multi-wattage e-ballasts

BrandesFam · 04/10/2008, 01:49 PM

Ok, I'm not an electronics guy and I know I'm comparing two different types of circuits, but I'm looking at my power amp for my guitar and it got me thinking - I don't get why ballasts can't be made to handle a range of bulb wattages instead of a single wattage level. why can't the ballast be designed to control the delivery of the current to the bulb and therefore be able to handle any wattage bulb (up to the maximum wattage it can draw of course)? So design a 400w ballast that can really be used for 70w-400w bulbs. Wouldn't that make sense - Oh I forgot, separate ballasts means more money for the manufacturers when you want to upgrade/downgrade wattage types... my bad!

Seriously though, shouldn't this be achievable at least via a manual selector switch on the ballast to control the flow of current to the lamp socket? I know they do it all the time in guitar tube amps (and I think I've even seen it on solid state amps too) - I switch that simply cuts tubes from the draw/delivery chain and bam - you have lower output going to the speaker.

Please clue me in here, 'cause I must be missing something.

BrandesFam · 04/10/2008, 09:36 PM

not a hot topic eh?

04/10/2008, 01:49 PM	#1
BrandesFam Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Chicago - North Side Posts: 309	multi-wattage e-ballasts Ok, I'm not an electronics guy and I know I'm comparing two different types of circuits, but I'm looking at my power amp for my guitar and it got me thinking - I don't get why ballasts can't be made to handle a range of bulb wattages instead of a single wattage level. why can't the ballast be designed to control the delivery of the current to the bulb and therefore be able to handle any wattage bulb (up to the maximum wattage it can draw of course)? So design a 400w ballast that can really be used for 70w-400w bulbs. Wouldn't that make sense - Oh I forgot, separate ballasts means more money for the manufacturers when you want to upgrade/downgrade wattage types... my bad! Seriously though, shouldn't this be achievable at least via a manual selector switch on the ballast to control the flow of current to the lamp socket? I know they do it all the time in guitar tube amps (and I think I've even seen it on solid state amps too) - I switch that simply cuts tubes from the draw/delivery chain and bam - you have lower output going to the speaker. Please clue me in here, 'cause I must be missing something. __________________ Seth Current Tank Info: Sailfin tang, Firefish, scooter blenny, six line wrasse, ? wrasse, cleaner shrimp, porcelain crab

04/10/2008, 09:36 PM	#2
BrandesFam Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Chicago - North Side Posts: 309	not a hot topic eh? __________________ Seth Current Tank Info: Sailfin tang, Firefish, scooter blenny, six line wrasse, ? wrasse, cleaner shrimp, porcelain crab