This is the simplest circuit and therefore most economical to purchase where the capital cost of the installation has to be kept to a minimum. The circuit consists of a magnetic ballast, a radio frequency interference (RFI) suppression capacitor and a glow starter canister. The starter switch closes, permitting a current to flow through each electrode. The starter switch rapidly heats up, opening the switch, and triggering the supply voltage across the arc tube, initiating the discharge. No auxiliary power is applied across the electrodes during operation. It is very important to replace defective starters to prevent gear overheating and damage.

This uses an electronic starting device, with a magnetic ballast, instead of the conventional starter switch and provides flicker free bulb starting. The electronic starter gently warms the bulb for fractions of a second before starting, extending the bulb life by up to 50%, depending on switching frequency. Lumen maintenance is also improved as bulb end blackening is reduced. The electronic starter also automatically switches off a failed bulb thus preventing troublesome bulb flicker and flashing. Flicker can lead to ballast burnout.

This circuit uses the latest electronic technology to give substantial benefits to the user. It provides all the benefits of electronic start - flicker free soft starting, extended bulb life, improved lumen maintenance and automatic shutdown of failed bulbs. In addition the bulb is driven at high frequency, offering an instant energy saving of approximately 20% over the other circuits, using exactly the same bulbs. High frequency circuits run at near unity power factor, reducing VA load and therefore cutting the electricity costs of users on maximum demand tariffs. Additionally, the light is perfectly flicker free. Flicker free lighting greatly reduces the incidence of headaches and eye strain, eliminates distractions and thus improves workplace quality and productivity. For production areas, high frequency lighting prevents the dangerous stroboscopic effects often experienced with switch start and electronic start circuits, when using rotating machinery. High frequency lighting is also completely silent in operation.

This circuit has all the advantages of high frequency, but with the added benefit of being able to dim and brighten (regulate) the bulbs. This circuit is therefore used for lighting and energy management systems. As bulbs are dimmed, either manually or automatically, such as in response to an increase in daylight detected by a photocell, the ballast energy consumption is reduced. Therefore, further energy saving cost benefits can be realised. Digital regulating ballasts also provide precision control of light output, superior to that experienced with conventional analogue regulating ballast types.

An instant start ballast starts bulbs without heating the cathodes at all by using high voltage (around 600 V). It is the most energy efficient type, but gives the least number of starts from a bulb as emissive oxides are blasted from the cold cathode surfaces each time the bulb is started. This is the best type for installations where lamps are not turned on and off very often.

A rapid start ballast applies voltage and heats the cathodes simultaneously. Provides superior bulb life and more cycle life, but uses slightly more energy as the cathodes in each end of the bulb continue to consume heating power as the bulb operates. A dimming circuit can be used with a dimming ballast, which maintains the heating current while allowing bulb current to be controlled.

A programmed-start ballast is a more advanced version of rapid start. This ballast applies power to the filaments first, then after a short delay to allow the cathodes to preheat, applies voltage to the bulbs to strike an arc. This ballast gives the best life and most starts from bulbs, and so is preferred for applications with very frequent power cycling such as vision examination rooms and restrooms with a motion detector switch.

Wire sections (mm2) to be used depending on the cable lenght (12V with max.3% loss at the end)