Investigation and Improvement of Self-Oscillating Electronic Ballast for Local Fluorescent Emergency Light

This paper presents an analysis and improvement of self-oscillation electronic ballast for local emergency light. The improvement circuit has been presented by replacing the original BJTs with MOSFETs as a switching device. Also, 555-timer has been used to drive the MOSFETs instead of the ballast feedback in the original circuit. This electronic ballast start and regulate fluorescent lamps by converting a DC supply to high ignition AC voltage by a rectifier circuit with switching frequency in the range of 20 kHz -1MHz. Operation at high frequency has two advantages; an improved efficiency and elimination of flickering in the lamps. The simulation has been done by using PSIM Simulink software and its results have been compared with experimental results. The results shows that by using MOSFETs as a switching device, the Total Harmonic Distortion (THD) has been reduced and the brightness of lamp tube has been increased greatly.

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