The design team’s brief was to come up with a ‘rugged ballast’ with a reduced parts count. The result is a unique four-tube power circuit which employs just three FETs, including a ‘unity’ power factor corrected (alf) input, thus permitting its use worldwide on voltages from 90V -260V.
Power Gems’ tube ignition circuit has been demonstrated to strike tubes that other ballasts cannot, which may save the user money. The ballast is electronically protected against failure from live connection-disconnection of the fixture and reduces the risk of electric shock when re-connecting live end caps.
(Ruth Rossington)
