Design & performance analysis of a power-factor-corrected constant light output electronic ballast

This paper presents the design and performance of an electronic ballast which provides a constant light output for wide input voltage fluctuations from 85V to 265V. Two IC's have been used in the design: the first part has a PFC controller IC and the second part IC is a ballast driver. The PFC circuit produces and maintains a constant power factor and a constant voltage of 400 V. The second part, the ballast driver IC feeds voltage to a resonant half bridge inverter operating in Zero Voltage Switching (ZVS) resonant mode, thereby reducing switching losses and the electromagnetic interference. The output to this part is constant light for the specified voltage range. Experimental results of the electronic ballast driving 36W fluorescent lamps are presented in order to confirm the feasibility of the performed design methodology.