Main Benefits
- Energy Savings - Higher light intensity per watt, dimming capability up to 20% of nominal power
- Energy Savings - 20% in economy mode with the same average light intensity Usages of less expensive wiring
- Universal design - Same unit supports both High Pressure Sodium and Metal Halide lamps
- Improved Light Quality - Light level independent on lamp aging and fluctuations of input voltage. Light colour temperature preserved with any level of dimming
- No light flickering due to very high frequency operation
- Easy and low cost maintainability - Self diagnostics, supports wide range of lamp types, ensures longer lamp life by up to 300%,
- Easy Installation may be installed at the bottom of the pole
- Sophisticated dimming algorithm, up to 4 different programmable dimming
- levels / shutdown time with automatic adaptation to sunset / sunrise time changes
- Extreme Reliability - Metal, Sealed enclosure (IP43), excellent heat dissipation and high efficiency (>95%) ensures very high MTBF
- Remote control and monitoring option using GSM wireless daisy chained or RS485 bus communication
- Soft Start - limited current consumption at start up
- Very Low THD (<10%)
Detailed Feature Description
Dimming and Control
Dimming is programmable from 20% of nominal power and up to full power.
A special operating mode "Economy" provides maximum power of 87.5% from the nominal power, this power level provides light intensity very close to full power (compared to legacy Ballast) but with energy savings of 12.5% of nominal power.
Dimming and Ballast control is supported by any of the following options:
Internal DIP Switches
6 switches are installed inside the ballast. Two of these switches used to set one of 4 possible dimming levels: 40%, 50%, 60% or 80%. The rest of the switches used to enable / disable the "Economy Mode", select the delay from power up to start of dimming of 3 Hours (winter) or 6 Hours (summer) or setting dimming control to "external" which allows enable/disable dimming by applying
AC voltage (220V / 110V) to an external dimming control line.
Programmable Memory Device (SEEP = Serial EERPOM)
A programmable memory device might be optionally installed on the Ballast internal
communication connector, when installed its overrides the DIP switch setup.
The device is programmable by connecting it to a PC's parallel port. A SEEP support package contains a programming cable and a CD with configuration software.
The programming utility enables setting up to 4 different switching times each has its own dimming levels and to enable / disable the economy mode. It is also possible to program light shutdown at a specific time.
Using the SEEP enables a sophisticated time adjusting algorithm which calculates the dimming time based on the previous day power-on / power-off times. The SEEP also used to keep statistics of the lamp operation: number of ignitions and number of failed ignition.
RS485 Communication Bus
RS485 communication option enables remote control of the Ballast dimming functionality, turn the lamp on and off and monitoring operation and the lamp status.
A central RS485 communication controller may control up 100 ballast systems and to send the information to a lightning control centre using an existing communication infrastructure or optionally an integrated cellular based communication.
Wireless Communication
A wireless communication option might be installed as add on to the Ballast system. A central wireless communication controller may support up 120 ballast systems. Using a wireless communication provides similar control and monitoring functionality as with RS484 bus, but without the need for a dedicated control line. This way of control is highly recommended when enhancing an existing installation.
A central wireless communication controller may control up 120 ballast systems and to send the information to a lightning control centre using an existing communication infrastructure
or optionally an integrated cellular based communication.
Light Quality
Using Vintec electronic Ballast results in significant light quality improvements as follows: Use of high operating frequency eliminates light flickering even when shooting with high speed cameras.
The high frequency also helps to preserve the light temperature colour independent of the dimming level.
A regulated and steady voltage level applied to the lamp independent of the input
Voltage fluctuations ensures very steady light also with very old lamps.
The light intensity is fully preserved up to 6,000 working hours and there is no more then 5% degradation up to 10,000 hours of lamp operation.
Energy Savings
Energy savings is one of the major reasons justifications for using electronic ballast.
The energy savings is achieved through the following functions and features:
Light Dimming - The ability to dim the light at times where full light is not necessary results in significant power savings.
Economy Mode - Operating the ballast in economy mode results in almost not noticeable light intensity degradation and extra 12.5% power savings.
High Efficiency - The Ballast high efficiency of 95% (compared to ~85% efficiency of electromagnetic ballast) result in less heat dissipation and reduced energy loss.
The ability of dimming the light to a very low level and to switch it immediately on by applying a control signal allows significant energy savings in certain applications.
(e.g. in store houses where there is no reason to keep the lights on when nobody is present but it is required to turn on full light when someone enters).
Installation & Maintenance
Vintec Ballast maintenance is simplified due to enhanced self diagnostics and error reporting. A built in LED indicator provides detailed information about the ballast status and failure conditions.
By implementing one of the remote communication options it is possible to get real time reporting of the ballast and lamp status.
The ballast might be installed up to 30 meters (98 feet) from the lamp; this allows much easier installation and maintenance by installing the ballast at the bottom of the light pole A protection against shorting the output or reversed in/out lead installation reduces possible damage in case of faulty installations.
Installation cost is reduced due to the superior power factor (cos. ~ 1.0) of the ballast. The good and guaranteed power factor allows using of lower cost reduced gage wires.
A single product that supports a wide range of lamp types (same ballast support both Metal Halide and High Pressure Sodium lamps) simplifies the installation and maintenance by reducing the number of replacement parts in stock.
Using the Vintec electronic ballast scientifically enhances the lamp life both by a sophisticated lamp ignition algorithm and also by the ability to ignite very old lamps which can’t be used with electromagnetic ballasts. The maintenance savings due to longer lamp life (up to 300%) is very significant.
Reliability
Very high reliability is achieved by minimum heat dissipation (Efficiency better then 95%) and the use of a sealed (IP43) enclosure.
Also the use of metal case with external heat sink results in minimizing the components ambient temperature and providing very high MTBF (2 Million
Hours).Thermal protection protects the ballast against extreme conditions by automatically switching off the power in case of excess components temperature.
Standard Compliance
The ballast meets all applicable European and North American standards.
The Ballast specifically tested and meets the following standards:
1. EMC: 47 CFR FCC Part 18, EN 50081-1/EN 55015
2. Electromagnetic immunity EN 61547
3. Voltage fluctuations: EN 61000-3-3
4. Current harmonics: EN 61000-3-2
5. Safety: IEC 60922, IEC 60928, UL 1029, UL 935
Note
1. All the Electronic Ballast function for pulse to start Metal Halide Lamps type and not functions for Probe Start Metal Halide Lamps type.
2. All the Electronic Ballast function for High Pressure Sodium Lamps Type.
Electrical specifications
Input
Input Inrush Current 25A
Input Frequency 50/ 60 Hz
Output
Frequency > 50Khz
Current Crest Factor <1.6
Max Igniter Voltage 5KV
Protection
Continuous short circuit Yes
Continuous open circuit Yes
End of Lamp Life Yes
Reliability
MTBF 400,000 Hours @ 40 C
MTBCF 1,100,000 Hours @ 40 C
Distance from Lamp 30 Meter (98 feet)
Operating Temperatura -40°C - +60°C (-40°F - +140°F)
Physical Max case temperature +85°C (+185°F)
Available Models and Ordering Information
The ballast system has several models per different power levels and input voltage range. All of the models support the full range of lamp types (up-to-date list of tested lamps can be provided by contacting Vintec).
By default the ballast is provided with manual (DIP switch based) dimming control. Per each ballast model a communication / control option might be separately ordered:
SEEP module for more sophisticated dimming support and automated dimming time adjustment.
RS485 based communication option
Wireless communication option
The current available ballast models are:
V-01-600-220-V100 600 Watt, 185-250 input voltage range
V-01-400-220-V100 400 Watt, 185-250 input voltage range
V-01-250-220-V100 250 Watt, 185-250 input voltage range
V-01-150-220-V100 150 Watt, 185-250 input voltage range
V-01-100-220-V100 100 Watt, 185-250 input voltage range Only for HPS
V-01-150-110-V100 150 Watt, 85-135 input voltage range
V-01-250-110-V100 250 Watt, 85-135 input voltage range