HID lamps under low frequency square wave operation: Experimental Evaluation of Dimming effects

Abstract

In this paper, the dimming effects on the photometric and electric characteristics of high intensity discharge lamps supplied by a low frequency square waveform are evaluated. For this evaluation an electronic ballast is presented. The ballast consists of a current source, AC/DC converter and a full-bridge inverter. The electronic supply provides to the lamp a different form of current excitation (square waves with variable short drops). Dimming control and the characteristics of low frequency operated high intensity discharge lamps are described. The lamp is represented in a simulation by its conductance model and coupled to its electronic power supply. Experimental results are shown and compared with the simulation. A dimming range from 100% to about 60% has been achieved.