A Low Voltage Electronic Ballast Designed For Hybrid Wind-Solar Power Systems

This paper describes the development of an illumination system for open and/or isolated areas like gardens, sidewalks, outdoor lighting for residences and rural areas, demonstration plants on Universities, et cetera. The proposed system is based on a 70 W electronic ballast (EB) for high- pressure sodium (HPS) lamps designed to operate from a low voltage automotive lead-acid battery charged by a hybrid wind- solar power system. A new design criteria for a push-pull EB based on the rated current RMS of the lamp is presented. The paper also includes technical issues faced in building the prototype such as transformer losses generated by skin effect, transformer winding isolation and the effect of high MOSFET drain source current.