support a higher fill gas level that helps to reducewall blackening caused by tungsten sputteringfrom the electrodes during starting.

Weldless Arc Tube MountVenture’s nearly unbreakable, patented weldlessconstruction is stronger than traditional weldedmounts.

Opti-Wave BallastsThe lower current crest factor in the electrical output of our ballasts improves lamp lumen maintenance. Ballast energy losses are reduced byas much as 50% compared to standard CWA ballasts, and ballast noise levels are significantly reduced.

HIGH PERFORMANCERESULTSSuperior Lumen MaintenanceUni-Form pulse start system lumen output doesnot decay as rapidly over life as traditional metalhalide. Mean lumens improve dramatically, up to 50% higher, with lamps operating on Opti-Wavelow current crest factor ballasts.

Longer LifeUni-Form pulse start systems offer up to 50%longer lamp life along with improved lumen maintenance. This directly benefits end-users by reducing lifetime operating costs. While 50% ofstandard metal halide lamps survive at the end oftheir rated life, 70% of Uni-Form pulse start lampswill still be operating.

Pinch Fin

Pinch Fin

Electrode

Electrode

Exhaust Tip

Starter Electrode

Arc Chamber

Lumen Maintenance Comparison

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p Lu

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15,000

20,000

45,000

35,000

40,000

25,000

30,000

20,000

15,0005,000 10,000

MH 400W/UMH 400W/UMH 400W/U

Uni-Form®

MS 350W/V/PSMS 350W/V/PSUni-Form®

MS 350W/V/PS

Uni-Form®

MS 300W/V/ED28/PSMS 300W/V/ED28/PSUni-Form®

MS 300W/V/ED28/PS

Uni-Form Pulse Start Advantage

Standard

Hours10,000 15,000

30,000

20,000



Uni-Form®

Pulse Start Technical InformationT E C H N I C A L I N F O R M A T I O N

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Color UniformityLamp-to-lamp color variations occur due to arctube temperature differences and poor power regulation. Venture minimizes variation throughconsistent thermal characteristics in every arc tubeand better power control from ballasts.

Better Cold StartingUni-Form technology offers more reliable starting at extreme temperatures, down to -40°C (-40°F). It’s perfect for winter weatheror warehouse freezer conditions.

Faster Warm-Up/RestrikeCombining our exclusive formed-body arc tubeand ignitor starting with our low current crest factor ballasts, provides faster initial warm-up and hot restrike in up to 60% less time.

Improved Lamp Power ControlThe well regulated output power of our ballastsimproves color uniformity and lumen maintenance.

Quieter OperationVenture’s Opti-Wave ballasts run at least 25%quieter than comparable CWA ballasts due tonon-saturation of the core.

Opti-Wave Ballast For Improved PerformanceThe Venture® Opti-Wave family sets the Gold Standard in ballast performance with an optimized current wave form. To maximizeyour pulse start metal halide system, specify Opti-Wave multi-tap or power saving Opti-Wave277V ballasts.

THE BOTTOM LINE ISMORE LIGHT FORLESS ENERGY. Uni-Form® pulse start technologyexceeds expectations.More light for less energy makes Uni-Form pulsestart the most logical lighting choice for designersand corporate energy managers seeking to drastically cut power bills. Compared to standardmetal halide, Venture’s revolutionary system offersup to 50% improvement in system mean lumensper watt. In practical applications, the higher efficiency can translate into a savings of more than100 watts per luminaire! And that savings isacheived while still producing the same, or more,high quality light.

-40 C

Standard

Uni-FormPulse StartAdvantage

-30 C

+400

20,000

Colo

r Var

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Hours of Operation

+200

+300

+100

0

-200

-100

-300

-400

Color Uniformity

4,000 8,000 12,000 16,000

Traditional Metal Halide

Uni-Form® Pulse Start Systems

Ballast Type

Ballast Noise Levels

300W 300W 350W 350W 450W 450WOpti-Wave CWA Opti-Wave CWA Opti-Wave CWA

20

25

30

35

40

45

400

420

440

380

360

120 160150140130Lamp Voltage

Lamp Wattage Regulation

Opti-Wave™

Standard CWA

Lamp Pow

er340

Uni-Form pulse start

Power Level

Time in Minutes10

2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30

Standard

Ceramic

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0

2

4

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-2

-4

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8Time

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Opti-Wave™

Standard CWA

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)

9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20-6



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Light OutputThe lumen output values at specific hours of lamplife can be measured and plotted. This lumenmaintenance (or lumen depreciation) curve contains important data for lighting designers. Though initial lumen ratings at 100 hours are frequently the basis for comparing light sources,mean lumens, determined at 40% of rated lamplife, are the most important. Mean lumen ratingsare based on lamp operation of 10 hours per start(except where noted). Lamp lumens are measuredon a reference ballast in the designed operatingposition at the rated lamp wattage.

Lumen maintenance curves represent the lampmanufacturer’s estimate of the best lamp lumenoutput plotted over time. Typically, each group oflamps tested will display a range or scatter oflumen maintenance values at each interval measured. Therefore, individual lamps may vary from published mean lumen ratings.

Many factors affect the performance of metalhalide lamps over time. Most of these factors (see table) are controllable in the design of thelighting system. Incorporating as many of the optimized conditions as possible will deliver thebest performance from any given metal halidelighting system. More light reducing conditionspresent in the design of the lighting system createa gap between published “optimized” ratings and actual lighting system performance - thegreater the light reducing conditions, the greaterthe gap.

For example, Venture’s Uni-Form® pulse start lampoperated on an a low current crest factor Opti-Wave™ ballast and other optimized conditionscan be expected to deliver mean lumensapproaching 80%. In contrast, a traditional metalhalide system operating under light-reducing conditions may deliver only 50% lumen maintenance. Venture Lighting publishes “optimized mean lumens.”

Even within the Uni-Form pulse start system, youcan expect a range of lumen maintenance from70% to 80%. (see chart below) Performance willvary depending on the number of light-reducing conditions present. By selecting a Uni-Form pulsestart lamp, a low current crest factor Opti-Waveballast and optimizing the system conditions, significant improvements in lighting system performance can be achieved.

System Performance Factorsin Lighting Design

Optimized Conditions Light-Reducing Conditions

Pulse start lamps Standard (probe start )lamps

Vertical Horizontal or off-vertical operating position operating positions

Operating cycles Short operating cycles > 10 hours <10 hours

Low current crest High CCFfactor (CCF) ballasts ballasts

Clear lamps Coated lamps

UV-blocking lamps Non-UV-blocking lamps

Open Enclosedrated lamps rated lamps

100 90 80 70 60 50 40 30 20 10 0

0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100% Life

% L

umen

s

Uni-Form® Pulse Start Lumen Maintenance

100 90 80 70 60 50 40 30 20 10 0

0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100% Life

% L

umen

s

Range of Metal Halide Lumen Maintenance

62.4 FC 52.7 FC(16% less light)

83.2 FC 80.7 FC(3% less light)

Light Output: Open Luminaire vs. Enclosed LuminaireAll ratings based on the use of a 9000 lumen rated 100 watt metal halide, vertically oriented lamp

in a commercially available 8" aperature, black baffled downlight.

100 HOURS 9000 HOURS(60% life)

OPEN ENCLOSED OPEN ENCLOSED



Lamp Technical InfoT E C H N I C A L I N F O R M A T I O N

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ColorThe “color” of light sources is derived from a complicated relationship derived from a number ofdifferent measurements, including correlated colortemperature (CCT), color rendering index (CRI), andspectral distribution. In general, color is mostaccurately described by a combination of CCTand CRI.

Correlated Color Temperature(CCT)The first factor in choosing a lamp color is the correlated color temperature. For example, if a retailer wants lighting to blend in with warmhalogen accent lamps, the retailer may choose aVenture® MP 100W/C/U/3K, which has a correlatedcolor temperature of 3200K. CCT is defined as the absolute temperature (expressed in degreesKelvin) of a theoretical black body whose chromaticity most nearly resembles that of thelight source. The CCT rating is an indication ofhow “warm” or “cool” the light source appears.The higher the number, the cooler the lamp colorwill appear. The lower the number, the warmer thelamp color will appear.

Spectral Energy DistributionWhen we look at a light source, the eye “perceives” a single color. In reality, we are seeingliterally thousands of colors and hues made up ofa combination of different wavelengths of light.These different combinations and the relativeintensity of various wavelengths of light are usedto determine the CCT and CRI of a light source.

Color Rendering Index (CRI or Ra)In general, CRI is a numeric indication of a lamp’sability to render individual colors accurately relative to a standard. The CRI value is derivedfrom a comparison of the lamp’s spectral distribution to the standard (e.g. a black body orthe daytime sky) at the same color temperature.

Color Shift and VariationDifferent colors are produced in metal halidelamps by using various arc tube shapes and metal halide salts. In new lamps these halidesneed to “burn-in” for approximately 100 hoursbefore they reach their optimum color. This is why new lamps can sometimes be unstable orvary in color.

As metal halide lamps age, chemical changesoccur causing shifts in color. Generally, traditionalprobe start lamps shift approximately twice asmuch in CCT over life as do Uni-Form®

pulse start lamps.

Different ColorsVenture Lighting offers lamps in many colors tosuit virtually any lighting application. Outlinedbelow are the various color temperatures (CCT)currently available:

27K 2700K - Used as a replacement for verywarm incandescent lamps (coated only).

3K 3000K-3200K - Used as a general warm,white light source, available in clear or coated finish for retail or interior applications;blends with halogen lamps.

4K 3700K-4000K - Used as a neutral white lightsource, available in clear or coated finish for general lighting, factories, parking lots,warehouses.

5K 5000K - A moderately high CCT daylight source used in general and retaillighting applications

6K 6500K - A high CCT daylight sourceused to simulate average outdoorlight conditions

10K 10,000K - A very high CCT, daylightlight source, used in horticulture andaquarium applications.

Special Colors:Designer Color® lamps that produce blue, green,aqua and pink light are available for special applications where color is needed without lightloss due to filters.

8000

7500

7000

6500

6000

5500

5000

4500

4000

3500

3000

2500

2000

1500

Natural White™ Metal Halide5000K

Std. Clear Metal Halide4000K

Cool White Fluorescent4200K

Standard Incandescent2700K

Halogen3000K

High Pressure Sodium2200K

Warm (3K) Metal Halide3200K

Daylight Metal Halide6500K

CC

T

300 350 400 450 500 550 600 650 700 750 800

100

90

80

70

60

50

40

30

20

10

0

WAVELENGTH (NM)

REL

ATI

VE E

NER

GY

TYPICAL SPECTRAL ENERGY DISTRIBUTION4000K METAL HALIDE LAMP



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Lighting Design forLow Light LevelsStudies on nighttime visibility demonstrate experimentally that the sensitivity of the humaneye to different colors of light at various light levelsdetermines the true, or effective, lumen output of alamp. Recent research shows that the color outputof the light source has a significant effect on nighttime visibility, which is important becauseroad accidents occur mostly at night. Also, it iswell known that the eye responds to colordepending upon the amount of light available.

Photopic, Scotopic And MesopicConditionsLumens are the standard measure of light output,but light is actually defined as energy evaluated bythe eye. Standard lumen measurements define thelight output response of a person only during high light levels (called photopic light), typical ofdaylight and interior lighting. The light meter measures photopic light as seen by the centralregion of the eye.

When light levels are very low, like starlight, theviewing conditions are referred to as “scotopic.”Under these conditions, the eye’s visual responsechanges dramatically. Sensitivity to yellow and redlight is greatly reduced, while response to bluelight is vastly increased. If lamp lumens under scotopic viewing conditions have been determinedusing photopic measurements, the lumen valuedoes not accurately measure the true amount oflight production as perceived by the human eye.

The eye response does not shift suddenly fromhigh light levels to low light levels. A gradualchange occurs as light levels are reduced in twilight and typical street lighting conditions. This is the “mesopic” condition in which the eye’sresponse lies somewhere between photopic and scotopic.

Rods And ConesThe change in the eye’s spectral response is dueto the presence of two types of light receivers inthe retina, called rods and cones. Rods areresponsible for human vision at low light levelsand are located in the peripheral field of view.Conversely, only objects viewed directly by the eye are seen by the cones. Rods are sensitive to scotopic light; cones react to photopic light.Therefore, as the light level is reduced, conesbecome less active and rods become more active.

Eye Color Sensitivity And LumensThe value of a lamp’s lumen output is differentwhen considering the shifting color sensitivity ofthe eye at low light levels. The effective lumens will be different from the measured photopiclumens. As light diminishes from photopic to scotopic conditions, the effective lumens of yellowHPS light sources are reduced and the effectivelumens of white light with blue/green contentincreases.

This effect is dramatic for low pressure sodium(LPS) lamps. Almost all energy output from thislighting system is yellow, resulting in high photopiclumen output. At low light levels, the effectivenessof LPS lamps is drastically reduced.

Metal Halide Lamps For Low Light LevelsA typical metal halide lamp has strong light outputin the blue, green and yellow areas, resulting inhigh lumen output at all light levels. The blue lightoutput of metal halide is in the high sensitivityregion of the eye for low light levels. This meansthat the effective lumens actually increase for ametal halide lamp as the light level reduces andthe eye shifts to a blue/green peak sensitivity.

The ability to detect fine contrast is also significantlybetter under metal halide sources than sodium. Inaddition, driver reaction time under LPS and HPSlighting is roughly 50% longer than for metal halide.Therefore, the color output of a light source has animportant influence on safety. Studies have shownthat metal halide lighting, in some circumstances,can be up to six times as effective as HPS. Thiscan make a difference in peripheral viewing anddark areas where hidden hazards may be present.

1.00

.80

.60

.40

.20

380 410 440 470 500 530 560 590 620 650 680 710 7400

Wavelength (nm)

Metal Halide Spectrum

High Pressure Sodium Spectrum

Scotopic, Visible Night Spectrum

Photopic, Visible Daylight Spectrum

HPS Metal Halide




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Proper Use of MetalHalide LampsCorrect Operation and Warnings ForHigh Intensity Discharge Lamps:High intensity discharge (HID) lamps require auxiliary equipment (ballasts, capacitors, ignitorsor power supplies) to provide the correct electricalvalues for starting and operating. This auxiliaryequipment must meet all electrical specificationsoutlined by the American National StandardsInstitute (ANSI). Venture Lighting International willnot be responsible for poor performance, personalinjury, property damage, burns or fire from lampsoperating on unapproved auxiliary equipment or from lamps being operated in a manner inconsistent with their design.

Power should always be turned off and preferablylocked out in accordance with OSHA guidelineswhenever installation, removal or maintenance isperformed on lighting systems. Safety glasses and gloves should be used when installing orremoving HID lamps. Lamps should be installedfirmly into appropriate lamp sockets, without overtightening, to avoid loosening from vibration.

HID lamps and arc tubes operate at extremelyhigh temperatures and may shatter as a result ofmisapplication, system failure or other factors.Scratches on the outer bulb, direct contact withwater or excessive installation pressure can alsocause these lamps to break. Breakage mayrelease extremely hot glass and lamp parts intothe surrounding environment and raise the risk offire, personal injury or property damage. Injury mayalso be caused by ultraviolet energy from anunjacketed HID arc tube. If the outer jacket shouldbreak, immediately turn the power off. Do notremove a lamp until it has completely cooled; then replace it with a new Venture® lamp. In areas susceptible to contamination by flying glass,where flammable materials are present or wherethere is a possibility of personal injury, usersshould seek additional protective measures byusing open fixture (Type-O) lamps and enclosed luminaires.

Luminaire Requirements andOperating PositionsIt is imperative that users adhere to specified luminaire and lamp operating positions andrequirements. The operation of lamps in positionsother than those specified can result in severereductions in lamp performance, including lamplife, light output and color. Incorrect operatingpositions can also create the possibility of an early failure.

Refer to each lamp’s technical data specificationsheet to determine correct operating position andluminaire requirements. Also, refer to the diagramin this section to determine allowable operating positions.

Federal Compliance - Metal HalideVenture® lamps comply with USA Federal Standard21 CFR 1040.30 and Canada Standard SOR/80-381.

“WARNING: This lamp can cause serious skinburn and eye inflammation from shortwave ultraviolet radiation if outer envelope of the lamp is broken or punctured and the arc tube continuesto operate. Do not use where people will remainfor more than a few minutes unless adequateshielding or other safety precautions are used.Lamps that will automatically extinguish when the outer envelope is broken or punctured arecommercially available.”

Careful adherence to the precautions mentionedabove may not eliminate all possible risks associated with the use of metal halide lamps, but will reduce the likelihood of personal injury or property damage.

End-of-Life and Reduction of RiskAt end-of-life, the vast majority of metal halidelamps will fail simply by not reigniting. On rareoccasions, metal halide lamps may fail in a violent manner. The possibility of this failure is significantly reduced by group relamping at orbefore the rated end of life, (see Group Relamping).In any application where lamps are operated continuously (24 hrs/day, seven days/week), thelamps should always be turned off for a period of at least 15 minutes once a week, a precautionthat can reduce the possibility of violent failures.This procedure is not required when Venture’sopen rated, shrouded lamps are used. Theselamps are easily identified by the “MP” or “MPI” in the lamp description code.

Starting and RestartingCharacteristicsProbe start metal halide lamps will start at anambient temperature of -30°C (-22°F) or higher.Full light output does not occur immediately whenpower is applied to any metal halide lamp; there is a time delay of at least three to six minutes afterstarting before lamps reach full light output. After lamps have started, a power interruption of 1/4 cycle (1/240th of a second) or more maycause the lamps to extinguish. Several minutes are required before an arc can be re-establishedby the ballast and full light output achieved. The exact time is dependent on a number of factors including lamp wattage, ballast and ignitorcharacteristics, ambient temperature, fixturedimensions and supply voltage. The time neededto establish full light output can be as short asthree minutes and as long as 15 to 20 minutes. Ingeneral, pulse start technology dramaticallydecreases the time for hot restart. Venture’s exclusive Uni-Form pulse start formed body arctube provides warm-up and hot restrike in up to60% less time and allows better starting, evendown to -40°C (-40°F).

BU ±15°Base Up

BU ±105°Base Up

BU ±90°Base Up

Vertical ±15°

Permitted

NotPermitted

UniversalAny Position

HOR ±15°Horizontal



Positionsof Operation



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Lamp LifeLamp life is an important consideration when purchasing a new, retrofit or replacement lamp.Two very different and distinct terms describe life:“rated life” and “economic life.”

Rated LifeRated, or average (median), life for metal halidelamps is a value of lamp life expectancy based onlaboratory and field tests of representative lamps,operating on approved ballasts, with a burn cycleof at least 10 hours per start. The average life isdetermined when 50% of traditional metal halidelamps initially installed are still operating. For 300-875 watt Uni-Form pulse start lamps, life isdetermined when 70% of the initial lamps installedare still operating.

Various operating conditions affect lamp life. Onekey factor is operating position. Position-orientedlamps (designed to operate in one specific position)are tested and rated based on that designated position. Operating these lamps in any other positions can dramatically shorten life, reduce lumenoutput and cause color shift. Lamps designated universal can be operated in any position. However,life expectancy and lumen output are sacrificed incertain positions. Published “rated life” for universallamps is based on operation in the vertical position.“Rated life” for universal lamps operated horizontallyis 75% of the published rating.

Shorter operating cycles reduce life. At operatingcycles shorter than 10 hours per start, life willshorten as follows:

5 hrs/start: Life is 75% of rating

2.5 hrs/start: Life is 55% of rating

1.25 hrs/start: Life is 40% of rating

Other factors, alone or in combination, that canalso reduce lamp life include:

• High or low line voltages

• Marginally-operating control devices (ballasts,capacitors, ignitors, dimming systems, etc.)

• Extremely high operating temperatures

Economic LifeEconomic life refers to the hours of operation duringwhich a lamp is designed to provide optimum light output and color quality as well as lowestreplacement cost. Economic life describes actuallamp life better than rated life because rated lifedoes not account for the lumen depreciation andcolor shift that occur as lamps age. The economiclife of lamps is generally 60% to 75% of the lamprated life. Though economic life is important whenconsidering a lighting system, lamp data tablesshow rated life because they provide a comparisonwith other lamp manufacturers’ ratings.

Group Relamping Is EffectiveLighting ManagementGroup relamping offers significant savings in timeand labor costs over spot replacing failed lamps.Regularly scheduled maintenance based on projected lamp life and lumen depreciation keeps a lighting system functioning at its maximum byreplacing all lamps at their economic life. This provides:

• Optimum light output

• Superior aesthetic quality

• Optimum energy efficiency

• Lower labor costs

1) Optimum Light Output: Light levels are at their peak when a lighting installation is new. Most traditional metal halidelamps decrease in light output to 40% of initiallight output by the end of rated life. A number offactors may accelerate this reduction in efficacy(lumens per watt). Group relamping at economiclife keeps the light levels from dropping significantly.It also provides an opportunity to remove dirtaccumulation in the luminaires. Cleaning duringgroup relamping saves time and helps maintainoptimum light levels. A cleaner, well-lit environmentincreases safety and security, can contribute to higher worker productivity and creates a better impression on visitors.

2) Aesthetic Quality: The quality of light changes over economic life,shifting 200K to 300K in color. In the last 25% ofrated life it may accelerate, shifting 500K to 600K.This causes old lamps to appear blue or pinkespecially when compared to new lamps. All the lamps in an area will generally change colortogether; so the color shift of the lamps will be most noticeable during spot relamping.

3) Optimum Energy Efficiency: While the light output of traditional metal halidelamps decreases over life, they still consume thesame (or sometimes more) electricity. Since energyis the largest cost of lighting, group relamping prevents almost half of the energy from beingwasted by under-performing lamps. For example,a 400 watt traditional metal halide lamp may consume $800 of electricity over rated life. After60% of rated life, about $320 is wasted on lamps providing less than mean lumens. Spot relampingwastes energy dollars. The cost of a new lamp andthe labor to install it as part of group relamping isgenerally less than 5% of the total energy cost.

4) Cost Effective Replacement: Group relamping, as a planned maintenance program, reduces downtime and labor costs. Spot relamping often takes an employee awayfrom regular duties just to replace a burned outlamp. This inconvenience grows as lamp failuresincrease towards the end of rated life. Grouprelamping not only eliminates wasted labor andworkday disruptions, it allows for scheduling during normal shutdown periods.

Group relamping at economic life is a practicalway to reduce energy and maintenance costs, as well as sustain workers’ visual acuity with abright workplace environment. It also offers theopportunity to replace older lighting with Venture’senergy saving Energy Master® retrofit products ornew, more efficient Uni-Form pulse start systems.

Lamp Mortality & Maintenance Curves100

90

80

70

60

50

40

% L

AMPS

SUR

VIVN

G

% OF LIFE

0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100

Accelerating Failures

% L

UMEN

S

100

90

80

70

60

50

40

Decreasing Lumens & Shifting Color

MAINTENANCE PROGRAMTYPICAL LAMP LUMEN PERFORMANCE

55,000

50,000

45,000

40,000

35,000

30,000

25,000

Lum

ens

Competitor's pulse start 400 Watt 400/U/PS Initial Lumens= 44,000 Mean Lumens= 31,000 (70%)

Venture's Uni-Form® 400 Watt MS 400W/V/PS Initial Lumens= 44,000 Mean Lumens= 35,200 (80%)

Months2 6 10 14 18 22 26 30 34 38 42 46 50

18 MONTH PROGRAM

MAINTENANCE PROGRAMTYPICAL LAMP LUMEN PERFORMANCE

34,000

32,000

30,000

28,000

26,000

24,000

22,000

20,000

18,000

16,000

Lum

ens

400W Intial Lumens= 34,000

300W Intial Lumens= 27,500

Months4 8 12 16 20 24 28 32 36 40 44 48 52 56 60

20 MONTH PROGRAM

Average of Venture's 300W with Group Relamping: 24,000 Lumens

Spot Relamping Average of 400W: 20,000 Lumens




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It’s An Open Story:Open Rated LampsOpen fixture rated metal halide lamps offer significant advantages for users. They broadenluminaire options by: 1. Eliminating the need for cover lenses, which

reduce light output

2. Removing a source of dirt accumulation that further reduces light output

3. Making lamp replacement easier

There are now two types of lamps for use in openluminaires. One type is designated with theAmerican National Standards Institute (ANSI) “S”rating; the other is given an “O” rating. There aresignificant differences between these two ratings.To reduce the risk of liability, lighting specifiersneed to be aware of what the criteria are for a trueopen rating and what the Type-S or Type-O designations indicate about lamp construction.

The Open Fixture RatingThe best-selling 400 and 1000 watt universal metalhalide (probe start) lamps, produced to the ANSI

M59 and M47 lampstandards, are rated by most major lampmanufacturers foroperation in open luminaires. Theselamps have beenassigned the ANSI letter/designation “S,”indicating “suitable”for use in open luminaires, if positioned within ±15°of vertical. With a continuous operating

cycle, “S” rated lamps must be shut down at leastonce a week for a minimum of 15 minutes andrelamped at or before reaching rated lamp life.However, it has not been proven that theserestrictions eliminate violent end-of-life failures.

In fact, an insurance industry report publishedin March, 1998, warned against the use oflamps with an “S” designation because theypose a risk of fire and injury1. Lamps with the “S” designation do not have containment shrouds.

Type-O lamps, on the other hand, have beendesigned with a quartz shroud around the arctube to help with containment and only receivethe “O” rating if they pass a rigorous ANSI test.

The insurance industry now recommends that all metal halide lamps manufactured for open luminaires incorporate shrouded arc tubes to contain shattered particles. One major insurer alsorecommends using Type-O lamps in enclosedluminaires with plastic lenses2. The industry urgesmetal halide lighting manufacturers to adopt Type-O lamps and abandon the use of the Type-Slamps. With the growing use of metal halide lighting spurred by the advances of pulse starttechnology, proper selection of Type-O lamps foropen luminaires becomes even more important.

ANSI Lamp DesignationsE - Lamp must be used in enclosed luminaires

which meet the requirements of UL1598.

S - Lamps are considered “suitable” for open luminaire operation, only if operated in the vertical ±15° position. Lamps do not meetANSI criteria for containment and must beturned off at least once per week for a minimum of 15 minutes if operated continuously. In addition these lamps must bereplaced at or before reaching rated lamp life.

O - Lamps can be operated in open or enclosedluminaires within the manufacturer’s specifiedoperating position limits. These types meet theANSI criteria for containment-rated operationand do not need to be shut off weekly. Specialexclusionary sockets are available for theselamps to ensure that the wrong lamp type is not used.

UV Shield® ProtectionAll Type-O Venture® Uni-Form pulse start lampsalso include UV Shield® protection. The quartzshroud in these lamps is specially-treated toreduce nearly all ultra-violet lightoutput. Up to 50% more thanother UV-reducing lamps onthe market. This protectsassets like merchandise andsignage, because ultraviolet emissions cause fading and damageto plastics and fabrics.

UV Shield lamps can also be used in enclosed luminaires. This reduces“yellowing” of polycarbonatelenses, ensuring maximum whitelight output. Laboratory testsdemonstrate that UV Shield extends polycarbonatelens life by a factor of six to ten times.

without UV Shield®

WITHOUTUV Shield

Polycarbonate with standard MH 400W/PS @90CPolycarbonate with UV Shield® @100C

Burning Hours

With

®

Yello

win

g In

dex

00 200 400 600 800 1000 1200 1400 1600

10

20

30

40

50Yellowing Index Values

25%

50%

75%

100%

330 340 350 360 370 380 390

Unfiltered MetalHalide Light

150 Watt Metal Halide Non-Visible UV Spectrum (in nanometers)

Filtered Metal HalideLight with

Rela

tive

Inte

nsity

(%)

UV Spectral Distribution

Open Fixture Lamp

EX26 Socket

EX39 Socket

Enclosed Fixture Lamp

The widerbulb neck willnot fit pastceramic neckof socket.

MogulBase

The extendedcenter contact

completesthe circuit

in the socket.

MediumBase

The narrower EDX17 neck

allows full insertion into

the socket.

The standard center contact won’t reach the contact in the dedicated socket.

with UV Shield®

Footnotes:1. IRInformation, IM.5.11.2, Industrial Risk Insurers,

March 2, 1998.2. FM Global Property Loss Prevention Data

Sheets, 5–21, Rev. May 2001.



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IntroductionWhile Venture Lighting focuses on metal halide,there are practical uses for other HID technologies.We apply the same level of passion for quality andperformance to these ballasts as we do to ourmetal halide offerings. To assure compatibility,refer to our specification sheets to determinewhich ballast works with each lamp type.

The information below introduces ballast function,terminology and proper usage.

Why are ballasts needed?For many users, ballasts are a mystery. Electricaldistribution systems deliver fixed AC voltage (50 or 60 Hz). Users expect connected electrical loads to limit the current drawn from the source. Lowpressure and high pressure arc discharge lampsexhibit “negative impedance.” Without a ballast,the arc will extinguish or draw increasing currentuntil some circuit element burns up. Ballasts provide system stability by limiting the current that can be drawn. Ballasts use inductive andcapacitive components because they impedealternating current with little power consumption.Resistive components generate high losses and are usually avoided. This is true of conventionalelectromagnetic ballasts as well as electronic ballasts.

HID ballasts perform the followingfunctions:• Provide voltage to breakdown the gas between

the electrodes of arc lamps and initiate starting.

• Provide voltage and current to heat the electrodes to allow a low voltage, high current arc mode to develop (referred to as glow-to-arctransition, GAT).

• Provide enough current to heat and evaporatethe light emitting components after an arc hasbeen established. Provide enough sustainingvoltage (see Vss) to maintain the arc duringwarm-up and operation.

• Set lamp current once all the evaporable materials have reached thermal equilibrium.

Breakdown vs. Glow-to-ArcTransition (GAT)Traditional metal halide lamps (also called “probestart”), and high-pressure mercury vapor (HPMV)lamps utilize an auxiliary electrode to facilitatestarting. These lamps are filled with a relatively low pressure of argon gas. Breakdown occurs when several hundreds of volts are applied. The lowerthe fill pressure, the lower the breakdown voltageand less electrode heating occurs in the subsequent glow mode. Without enough electrode

heat the arc mode will not develop. There is a trade off of breakdown voltage and GAT with fillpressure for these lamps. For most mercury vaporlamps, sinusoidal output voltages around 220 Vrmssuffice. For most metal halide lamps, highlypeaked (distorted) output voltages around 300Vrms suffice. Failing to attain a GAT will destroylamp electrodes in less than 100 hours.

Uni-Form® pulse start metal halide and high pressure sodium (HPS) lamps dispense with theauxiliary electrode, but have breakdown voltagerequirements in the range of several thousandvolts. An “ignitor” adds a narrow (µsec wide) pulse near the peak of the output voltage waveform. Some lamps require more than onepulse per half cycle. The minimum output voltagerequirement (min. OCV) assures that a GAT willoccur. At room temperature, mercury interacts withargon to reduce breakdown voltage. In coldweather or refrigerated spaces, the breakdownvoltage requirement goes up. Standard metalhalide and mercury vapor ballasts have to supplysufficient output voltage for low temperature starting. This effect is not present in pulse startmetal halide and HPS lamps.

The pulse voltage requirement for pulse startlamps assures low temperature starting.

Warm-upUnlike low pressure lamps, HID lamps have a lowinitial arc voltage following GAT and warm up overseveral minutes to final operating voltage. InHPMV lamps this involves the evaporation of afixed amount of mercury. In traditional metal halideand Uni-Form pulse start lamps, a fixed amount of mercury evaporates and the metal halide saltspartially evaporate. For most HPS lamps, thisinvolves the partial evaporation of mercury andsodium as the lamp reaches thermal equilibrium.Traditional and pulse start metal halide lamps havesustaining voltage requirements after GAT toassure the lamp will continue to operate. HPSlamps have a lamp power vs. lamp voltage space(see trapezoid) that has been defined to assurestable warm-up and operation.

OperationThe ballast determines the lamp current in normaloperation by providing the impedance. The combination of lamp current and voltage determines the power consumed by the lamp. Thelamp power, in turn, determines light outputand color. For example, if a 320 watt lamp isaccidentally operated on a 350 watt ballast,the lamp will run over wattage at 350 wattsbecause the nominal lamp voltage is thesame for both lamps and the ballast deliversthe higher current required for a 350 watt

lamp. Color will be warmer, light output will behigher and lamp life will be shorter.

In stable operation, lamp power varies with supplyvoltage and lamp voltage. Electronic ballasts canbe designed to minimize both sources of powervariation. On lag and HX ballasts, lamp powervaries about 2% for each 1% of line variation. OnCWA and CWI ballasts, lamp power varies about1% for 1% of line variation. These CW-type ballastsamplify lamp voltage variations into power variationswhile lag and HX ballasts minimize the same.

Ballast historyMost of the world uses “lag” type ballasts for theoperation of high intensity discharge (HID) lamps.Another common name for the simplest type of lag ballast is “reactor”. These ballasts are constructedfrom steel laminations and wire coils. The term“lag” derives from the inductive nature of the ballast; the input current lags the input voltage byup to 90 electrical degrees. Several input taps maybe provided to accommodate small local variationsin nominal voltage. Reactor ballasts provide outstanding lamp performance, with excellent efficiency, at the lowest possible cost, but onlyoperate at a single input voltage.

Lag ballasts that can accommodate a wide range of input voltages are made using an autotransformer stage in front of an inductive element. These use two coils and are referred toas HX or high leakage reactance autotransformers.The losses and material content are higher resulting in higher operating and initial costs butonly operate at a single input voltage. The lampperformance benefits are retained.

The CWA, or constant wattage autotransformer ballast, became popular in North America for mercury vapor lamps after World War II. The primaryapplication was roadway lighting. The circuit deliversrelatively constant lamp current, which, in turn,translates to relatively constant lamp power as longas lamp voltage does not vary during life. This is agood assumption for mercury vapor lamps. Itallowed utilities to start a roadway circuit with asmuch as +13% input voltage at the beginning of astring of lights and allow for sag to -13% at the end

of the string. The resulting lamp powervariation was an acceptable±15%. A small “peaking” capacitor across the lamp terminals provided enough

voltage to start lampsoutdoors with modestOCV. The strategyhad little to do withtemporal variations inline voltage, but



Ballast Technical InfoT E C H N I C A L I N F O R M A T I O N

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rather addressed the economics of lighting circuitsalong long stretches of road.

When HPS lamps were introduced, they wereincompatible with CWA ballasts because theyrequired a high starting voltage. The constant current characteristic led to unstable operation.Lag and HX ballasts with electronic ignitorsbecame the preferred circuit types. Later, CWA circuits were developed for HPS lamps that departed from a constant current characteristic and incorporated ignitors.

Metal halide lamps were introduced in the 1960’s.They required a higher peak starting voltage thanmercury vapor lamps, but were incompatible with“peaking capacitors.” The lamps would start andpromptly “drop out.” By adding saturable elementsto the magnetic circuit of the ballast, the OCVcould be “peaked” to start the lamps. Probe startmetal halide lamps and “peaked lead” ballastslaunched metal halide lighting in North America.Internationally, the same lamps operated on lagballasts by adding simple low cost ignitors.Multiple input voltage taps for CWA ballasts were readily accommodated. More ballasts couldbe operated on a circuit than lag or HX ballasts of the same wattage. However, the current wave shape left little margin for input voltage fluctuations during starting, had poor energy efficiency and provided poor regulation of lamppower with respect to lamp voltage. Evidence suggests that maintained lumens of metal halidelamps operated on CWA ballasts are worse thanthose operated on lag circuits.

Ballast TypesVenture makes a full line of high performance ballasts for metal halide and high-pressure sodium lamps. Our Opti-Wave™ family of ballasts isdesigned especially for Uni-Form pulse start metal halide lamps.

Opti-Wave ballastsThe Opti-Wave family of ballasts includes singlevoltage lag and multi-tap HX circuit designs andincorporates ignitors. They are carefully matchedto Uni-Form pulse start lamps to provide peaklamp performance. Single voltage designs offer themost overall value to the end user. Multi-tapdesigns offer flexibility and lower inventories fordistributors,OEMs, andcontractors.Venture offersa full line ofmulti-tap CWAballasts forUni-Form pulse start lamps where CWA ballastshave been specified.

Opti-Wave 277VThese are optimized lag/reactor ballasts. The fluxdensity, losses and power factor capacitors arechosen for good circuit loading and modest lamp power variation with respect to lamp voltagevariation. These ballasts provide more consistent color from lamp-to-lamp than constant currentdesigns. The circuit loading(250W – 875W) is similar tothat of CWA ballasts, providing better value and performance without the need for higher capacity circuits.

High Reactance Autotransformer(HX-HPF)These are two coil ballasts, consisting of a primarywinding that provides the voltage transformationfor OCV requirements, coupled with a secondarycoil for limit-ing current.The ballastuses morematerial andhas higherlosses thanits lag/reactor counterpart. In return, it offers multi-tap capability to serve a wide variety ofapplications. A capacitor is typically connected to the highest voltage tap to increase input powerfactor. Lamp performance is excellent.

Opti-Wave Multi-tapOur Opti-Wave multi-tap ballasts are HX circuitsthat have the same lamp power regulation characteristic as 277V Opti-Wave ballasts. Theseare multiple tap (two, three and four) HX autotrans-formers with all of the common US input voltages.The flux density, losses and power factor capacitorare chosen for good circuit loading. They generatemodest lamp power variations, with respect tolamp voltage variations. As a result, these ballastsprovide more consistent color from lamp-to-lampthan CWA. Opti-Wave multi-tap ballasts can beused in a wider range of applications than 277VOpti-Wave ballasts while providing the same performance benefits. Circuit loading is similar tocomparable CWA ballasts.

Constant Wattage Autotransformer(CWA)Present day CWA ballasts formetal halide lamps havechanged very little from earlydesigns dating back to the1960’s. Versions with ignitors to operate pulsestart lamps are available, along with a wide rangeof wattages. CWA ballasts have a large installedbase in the US. Note that low wattage metal halidelamp performance with CWA ballasts has provento be poor. Most ballasts sold for lamps of 150watts or less are lag or HX types.

CWA ballasts have two coils. One acts as an autotransformer with multiple input taps and a second provides inductance that in series with a capacitor controls lamp current. For traditionalprobe start designs, the capacitor usually connectsbetween the lamp and the secondary coil of theballast. In pulse start designs, the capacitor usuallyconnects between the primary and secondary coils.A tap near the lamp output on the secondary coil isconnected to the ignitor circuit.

BLACK RED

BLK/

WHT

WHITE COMMON

CAP IGNITORBLUEX3

LAM

PWHT/RED

X1

YELLOWX2BL

K/W

HT

277V BLACK RED

WHITEWHITEWHITECOMMON

CAP

IGNITORBLUE

X3 LAM

P

WHT/REDX1

YELLOW

BLK/WHT240V TAN

208V PURPLE

120V ORANGE X2

CHOOSING THE RIGHT BALLASTOpti-Wave™ Opti-Wave Opti-Wave™ Isolated

Characteristic 277V Multi-tap Electronic CWA CWI

Ballast Efficiency Excellent Good Excellent Good Fair

Lamp Wattage Regulation Excellent Excellent Excellent Good Good(over lamp voltage range)

Lamp Wattage Regulation Good Good Excellent Excellent Excellent(over line voltage range)

Circuit Loading Excellent Excellent Excellent Excellent Excellent

Current Crest Excellent Excellent Excellent Good GoodFactor 1.5 1.5 1.0 1.6 – 1.8 1.6 – 1.8

Input Voltage Dip Tol. Good Good Excellent Excellent Excellent

Isolation No No Yes or No No Yes



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“ConstantWattage” isactually a misnomer. Thecircuit providesmore or lessconstant currentto the lamp. This is undesirable for lamp loads thatdo not provide constant voltage. HPS lamps areunstable when they are operated at constant current. CWA circuits have been modified for HPSlamps, but use more materials and result in higherlosses. This is also an issue for metal halide lampsthat rise in voltage with aging. The result is lamp-to-lamp power variation that shows up as lamp-to-lamp color variation. As long as demand for CWAballasts continues, Venture will provide them withthe best technology available.

Constant Wattage Isolated Transformer(CWI)CWI ballastsshare the samefeatures as theCWA versions,but have electricallyisolated secondarycoils to meet the Canadian Electrical Code. Theseballasts use slightly more material than CWAtypes, making them less energy efficient and more costly.

Magnetically Regulated Ballasts(a.k.a. Regulated Lag)Magnetically regulated ballasts use three coils andsaturable magnetic elements to provide a highdegree of power regulation to the lamp. From theperspective of the lamp, operation is the same ason a lag ballast with a well-regulated input voltage.These typically have twice the material content ofcomparable CWA ballasts and higher losses. Theyare primarily used in heavy industrial settingswhere switching of large electrical loads impactslighting circuits (for example, a downlight hangingfrom a crane in a steel mill). Venture currently doesnot offer these because demand is small.

Electronic BallastsFluorescent lighting now uses electronic ballastsfor essentially all new commercial lighting in theUS, largely because of energy legislation.Fluorescent lamps generate more lumens per wattwhen operated at high frequency and have nocompatibility issues. HID lamps have two issues. 1)There is no demonstrable LPW improvement at highfrequency and 2) they exhibit acoustic resonancesthat disturb lamp operation at the frequencies usedfor fluorescent lamps. As a result, the adoption ofelectronic HID ballasts has been slow.

The most mature metal halide electronic ballastsoperate low wattage (150 watts and less) metalhalide lamps. The lower the lamp wattage, thehigher the resonant frequency. Designers haveopted for low frequency circuits that drive lowwattage lamps with squarewave current. The small sizeand light weight of low wattelectronic ballasts fit retailtrack lighting applications verywell. High wattage lamps havelower resonant frequencies, soballast designs that operate lamps in the 100 KHzrange and above work quite well. These ballastshave low losses, control/program lamp power, andare small and light. Dimming, in conjunction withthe use of natural daylight, is a workable strategywith a shorter payback period.

Venture is investigating a number of exciting performance phenomena. Some lamps operatingon electronic ballasts (HF, DC, or square wave)provide higher maintained lumens over life. This isa rapidly evolving topic. Look to our website fornew developments.

Ballasts that Venture sells in North America include the following versions:

• Quad-tap: 120V, 208V, 240V and 277V

• Tri-tap: 120V, 277V, 347V (Canada)

• 480V/120T: A 480V ballast with a 120V tap forstandby quartz lighting.

• 600V (Canada)

• Most Lag and HX ballasts are rated for supplyvoltage variations of ±5%.

• CWA and magnetically regulated circuits arerated for supply voltage variations of ±10%.

Ballast PerformanceThe following performance factors affect ballastspecifications:

Current Crest Factor (CCF)The current crest factor is the ratio of the peaklamp current to the root-mean-square (rms) valueof the current. High current crest factors are associated with high lumen depreciation of HIDlamps. Lamp specifications set upper limits forCCF. A typical range of current crest factors forlag, HX and regulated lag ballasts is 1.4-1.5. ForCWA ballasts CCF ranges from 1.6 to 1.8.Electronic ballasts can can be as low as 1.0.

Open Circuit Voltage (OCV)The voltage across the output terminals of a ballastwith no load connected is the OCV. Lamp OCVrequirements differ for the various ballast circuittypes.

Sustaining Voltage (Vss)Vss is the instantaneous voltage across the lampwhen lamp current crosses zero. If the voltage isnot sufficient, the lamp will not ignite on the nexthalf cycle of current, and drop out. Adequate Vssis needed from every ballast type, but is particularlyimportant for CWA ballasts. However, it is difficultto measure without sophisticated lab equipment.ANSI standard values are determined for the condition. ANSI does not specify Vss for lag or HXcircuits.

0

2

4

6

-2

-4

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8Time

Current Waveforms

Opti-Wave™

Standard CWA

Curre

nt (A

)

9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20-6

277V BLACK RED

WHITECOMMON

CAP

IGNITORBLUE

X3 LAM

P

WHT/RED

X1

YELLOW

BLK/WHT

240V TAN

208V PURPLE

120V ORANGE

X2

240V BLACK RED

YELLOWWHITE

COMMON CAP

IGNITORBLUEX3

LAM

PWHT/RED

X1

YELLOWBLK/WHT

208V PURPLE

120V ORANGE

X2

BLUEX3




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AC Line RegulationLine regulation is the percentage change in lampwattage per percentage change of supply voltage. In the US, Canada and most of Europe, supplyvoltage can be unreliable (such as a brownout orblackout); however, normal variability is small. Anexception might be an industrial application wherelarge electrical loads switching on and off affectlighting circuits. Where supply voltages are steady,reactor or HX ballasts provide the best performance at a cost comparable to CWA ballasts. When there is a serious line voltage regulation issue, regulated lag or electronic ballastsare preferred. Lag (reactor) ballasts dominate HIDlighting in Europe, where supply voltage is regulated to ±5%. In North America, lighting circuits wired according to the National ElectricCode typically stay within the ±5%.

Lamp RegulationBy definition, lamp voltage regulation is the changein lamp wattage divided by the correspondingchange in lamp voltage initially and during life. The ANSI lamp voltage range allowed for a new(100-hour) lamp is typically ±12%. Modern lampmanufacturing processes typically yield metal halidelamps with a much tighter voltage range. However,metal halide lamps typically rise between 1 and 2 Vper 1000 hours. At end of life, the metal halide lampvoltage can be more than 25% higher than at 100hours. With modern AC power lines regulated to within 5%, it is more important to have tight regulation of lamp power with respect to lamp voltage variation than supply voltage regulation.This results in the least lamp-to-lamp color andbrightness variations.

The operating characteristics of any ballast can be mapped in a graph of lamp wattage vs. lampvoltage. For lag and HX ballasts, the graph is aparabola where the peak wattage typically occurswhen the lamp voltage is about 60% of the OCV.The curve stops when the lamp voltage reachesabout 80% of the OCV. At this point, the lamp

stops operating. The graph for most CWA or constant current ballasts is relatively straightline. HPS lamps need operating characteristicssimilar to resistive and lag ballasts, a constant current characteristic is unstable.

High pressure sodium lamp “Trapezoids”The HPS trapezoid is bounded by upper and lowerwattage limits. At the low watt limit, the lumens arelow; at the high watt limit, life is short. The left sideof the trapezoid represents the lowest voltagelamp a user could encounter. The right side repre-sents the highest voltage lamp a user shouldexpect to operate. The sides of the trapezoid slopebecause increasing power increases the voltage ofHPS lamps. Acceptable ballasts chart a path that passes through both sides within the min. andmax. wattage limits. The three ballast curves inthe graph below illustrate the effect of low, nominal, and high line voltage.

Minimum ambient temperature for startingANSI and IEC write lamp specifications so thatlamps will start at –30°C (–22°F) to -40°C (-40°F).Mercury vapor and metal halide lamps will start at lower voltages at room temperature. As temperatures drops below –40°C, not much happens until Xe (HPS) or Ar (metal halide andmercury vapor) starting gases condense to the liquid state. At these temperatures (-160°C/–310°Fand lower) there are no lighting opportunities.

Ballast NoiseMagnetic ballasts generate audible noise as aresult of magnetically induced mechanical stress.This may be amplified or attenuated depending onfixture design, mounting methods and roomacoustics. There are presently no noise standardsfor HID ballasts. Opti-Wave™ ballasts are noticeably quieter (by greater than 10 dB) thanCWA, CWI or regulated lag ballasts.

Lamp StartingPulse start metal halide ballasts provide the propercombination of open circuit voltage and high voltage pulses to start the lamp. The pulse is provided by a specially designed ignitor, or starter,that is used in conjunction with the ballast. Assoon as the ignitor senses that the lamp has started,it discontinues the pulsing operation. At this point,the ballast sustaining voltage must be sufficient tomaintain lamp operation. A positive feature of thissystem is that the lamp will hot restart in 3-4 minutes following a power interruption. Traditionalprobe start metal halide ballasts can take as longas 10-15 minutes to restart the lamp.

The ballast open circuit voltage starts traditionalprobe start metal halide and mercury vapor lamps.Auxiliary electrodes, or probes, aid these lamps instarting. The probe electrode is disconnected afterlamp has warmed up. Most of these lamps operateon CWA ballasts that offer a more “peaked” open circuit voltage, to assist lamp starting.

High Pressure Sodium lamps start in a mannersimilar to pulse start metal halide lamps. The main difference is a slightly less demanding ignitorpulse requirement.

CapacitorsWith lag and HX ballasts, capacitors are needed to improve (input) power factor. As a result, thenumber of lamps that can be operated on a circuitnearly doubles. In large installations, power factorcorrection is also required to avoid power qualityproblems and utility penalties. Capacitors are integral components of CWA and regulated lag circuits; they will not operate without capacitors.Both oil-filled (wet) and dry-film capacitor technologies are commonly used with ballasts. A means to discharge capacitors after power isturned off is a safety requirement.

Oil-filled capacitorsOil-filled capacitors come in metal cases and arefilled with a dielectric fluid. They are rated up to100°C, although 90°C is the most common rating.They usually have two 1/4” spade terminal lugs

located on the top for connection with the ballast.Most ballasts come withthe mating terminalsalready attached to theappropriate leads. Oil-filledcapacitors are very reliable

and available in ratings up to 525V. For some higherwattage HID ballasts, they are the only choice.

350

370

390

330

310

120 160150140130Lamp Voltage

Lamp Wattage Regulation

Venture'sOpti-Wave™

e-Lamp™

Standard CWA and Pulse Start CWA

Lam

p Po

wer

290

Oil-filled capacitor

Trapezoid Curve550

500

450

400

350

300

25080 90 100 110 120 130 140 150 160

MinimMinimum Lamp Pum Lamp Powerwer

MaximMaximum Lamp Pum Lamp Powerwer

Minimum Lamp Power

Lamp Voltage (in volts)

Lam

p W

atts

Minim

Minim

um L

amp

um L

amp V

olta

olta

ge

Maxim

um La

mp Volt

age

Lamp R

egula

tion

Lamp R

egula

tion

Minim

um L

amp V

olta

ge

Maxim

um La

mp Volt

age

Lamp R

egula

tionRated

Lamp Power

Maximum Lamp Power

Lamp DrLamp Drop Out POut Point

Lamp Drop Out Point



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Dry-Film capacitorsDry-Film capacitors do notuse a dielectric fluid.Originally, these capacitorswere limited to applicationswhere voltages did notexceed 330V. Recentadvances have pushed thisto 400V. They are available in temperature ratings of 100°C and have become an attractivealternative to oil-filled capacitors. They are packaged in plastic housings which do not need to be grounded and do not need any special clearances above the terminals.

IgnitorsHID lamp ignitors provide a brief, high voltagepulse or pulse train to breakdown the gas betweenthe electrodes of an arc tube. Pulses can rangefrom several hundred volts to 5KV. Typical durations are in the µsec range. They are usuallytimed to coincide with the peak of OCV. If they are timed too early or too late, lamps may not start reliably.

There are three basic ignitor circuits in wide use.The simplest is a capacitor in series with a voltage sensitive switch that connects across the output of a lag ballast. It is used internationally to starttraditional metal halide lamps on 220-230V 50 Hzmercury vapor ballasts. It generates 600V pulsesand has the virtue of simplicity and low cost.

The second consists of a capacitor charging circuit and a voltage sensitive switch. It connectsto a tap on the output inductive element of the ballast and uses it as a high frequency pulse transformer. This circuit works with lag, HX, CWA,or regulated lag circuits. It is the most commontype of ignitor used in North America and growingin popularity internationally. It has the virtue of

simplicity and lowcost. It requiresthe ballast insulation systemto withstand the

pulse voltage; because it is tied to the ballast, thedistance the lamp can be mounted from the ballastdepends on pulse attenuation. Circuits that generate wide pulses permit greater distance.These circuits are generically referred to as“impulsers.”

The third circuit is similar to the first except that it contains a pulse transformer. The virtues are that the ballast insulation is not exposed to pulse voltage. The ignitor can be mounted near the lampwhile the ballast can be remote. It can be usedwith any ballast type. This is the most costly circuitto make, but allows the use of a less expensive

ballast. It is the most commonly used circuit internationally. The ignitors are referred to assuperimposed ignitors (SIP) because the pulse is superimposed on top of the ballast OCV.

There are HID lamps available internationally thatincorporate internal ignitors. The pulse voltageappears on the ballast output terminals. Thesemay not work with all ballast circuits, and coulddamage insulation. Request technical support forhelp with these.

Venture® ignitors and ballasts are capable of continuous pulsing at maximum rated case temperature.

Prolonged continuous operation (weeks to months)degrades ballast insulation and reduces ballast life.Best practice is the timely replacement of failedlamps to prolong ballast life. Ignitor case temperature limits must be observed. There is little safety margin, so expect short ignitor life if the limits are exceeded.

Most Venture pulse start ballasts have distancelimitations of 2 to 15 ft with standard ignitors.Longer ballast-to-lamp (BTL) distances can beattained with higher energy ignitors. These shouldnot be used for short range as they may damageballast insulation and shorten ballast life. ContactVenture for availability and technical support.

Venture’s new Smart Ignitor™ products use a microprocessor to limit pulses, detect lamp starting, and shut off the ignitor if the lamp doesnot start. This control technology is applied to the“impulser” type ignitor to allow longer ballast tolamp (BTL) distances without degradation of theinsulation system should prolonged ignitor operation occur.

Remote MountingProbe start metal halide and mercury vaporlamp/ballast separation distance is limited only by adequate wire size as lamp current is the only consideration. Pulse start lamps are distance-limited by wire size as well as pulse attenuation.Ballasts with long-range ignitors are offered; butsuperimposed ignitors, mounted near the lamp,can bring the restriction back to only the wire size. (see table)

Lamp Uni-Form® Maximum Ballast to Ignitor distance for Pulse Start MH, Ignitor < 3ft from lampWattage MH PS ANSI AWG10 AWG12 AWG14 AWG16 AWG18 Remote Ignitor for PS MH70W M98/M85 600 360 220 150 95 BVS003REPL1,2

100W M90 560 340 200 130 80 BVS003REPL1,2

125W M150 560 340 200 130 80 BVS003REPL1,2

150W M102/M81 340 220 140 80 55 BVS003REPL1,2

175W M152 420 250 150 100 65 BVS003REPL1,2

200W M136 380 260 160 90 60 BVS003REPL1

250W M153/M80 300 200 125 75 50 BVS003REPL1

300W M151 260 160 90 60 30 BVS003REPL1

320W M154 240 150 90 60 30 BVS003REPL1

350W M131 220 140 85 55 35 BVS003REPL1

400W M155 200 125 75 50 25 BVS003REPL1

450W M144 160 100 65 40 22 BVS003REPL1

750W M149 325 200 125 75 35 BVS002REPL1

875W M166 360 220 140 80 55 BVS002REPL1

1000W M141 325 200 125 75 50 BVS002REPL1

Lamp Type Maximum Ballast to Lamp Distance Lamp Probe Start Mercury (in feet, listed by wire gauge)Wattage MH ANSI ANSI AWG 10 AWG 12 AWG 14 AWG 16 AWG 18175 M57 H39 420 250 150 100 65250 M58 H37 300 200 125 75 50400 M59 H33 200 125 75 50 251000 M47 H36 325 200 125 75 501500 M48 N/A 225 125 75 50 35

Remote Ballast Mounting

Note 1: Remote Ignitors require a 4kV pulse rated lampholder socket. Also requires 600V wires at rated temperature which are resistant to cuts .Note 2: The North American pulse rated mogul socket for HID is typically 5kV rated. The BVS002 REPL pulse height is between 4kV and 5kV, so

it requires a 5kV pulse rated socket.

Dry-film capacitor

VoltagePulse Peak

Pulse Duration (width)

Ballast Open Circuit Waveform

110°90°

Time




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Grounding and WiringCaution: Installation and maintenance should onlybe performed with the circuit turned off.

Ballasts must be connected to electrical ground toavoid electrical shock or damage to the equipmentand facility. The installation and wiring must comply with applicable federal, state or provincialcodes and regulations.

Core and coil ballasts are insulated with a varnish-like material. This material must be penetrated atthe point where the ground connection is made toensure a good connection. This connection can bemade when mounting the ballast to the luminaire,by using a star washer in combination with one ofthe mounting bolts.

Grounding of the Lamp SocketShellsThe Canadian Electrical Code (Part 1 (1994) Rule30-314) requires grounding of lamp socket shells;refer to the connection diagrams. In circuits with two lamps in series, the socket shell is non-hazardous, provided that the removal of the lamp electrically isolates the shell.

Circuit LoadingHow many lamps can be operated on a circuit?According to the 2005 National Electric Code®

(NEC), in Section 210-20:

“Where a branch circuit supplies continuous loads, or any combination of continuous and non-continuous loads, the rating of the over-currentdevice shall not be less than the non-continuousload plus 125% of the continuous load.”

“A Continuous Load is a load where the maximumcurrent is expected to continue for three hours or more.”

For new installations of CWA and regulated lagballasts the highest current draw is in continuous

operation. The total number of ballasts must drawless than 80% of the circuit breaker rating. A conservative approach would use the current drawof ballasts operating aged lamps. As lamps age,system wattage on CWA ballasts climbs, leadingto higher than rated input current. A safety factorof 1.2 times the rated current is a reasonable de-rating factor.

For new installations of lag, HX, and Opti-Waveballasts, the highest current draw is when the lampis off or just after starting. This occurs for secondsduring starting or for minutes following a powerinterruption. Per the NEC, this is a non-continuousload. Following a lamp failure, power could beapplied for a long time. The NEC provides no guidance for dealing with failed lamps that result in an open circuit current draw.

While it is unlikely that a lamp will be replaced inless than three hours, it is equally unlikely thatusers will tolerate very many lamp outages withoutreplacements on a given circuit. As in the CWAcase, a 1.2 safety factor seems reasonable. Dividethe circuit breaker rating by the open circuit current draw of the ballast to determine the number of ballasts that can be connected (rounddown). Next, divide 80% of the circuit breaker rating by the normal operating current (rounddown) of a ballast. The first is normally the limitingfactor in determining the allowable number of aballasts on a circuit.

In retrofits, higher wattage lamps and ballasts areusually replaced with betterperforming lower wattagelamps and ballasts.Circuit loading israrely an issue aslong as the circuitwas properly loadedinitially.

Agency Certifications:This is one of the most common Underwriters

Laboratories marks. If a product carriesthis mark, it means UL found that samples of this product met its safetyrequirements. These requirements are

primarily based on UL’s own publishedStandards for Safety.

Consumers rarely see this mark, because it is forcomponents that are part of a largerproduct or system. These componentsmay have restrictions on their performance or may be incomplete

in construction. The Component Recognitionmarking is found on a wide range of products,including some switches, power supplies, printedwiring boards, some kinds of industrial controlequipment and thousands of other products.

The UL Recognized Component Mark, for componentscertified by UL to meet both Canadian and U.S.

requirements, became effectivein 1998. Although UL hadnot originally planned to introduce a combined

Recognized Component Mark, the popularity ofthe Canada/U.S. Listing and Classification Marksamong clients with UL certifications for both countries has led to the new mark.

This is one of the most common CanadianStandards Association (CSA) marks. If a product

carries this mark, it means CSA found thatsamples of this product met its safetyrequirements. These requirements areprimarily based on CSA’s own published Standards for Safety.

277V Multi-tap277V CWA 277V CWA 277V Opti-Wave 277V Opti-Wave 277V Opti-Wave 277V Multi-tap Opti-Wave Open Circuit 277V Multi-tap

Lamp Operating Systems Per Operating Open Circuit Systems Opti-Wave Current or Starting Systems PerType Current Breaker Current Current Per Breaker Operating Current Current Max Breaker

125W, M150 0.55 29 0.55 0.85 23 Not Available Not Available Not Available

175W, M137/M152 0.80 20 0.75 1.05 19 0.80 1.10 18

200W, M136 0.85 18 0.80 1.25 16 0.90 1.15 17

250W, M138/M153 1.10 14 1.10 1.35 14 1.20 1.40 14

300W, M151 1.25 12 1.25 1.55 12 1.30 1.75 11

320W, M132/M154 1.40 11 1.40 1.70 11 1.45 1.80 11

350W, M131 1.55 10 1.50 1.90 10 1.60 2.00 10

400W, M135/M155 1.75 9 1.70 2.10 9 1.75 2.20 9

450W, M 144 1.90 8 1.90 2.30 8 2.00 2.50 8

Note: 16A max continuous load and 20A max short term load used to calculate systems/breaker

Circuit Loading Comparison



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1.00

"(2

5.4

mm

)0.

25"

(6.3

mm

)TO

P VI

EW

4.25

" (10

8 m

m)

4.75

"(121

mm

)

3.00

"(76m

m)

2.16" (55 mm)

1.32"(33.5 mm) END VIEW

C

IGNITOR– OVAL

HEIGHT

WIDTH

A

CAPACITOR– DRY FILM

(Inches)HT WD

A1 3.93 1.38A2 3.93 1.60A3 3.93 1.75A4 4.88 1.75A5 2.73 1.38A6 2.73 1.49A7 3.93 1.49A8 4.88 1.97A9 2.93 1.38A10 4.88 1.49A13 3.69 1.80

POLARIZEDQUICK DISCONECT

.605

3.610

1.250

2.3151.750

2.610

.200

.250

.132

.930

E

IGNITOR– ROUND

2.75

0.58" (15 mm)

HEIGHT

WIDTH

OVAL DIA.

B

CAPACITOR– OIL FILLED

(Inches)HT DIA WD

B1 3.00 1.97 2.97B2 3.25 1.62 2.75B3 3.68 1.97 2.97 B4 3.37 1.97 2.97B5 3.87 1.62 2.75B6 4.00 1.97 2.97B7 3.37 1.62 2.75 B8 2.87 1.97 2.97B9 4.00 1.97 2.97

B10 4.94 2.03 3.72B11 6.00 2.03 3.72B12 4.37 1.97 2.97B13 3.87 1.97 2.97B14 4.44 2.03 3.72B15 4.37 2.03 3.72B16 4.37 2.03 3.72B17 3.00 1.62

OVA

L IG

NITO

R R

ED

YELL

OW

BLU

E

2.25

in

1.25

inD

IGNITOR– ROUND

2.45"

(62.2mm)

2.06"(52.3mm)

2.30"(58.4mm)

1.48"(37.6mm)

1.16"(29.5mm)

F

IGNITOR– OVAL

3.50

(88.9mm

)

2.06"(52.3mm)

2.30"(58.4mm)

1.48

"(3

7.6m

m)1.16"

(29.5mm

)

G

IGNITOR– OVAL

MEDMedium Base

(E26)POMB

Position OrientedMogul Base

(EP39)

MOGMogul Base

(E39)

Open FixtureMogul Base

(EX39)

Bi PinCeramic Base

RSCRecessed

Single Contact

Fc2Ceramic

ED37Elliptical Dimpled

BT56Blown Tubular

MBIL SDoubleEnded

T15Tubular

T12Tubular

T25Tubular

ED28Elliptical Dimpled

ED17EllipticalDimpled

MHDEDoubleEnded

EDX17Narrow Neck(open fixture)

BT37Blown Tubular

G12Bi Pin

PAR38E26/50x39R40

Reflector Bulb

Lam

p Sh

ape

Com

paris

on

BASES:

LAMPS:

Capacitors and IgnitorsT E C H N I C A L I N F O R M A T I O N



BracketsT E C H N I C A L I N F O R M A T I O N

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7.75"

6.75"

4.50" .31"1.51"

1.51"

A

1500-2000W 4 x 6 Core T&L

4"

3.19"

.75" .28"

B

Small Core E&I Reactors (3/4, 7/8, and 1 in)

6.50"

5.38"

1.25" .28"

C

4 x 4, 4 x 6 Core T&L3.75 x 4.5 Core E&I Reactors

5.10"

3.98"

1" .28"

D

3 x 4 Core T&L

7.75"

6.63"

2.75" .28".88"

.88"

E

2x400W-1000W 4 x 6 Core T&L

5.50"

4.25"

1.33" .28"

F

3 x 4 Core T&LSmall Core E&I Reactors (3/4, 7/8, and 1 in)

7.25"

5.75"

1.19" .31"G

4 x 4, 4 x 6 Core T&L3.75 x 4.5 Core E&I Reactors

4.50"

3.75"

4.75"

4.21"

4.38"

3.84"

H

BCK-015To mount 3.75 x 4.5 Core E&I Reactorsin fixtures with a 4 x 4 T&L footprint

3.5"

3"

3.94"

2.44"3.84" 2.5"

I

BCK-016To mount 1 in Core E&I Reactors in fixtures with a 3 x 4 T&L footprint

5.38"6"

3.84"4.21"

.653"

J

BCK-017To mount 3.75 x 4.5 Core E&I Reactors in fixtures with a 4 x 6 T&L footprint

Core & Coil Welded BracketsThese brackets are supplied as an option by adding a “B” suffix to the ballast product number

Core & Coil Adjustable Mounting Brackets, Included with Capacitor and Bracket KitsThese brackets along with appropriate hardware are supplied as an option by adding a “K” suffix to the ballast product number

Core & Coil Adapter Mounting Bracket KitsThese brackets along with appropriate hardware are available in kits



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on Glossary of Terms


Arc Tube: A completely sealed quartz orceramic tube where the electrical discharge(arc) occurs and light is generated

Ballast: A device that, by means of resistance, inductance, capacitance or electronic elements, singly or in combination,controls the current, voltage and waveform tothe required values for proper lamp startingand operation

Ballast Characteristic Curve: The curve oflamp wattage vs. lamp voltage over a rangeof normal lamp voltages when a HID ballastis operated at a given supply voltage

Ballast Factor: The ratio of the luminous fluxof a lamp on a ballast at the rated supplyvoltage to the flux on a reference ballast. Itcan also be determined by the ratio of theactual wattage of a reference lamp divided bythe rated lamp wattage

Ballast Power Factor: Power consumed bythe lamp and ballast (watts) divided by theproduct of line voltage and line current (‘volt-amps’ or ‘VA’); It is a measure of powerquality and of concern to utilities

BTL : The distance from ballast to lamp

Burning Position: The position or orientationin which a lamp operates

Cold Start Time: The amount of time fromthe application of ballast voltage to ignition of the arc discharge

Color Rendering Index (CRI or Ra): Ameasure of a light source’s ability to rendercolors relative to a standard of 100

Constant Wattage Autotransformer (CWA)Ballast: A magnetic autotransformer lead ballast circuit incorporating a capacitor inseries with the lamp; compared to other ballasts, the CWA regulates over a widerinput voltage range, holding lamp current nearly constant

Constant Wattage Isolated (CWI) Ballast: A magnetic lead ballast circuit incorporating a fully-isolated secondary winding; it has a capacitor in series with the lamp and thesame performance features as the CWA ballast

Correlated Color Temperature (CCT): The perceived “color” of the light emitted by alamp expressed in Kelvin (K) units

Current Crest Factor: The ratio of the peak-to-rms value of lamp current; metalhalide magnetic ballast values range from 1.5 to 1.8

Economic Life: The number of hours a group of lamps will burn before it is economicallyand aesthetically advisable to group relamp(typically 60% to 75% of rated life)

Efficacy (Lamp): A ratio of lamp lumens to lamp power measured in lumens per watt (LPW)

Extinction Voltage (North America): TheRMS value of supply voltage at which a reference lamp extinguishes when the supplyvoltage is slowly reduced from its rated value.The ANSI procedure calls for a 2 to 3%reduction in supply voltage per second

Fixture Requirements: The type of fixture alamp requires; i.e., enclosed or open

Formed Body Arc Tube: Precisely reproducible ellipsoidal arc tube formed bypressurizing molten quartz inside a mold;produces consistent arc tubes with higherefficacy and improved color uniformity

HID: High Intensity Discharge lamps; includesmetal halide, mercury vapor and high pressure sodium

High-Power-Factor (HPF) Ballast: A ballastdesigned so that the input power factor is notless than 90% when the ballast is operated atthe rated supply voltage using an appropriatereference lamp

High Reactance Autotransformer (HX)Ballast: An autotransformer lag circuit thatuses a magnetic shunt path between primaryand secondary coils to control reactance; has operating characteristics similar to those of a reactor and has input taps to accept a widerange of supply voltages

Hot Restart or Restrike Time: The time fromlamp extinction after a supply voltage interruption to lamp re-start

Ignitor: An electronic device which provides, by itself or in combination with other circuit components, the appropriate electrical conditions to start a discharge lamp

Initial Lumens: The light output of a lamp atrated power on a reference ballast after 100hours of operation

Input Power: See System Power

Lag Ballast: A magnetic ballast having a lagginglamp current with respect to the supply voltage. Current limiting is primarily inductive;holds lamp power reasonably constant withrespect to lamp voltage variations

Lamp Power Factor: Power consumed bythe lamp divided by the product of RMS lampvoltage and RMS lamp current; It is less thanunity on magnetic ballasts operating at 50 or 60 hz

Lamp Voltage: The RMS voltage at whichlamps operate when they are fully warmed up

Lamp Power: The power consumed by a lamp after warm-up, measured in watts

Lamp Regulation: The ratio of lamp power to lamp voltage often expressed in graphical format

Lead Ballast: A magnetic ballast having aleading lamp current with respect to the supply voltage; current limiting is accomplished by means of an inductor aswell as a capacitor connected in series with the lamp; this includes CWA and CWI ballasts

Light Center Length (LCL): The distancefrom the center of the visible arc discharge to the bottom contact of the base

Line Regulation: The ratio of lamp power to ballast input voltage often expressed as a percentage

Lumens: A measurement of light; takes intoaccount the human eye sensitivity curve sothat more weight is given to the yellow-greenpart of the light spectrum (photopic)

Lumen Maintenance: The lumen output of a lamp at a given operating time or a percentage of 100 hour lumens at that time



Glossary of TermsT E C H N I C A L I N F O R M A T I O N

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Lumens Per Watt (LPW): See Efficacy

Maximum Overall Length (MOL): The maximum allowable distance from the top ofthe glass bulb to the end contact of the base

Mean Lumens: Light output at 40% of rated lamp life

Normal (Low) Power-Factor (NPF) Ballast:A ballast designed so that the input powerfactor is less than 90% when the ballast isoperated at the rated supply voltage using a reference lamp

Open Circuit Current (Line): The RMS current measured at the input terminals of aballast with lamp removed or inoperative

Open Circuit Voltage, Ballast (OCV): Thevoltage across the output terminals of a ballast when no load is connected (RMS,unless otherwise stated)

Open Rated Lamp (Medium Base):Designed for open luminaires; has a narrowerneck than standard medium base lamps inorder to fit into an exclusionary medium EX26 socket

Open Rated Lamp (Mogul Base): Designedwith an extended contact pin on the bottomof the base; should be used with an open fixture mogul sockets (EX39) which preventselectrical contact if a non-O-rated lamp is used

Operating Current (Line): The RMS current measured at the input terminals of a ballastwhich is operating a reference lamp

Operating Voltage: See Lamp Voltage

Opti-Wave™ Ballasts: A Venture lag (magnetic) or electronic ballast designed witha low current crest factor for improved lampperformance. Opti-Wave lag ballasts are alsooptimized for low open circuit current

Peak Lead Ballast: A CWA ballast that produces a highly peaked open circuit voltage wave shape and a peaked currentwave shape

Photopic Light: Describes lumen valuesmeasured using the high luminance eye sensitivity function centered at 555 nm (yellow-green)

Position Oriented Mogul Base (POMB):

Used with horizontally operating probe startlamps; has an alignment pin in the base forproper lamp orientation when installed into aEP39 socket

Power Factor (Ballast): The ratio of the ballast input power (watts) divided by theproduct of the rms ballast supply voltage and ballast supply current

Pulse Start CWA Ballast: A CWA ballastusing an ignitor to start the lamp

Pulse Start Lamp: Specially designed metalhalide lamp that requires a high voltage pulse for starting; has improved lumen maintenance

Quad-tap Ballast: A magnetic lag ballastwith input voltage taps for four standard voltages - 120, 208, 240 and 277 volts

Rated Life: The number of operating hours at which 50% of most metal halide lamps or70% of some Uni-Form® pulse start lampsinitially started will still be operating

Rated Supply Voltage: The input voltage forwhich a ballast is designed to operate and towhich performance characteristics arereferred

Reactor Ballast: A lag ballast with a singleinput voltage tap

Regulated Lag Ballast: A lag ballast with a third coil for improved lamp power regulation

Restrike: To re-ignite the arc of a HID lamp

Scotopic Light: Describes lumen valuesmeasured using the low luminance eye sensitivity function centered at 507 nm (blue-green)

Short-Circuit Current (Ballast): The currentat the output terminals of a ballast when theoutput is shorted (rms, unless otherwise stated)

Shroud: A quartz cylinder surrounding the arc tube of a metal halide lamp; designed toreduce the damage to the outer bulb if an arctube rupture occurs; usually required to passthe ANSI containment test of the O-rating

Spectral Power Distribution: The distribution of radiant power (watts) of a lamp as a function of wavelength (nm)

Starter: See Ignitor

Starting Current (Line): The RMS current measured through the input terminals of the ballast five to 15 seconds after the lamp has started

Starting Pulse: A high-voltage, low-energypulse superimposed on the open circuit voltage of some HID ballasts to aid in starting a lamp

Sustaining Voltage: The instantaneous voltage available to the lamp from the ballast at the time the lamp current passes through zero

System Power: The power measured at theinput terminals of a ballast while is operatinga reference lamp

Tipless Arc Tube: An arc tube made without an auxiliary exhaust tube for dosing gasesand other ingredients

Warm-Up Time: The amount of time fromignition of the lamp to 90% of full light output

Watts: A measure of energy (in joules) beingused or emitted each second

UL “Temp code”: An UnderwritersLaboratories (UL) alphabetic temperaturecode for ballasts which designates a range of temperature rise of wire over ambient temperature. The code is found on the labeldirectly following the number 1029X, where Xis the appropriate alphabetic character



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Limited Warranty on Lamps: Venture Lighting statement on lamp lifeFor years, most lamp manufacturers have usedtypical life expectancy as the basis for lampreplacements under warranty. Venture LightingInternational understands the parameters involvedin life expectancy and also uses typical lifeexpectancy curves as part of their lamp warranty.Venture is aware of their customers’ needs andoffers additional warranty protection.

WARRANTY 1. Upon receipt and/or initial installation by the

customer, Venture Lighting International willreplace any lamp determined to be defective in materials, workmanship or proper operatingparameters.

2. Venture Lighting will replace any lamp that failswithin one year from the purchase date (basedon 5000 hrs/yr operation) when the failure isdetermined to be lamp related. (Applies tolamps with life ratings of greater than 7500hours.)

3. During economic life, Venture Lighting will supply replacement lamps for failed lamps inexcess of the failure rate projected by lifeexpectancy curves when the lamps are operated correctly and in accordance with theguidelines outlined in this technical guide.

Lamp PerformanceAll performance ratings are based on lamp testingat rated watts, under controlled conditions, usingprimary AC electrical circuits with the highest quality auxiliary equipment. The performance of any lamp may vary somewhat under typicalservice conditions. All lamp specifications andratings are subject to change without notice.

Limited Warranty on Ballasts:Venture® ballast products are warrantied free frommanufacturing and workmanship defects for aperiod of two years from the date of shipment.During this period, Venture will, at its option, repairor replace ballast products which prove to bedefective or out of specification. This warranty isgranted by Venture only to the original purchaseror first end-user of such ballast products.

This warranty is conditional upon installation,maintenance and operation in accordance withVenture’s instructions and specifications set forthin the purchase order or contract at the time oforder and in accordance with the standards of The National Electric Code (NEC), Underwriters’Laboratory, Inc. (UL) and the American NationalStandards Institute (ANSI) and, in Canada, with thestandards of the Canadian Standards Association(CSA). Damage by misuse or abnormal conditions

of storage, installation, maintenance or operation,including, but not limited to, excessive temperaturesor evidence of partial or complete disassemblybeyond normal maintenance or expansion procedure void this warranty in its entirety. The conditions of any tests performed concerningany ballast product claimed to be defective inaccordance with the terms of this warranty shallbe mutually agreed upon in writing between theoriginal purchaser or first end-user and Ventureand Venture may be represented at any such test.

No implied statutory warranty of merchantability orfitness for a particular purpose shall apply beyondthe afore-mentioned warranty period. This warranty excludes other warranties, expressed or implied and is the exclusive remedy of theclaimant. Venture shall not be liable for any special, indirect or consequential damages.Venture’s liability on any claim of any kind, natureor description arising out of, resulting from or concerning any aspect of this warranty agreementor from the product or services furnished hereunder shall not exceed the price of the specificballast or ballasts which give rise to the claim. Forwarranty service or repair, the buyer shall prepayall shipping charges to Venture and Venture shallpay shipping charges to return the repaired orreplaced item to the buyer. However, the buyershall pay all shipping charges, duties and taxes forproducts returned to Venture from a country otherthan that of the United States of America.

Product replacement/liability limitsThe foregoing warranty shall be the sole andexclusive remedy of the purchaser and Venture’ssole and exclusive remedy to the purchaser. NOWARRANTY OF FITNESS FOR ANY SPECIFIC ORPARTICULAR PURPOSE IS MADE OR IS TO BEIMPLIED. NO OTHER WARRANTY APPLIES.Venture will not, under any circumstance, whetheras a result of breach of contract, warranty tort orotherwise, be liable for any costs or damages,including lost profits or revenues, incidental, special or consequential damages.

Some states or provinces do not allow the exclusion or limitation of incidental or consequentialdamages, so the above limitation or exclusion maynot apply to you. This warranty gives you specificlegal rights and you may also have other rightswhich may vary from state to state and province to province. No distributor, salesperson, dealer,retailer or other representative has the authority tochange or modify this warranty, either orally or inwriting, in any respect.

DimmingWarranty policy on the dimming of VentureLighting International metal halide lamps:

SCOPE: Venture Lighting metal halide lamps can only be step or bi-level dimmed by theswitched capacitance method on a CWA or CWIballast. Line voltage and electronic dimming systems are not covered by this policy. ContactVenture Lighting for further information.

WARRANTY POLICY: Venture LightingInternational, Inc. agrees to extend a limited one-year warranty on lamp life to lamps operatedon dimmable control gear, provided the followingconditions are met:

1) A lamp must never be started by a ballast in the dimmed operating mode.

2) During any lamp start (cold or hot restart), theballast must meet all of the requirements forstarting and sustaining a lamp described inANSI lamp standard C78.43.

3) The lamp must be allowed to warm up for atleast 10 minutes after the lamp has started (20minutes for lamp wattages greater than 450).Only then can dimming begin.

4) For system design purposes an ANSI referencelamp cannot be dimmed below 50% of therated lamp wattage at 90% input voltage forCWA or CWI ballasts.

5) Operating position requirements are

• Base up ±15°, only, for probe start or pulsestart lamps designated as U, BU, HBU

• Vertical ±15°, only, for pulse start lamps designated as U, V

• Base down ±15°, only, for pulse start lampsdesignated as BD, HBD

• No Horizontal dimming.

6) The ballast input voltage must be kept withinthe accepted line voltage range for the ballasttype (±10% for CWA or CWI ballasts) at all timesin dim and full power modes

7) The dimming device should not allow the ballastcurrent crest factor to exceed 1.8.



Warranty InformationT E C H N I C A L I N F O R M A T I O N

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“One Call” WarrantyVenture’s “One Call” limited warranty program isfirst in the industry in its comprehensive systemcoverage. It doubles the warranty period on lampsand ballasts purchased and installed as part of theUni-Form® pulse start system. Since Venturedesigns and manufactures the lamps and ballasts,customers who purchase a complete system needto make only “one call” to receive full service onany component from Venture’s team of technicalexperts. This means no finger pointing; onesource, one call to 1-800-451-2606 for service. Technical assistants will answer all your questions..

Warranty Activation/ServiceClaims – You Must RegisterTo activate the One Call warranty, Venture mustreceive a completed registration form within 30days after installation of the Uni-Form pulse startsystem. You may complete the registration formon Venture’s web site at www.venturelighting.comor call our toll-free number to have the form sentto you. Venture will send an acknowledgment for each registration received. For information,service, technical assistance or replacementclaims, call the One Call toll-free number at 1-800-451-2606. If a lamp or ballast in the Uni-Form pulse start system fails to operate within the warranty period (based on a maximum5000hrs./yr operation and normal mortality),Venture will provide a free replacement. No reimbursement for labor is made for lamp or ballast replacement.

Warranty Terms And ConditionsVenture’s One Call warranty covers lamps and ballasts purchased and installed together as a Uni-Form pulse start system. The installation must be operated underproper environmental conditions and in accordance with current NationalElectrical Code, Underwriters Laboratoryand ANSI specifications. This warrantywill be voided if conditions demonstrateabnormal use or stress, such as operating temperatures in excess ofmaximum rated temperatures,under/over voltage conditions, excessiveswitching cycles or operating hours orimproper lamp or ballast installation.The lamp warranty will be voided ifVenture® lamps are replaced with anyother manufacturer’s lamps. The entire warranty will be voided if Ventureballasts are replaced with any other manufacturer’s ballasts.

Product Replacement/liabilityLimitsThe foregoing warranty shall be the sole andexclusive remedy of the purchaser and Venture’ssole and exclusive remedy to the purchaser. NOWARRANTY OF FITNESS FOR ANY SPECIFICOR PARTICULAR PURPOSE IS MADE OR IS TOBE IMPLIED. NO OTHER WARRANTY APPLIES.Venture will not, under any circumstance, whetheras a result of breach of contract or warranty tort,or otherwise, be liable for any costs or damages,including lost profits or revenues, incidental,special or consequential damages.

Venture reserves the right to examine all failed lamps and ballasts purchased aspart of a Uni-Form pulse start system.

Some states or provinces do not allow the exclusion or limitation of incidental or consequential damages, so the above limitation or exclusion may not apply to you.No distributor, salesperson, dealer, retailer orother representative has the authority to changeor modify this warranty, either orally or in writing, in any respect.

This warranty gives you specific legal rights andyou may also have other rights which may vary from state to state and province to province.

ONE CALLSYSTEM

WARRANTY

LIMITED

Standard One Call Warranty System

Lamp Type Period Warranty

300, 310, 320, 340, 350, 375, 400, 440, 450 One Year Two Years

150, 175, 200, 250 One Year Two Years

50, 70, 100, 125 One Year One Year

875 One Year Two Years

Magnetic Ballasts Two Years Five Years

Electronic Ballasts Two Years Three Years

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How To OrderG E N E R A L I N F O R M A T I O N

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The pulse start metal halide lamp(s) shall beVenture®‚ Uni-Form® pulse start product description or Venture part #______________ ANSItype M-_ _ _/E. If used in an open luminaire, thelamp must be rated Open Fixture (O) which incorporates a quartz arc tube shroud and carries an ANSI code of M-_ _ _/O. Venture designates their open rated pulse start lamps as“MP”. The lamp carries a one year replacementwarranty; or when operated with a Venture ballast,the limited two year warranty (assuming a maximum 5000 burn hrs./year), as part of a registered system project in accordance with the “One Call” Limited Warranty.

When you specify Venture’s Uni-Form pulse startlamps and Opti-Wave™ ballasts you get the best in:

• Energy efficiency

• Longest life products

• Lumen maintenance of any system

• System warranty with our “One Call” limited warranty

The pulse start metal halide ballast shall beVenture product # _____________ , ANSI type M-_ _ _ . Circuit type shall be (pulse start CWA;Opti-Wave 277V and Opti-Wave multi-tap) with amaximum system input wattage of _______ . Allsystem components will be warranted for a periodof two years from date of installation or five yearswhen supplied as part of a registered system project, in accordance with the “One Call” limited warranty.

If you need help in specifying Venture products orin deciding which Venture product the right foryour application, call 800-451-2606, fax at 800-451-2605, or e-mail: [email protected].

Further Information

Ballast SpecificationLamp Specification

Specify Venture’s Uni-Form® Pulse Start SystemsManufacturer Catalog No. Watts Lamp Type DescriptionVenture MP 300W/PS 300 Pulse Start Fixture shall use Venture's Opti-Wave system.

V90AM8730 Metal Halide Must be Venture's Uni-Form pulse start lamp operated on Venture's Opti-Wave multi-tap ballast.

Specify Venture®

Example:

OrderToday!

E-ma

il

Ca

ll,Fax,

800-451-2606 Fax (800) 451-2605www.venturelighting.comE-mail: [email protected]



mailto:[email protected]

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