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How do i know if it's the ballast or bulb

How do i know if it's the ballast or bulb

It only takes one outburst to cause panic. You ask yourself, "Is my bulb going out? It's possible that your bulb has reached the end of its useful life, but in the case of bulbs with external ballasts or drivers, it could also be caused by external hardware. Before you toss your bulb in the trash, take a look at some of the most common signs and causes of ballast failure.

Ballast failure symptoms
Philips Premium T8 ballasts for fluorescent lamps
Philips Premium T8 ballasts for fluorescent lamps

How do you know if there is a problem with a ballast or driver? You don't know, but if your luminaire is dim, buzzing, discolored or flickering rapidly, the ballast is probably the cause of the lighting problem. Check all parts of the luminaire, including the bulbs. However, when checking ballasts, burn marks, discolored housings or (in the case of "older" ballasts with magnetic coils) oil leaks are obvious signs of failure.

If you are still unsure whether your ballast has given up the ghost, you should buy a new bulb. This is a trial and error approach. Remove the current bulb and replace it with a new one. If the bulb won't light, nine times out of ten the culprit is the ballast. You can also try measuring the resistance with a multimeter.


A multimeter is an instrument that measures current (amps), voltage and, usually, resistance (ohms), usually with a range of values. It combines the functions of a voltmeter, ohmmeter, etc. and can be analog or, more commonly, digital. One probe of the multimeter should contact the current terminal and the other the neutral terminal. If the ballast is not defective, the needle of the analog multimeter will move to the right on the measuring scale. If the ballast is defective, the pointer will not move. If a digital multimeter is used, the digital display may show "1" if no measurable resistance is found. The latter method can be difficult, as the correct use of a multimeter is usually a test of knowledge of the electrical specifications of the ballast.

Causes of ballast failure
Premature failure of ballasts is often caused by the environment. Heat and humidity are the number one and number two enemies of ballasts. All ballasts have an operating temperature range and UL approval. If they are too hot or too cold, the ballast may burn out or fail to illuminate the luminaire. Heat combined with lingering condensation inside electronic ballasts can cause corrosion. Some people recommend removing part of the ballast housing and cleaning the circuit board. However, if the ballast cannot be reinstalled, you will have to get a new ballast. To avoid this, make sure the ballast is UL approved for use in damp or wet locations and can withstand the high and low temperatures of your local climate.

Lighting Tip: The life of an LED driver is probably shorter than the life of your LED luminaire or component. Compare the specifications of the bulb and driver before you buy.

Causes of LED driver failures.
Most likely, a faulty LED driver will simply stop transmitting power to the LED. However, a faulty LED driver can also send more current through the LED than it can handle (also known as overload), causing the LED assembly to overheat and eventually burn out. An LED driver that supplies too little current or too little power will result in poor light quality and performance. Like ballasts, LED drivers can be damaged by heat and water. LEDs and their components are especially sensitive to heat. The energy from the congestion is eventually converted to heat and the resulting congestion can affect driver performance. LED drivers also have an operating temperature range. Exceeding the recommended temperature can significantly affect the efficiency of the LED driver. As with ballasts, not all LED drivers are suitable for use in humid environments. Therefore, make sure that your LED driver is suitable for rain or sun.

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