FAQ:
Get the Facts on The Elite Series?
What defines a luminaire within Holophane’s Elite Series?
Holophane’s Elite Series are luminaire product families that contain Holophane’s next generation of electronic
HID ballasts.
What is the difference between the Enduratron Elite and the Illumibay Elite?
The primary difference is aesthetics. The Illumibay Elite was designed for those customers who value a unique
contemporary appearance typically found in Commercial/Retail applications. The Illumibay currently ships an
electrical and optical assembly separately. The Enduratron has a more robust construction and ships assembled
as a single unit. Both luminaires use unique thermal management techniques to maximize ballast life.
What advantages do I get by using an electronic HID ballast vs a standard
magnetic HID ballast?
The core benefit of using an electronic HID ballast vs a standard magnetic HID ballast is energy savings.
This technology also significantly improves lamp lumen maintenance 15% to 20% and superior lamp wattage
regulation over standard magnetic ballasts. Improved lumen maintenance means longer useful life and lower
total operating costs. Holophane electronic HID ballasts run cooler and quieter, have decreased ballast losses
and operate at a frequency so as not to induce acoustic resonance. Electronic HID ballasts provide a greater
range of light control by offering continuous-dimming vs Hi-Lo step-dimming that is available in magnetic
ballasts. With electronic HID ballasts, additional energy savings may be obtained through daylight harvesting
opportunities or through the use of occupancy sensors, timers, photocells and programmable logic.
The Elite Series
Enduratron®
What is the advantage of the superior lamp wattage regulation from a Holophane
electronic HID ballast?
HID magnetic ballasts provide some degree of lamp power regulation when the line voltage is above and below
the nominal value. The regulation from a typical CWA magnetic ballast is a 5% change in lamp watts for a
10% change in input line voltage. This regulation feature of CWA ballast does not take into account the
normal lamp voltage rise of metal halide lamps. The result of this normal voltage rise caused by aging of a
CWA ballast, is an increase in the lamp and corresponding system wattage. Typically this means an additional
11% of power is consumed due to normal lamp aging. Add to the normal ballast line regulation for a
potential total of 16% watts of additional power required per luminaire. In contrast, a Holophane electronic
ballast is a constant wattage device that operates an HID lamp at better than 2% over the life of the lamp and
line voltage variations - a tremendous energy savings over the life of the lamp!
What advantages do I get by using a Holophane electronic HID ballast vs other
electronic HID ballast?
Holophane’s electronic ballast is a high-frequency, microprocessor-controlled ballast that improves lamp lumen
maintenance even greater than low frequency electronic ballasts. This technology ensures that while in
dimming mode minimal color shift is experienced, Total Harmonic Distortion is minimized and acoustic
resonance is virtually non-existent. More importantly this means Holophane’s ballast is compatible with the
latest in lamp technology yielding the greatest possible energy savings to you.
What is the energy saving characteristic of the Holophane electronic HID ballast?
Use of this ballast increases lumen output over the life of the lamp by improving lamp lumen maintenance (by
13% to 15% at mean life). This results in a reduction of the number of fixtures required or alternately a
reduction in the wattage of lamp used (e.g. 400W to a 320W). Also, the ballast has lower watt losses than
standard magnetic ballasts. (e.g. 28 watts loss for electronic vs 50-60 watts loss for a magnetic ballast using
400W lamp).
Why did Holophane develop a high frequency electronic HID ballast?
High frequency ballasts drive the lamp operating frequency well above 100KHz which increases the ballast
efficiency, minimizes acoustic resonance, minimizes color shift while in dimming mode, and utilizes a resonant
burst starting method which reduces stress on the lamp thereby increasing lamp life. Holophane’s Elite Series
electronic HID ballasts have the highest ballast efficiencies in the industry, 93%. This compares favorably with
low frequency electronic ballasts which are very similar to premium magnetic ballasts having ballast efficiencies
about 88%.
HL-2264 4/07
The Elite Series
Illumibay®
What is acoustic resonance?
What about nuisance tripping and cycling?
Acoustic resonance is the development of detrimental pressure
waves within the HID lamp arc tube. The resonance has a severe
impact on the operation by causing major disturbances within the
arc plasma. Typical failures caused by acoustic resonance are: severe
color shift, lamp flickering, reduction in lumen output and premature
lamp arc tube rupture.
Whereas most electronic ballasts on the market today experience
unintentional lamp outages caused by voltage variations within the
line, Holophane’s electronic HID ballast will carry the lamps through 1
full cycle of a 60 Hz power outage.
What is the input current draw?
This table shows the ballast operating current draw in amps:
How does the ballast increase lamp lumen
maintenance?
A combination of soft starting of the lamp, sinusoidal lamp currents
and tight lamp wattage regulation characteristics minimizes lamp
deterioration.
What wattages are available with Holophane’s
next generation HID electronic ballast?
The ballast is currently designed to operate 320 watt to 400 watt
probe start, pulse start and ceramic metal halide lamps.
What is the ballast factor for this ballast?
Holophane’s next generation electronic HID ballasts have a ballast
factor of 1.0. It does not overdrive or under drive the lamp.
Increased light output is a function of improvements in lamp starting
and operation as a result of using high frequency electronic ballast
technology.
208v
240v
277v
320 watt
1.8
1.5
1.3
350 watt
1.9
1.7
1.4
400 watt
2.2
1.9
1.6
What is the in-rush current for Holophane’s
electronic ballast?
Holophane’s electronic HID ballast meets ANSI C82.14-2006 and
NEMA publication 410-2004 standards for in-rush current.
What is EMC/EMI/RFI?
What voltages are available with Holophane’s next
generation HID electronic ballasts?
These acronyms refer to an electronic device’s ability to peacefully
coexist with other electronic devices.
RFI – radio frequency interference
EMI – electromagnetic interference
EMC – electromagnetic compatibility
Electronic ballast and devices that operate above 9 kHz that are not
FCC certified violate federal law and are at risk to interfere with the
sensitive electronics found in modern process controls and
data/telecommunication systems.
The ballast is currently designed to operate all voltages from 208
volts to 277 volts ±10%.
Which EMC/EMI/RFI spec does the ballast meet?
What is the input power factor for this ballast?
Holophane’s electronic HID ballast has a power factor of .98 to 1.0
depending on supply voltage and lamp wattage.
Why is the ballast only rated for 50,000 hours?
Holophane’s electronic ballast technology is a complex system of
electronic components. At specific component operating
temperatures the ballast will last, on average, for 50,000 hours
of operation at those temperatures. Increased temperatures will
dramatically shorten the ballast life while decreased temperatures will
increase ballast life.
How is the ballast able to dim?
Holophane’s electronic HID ballasts can be dimmed using an industry
standard 0-10 VDC control protocol from 100% light output (100%
power) down to 25% light output (50% power). The ballast
supplies a 0-10 VDC signal through a twisted pair of low voltage
leads coming from the ballast. This signal is then controlled by the
external, separately-supplied control system.
The FCC (Federal Communication Commission) regulates these
specifications. Holophane’s electronic ballasts are certified under
FCC Title 47 CFR, Part 18, Non-Consumer equipment limits.
What other standards or regulations does the
ballast meet?
• IEEE C62.41, Category A for Transient Voltage Protection
• Applicable UL 935 standards
• U.S. law requiring no Polychlorinated Biphenols (PCBs)
• U.S. state and federal, and Canadian provincial and federal
efficacy laws
What is the THD for this ballast?
THD varies with supply voltage and lamp wattage and will not
exceed 15%.
Can the ballast drive a single lamp?
Yes, the currently offered ballast is available as a single lamp ballast only.
Does an HID electronic ballast lengthen lamp life?
Holophane’s Elite Series electronic HID ballasts improve lumen
maintenance which lengthens the useful life of the lamp. Lamp
manufacturers have not determined that lamp mortality is improved
with electronic ballasts.
What is hot restrike time with this ballast?
An electronic ballast will restrike in 3-15 minutes for an open rated
fixture depending on source and wattage.
HL-2264 4/07 ©2007 Acuity Brands Lighting, Inc.
Printed in USA