Ballasts

Ballasts, Drivers and Transformers – Control Gear at a Glance

Whether you are maintaining a commercial lighting installation, retrofitting fluorescent tubes to LED, or specifying control gear for a new retail fit-out, the right ballast is the invisible backbone of every reliable lighting system. At Leuchtmittel Verkauf you will find conventional ballasts (CCG), low-loss ballasts (VVG), electronic ballasts (EVG), LED drivers and halogen transformers – all in one place, with expert guidance to help you choose the correct unit for your lamp type, wattage and dimming requirements.

From a single replacement starter to a full set of DALI-dimmable electronic ballasts for an office refurbishment, our range covers every scenario. Quality products, clear technical data and straightforward ordering make the process simple – so your lighting project stays on schedule and on budget.

What Is a Ballast and When Do You Need One?

A ballast – also called control gear or, in the case of LED systems, a driver – is a device connected in series between the mains supply and a lamp. Its primary job is to limit the current flowing through the lamp to its rated value and, where required, to deliver the ignition voltage needed to start the discharge arc.

Why current limiting is essential

Gas-discharge lamps (fluorescent tubes, metal halide / HQI lamps, high-pressure sodium lamps) and LED modules share a critical characteristic: they cannot be connected directly to the 230 V mains without protection. Once a gas-discharge arc is struck, the lamp's internal resistance drops sharply, causing a runaway increase in current. Without a ballast in the circuit, the current would rise uncontrollably within milliseconds, destroying the lamp and potentially tripping the circuit breaker.

A ballast prevents this by providing a controlled impedance in series with the lamp. Depending on the technology, it may also:

• Deliver a high ignition voltage pulse (several hundred volts for fluorescent tubes, up to several kV for HID lamps)
• Preheat the lamp electrodes before ignition (warm-start EVG)
• Regulate operating current over the full lamp life
• Enable dimming via analogue or digital control protocols

When is a ballast built in – and when is it separate?

In compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs) and most modern LED retrofit lamps, the control gear is integrated into the lamp base, allowing direct connection to a standard E27 or GU10 socket. In linear fluorescent luminaires, high-bay discharge fittings and professional LED module installations, the ballast or driver is a separate component mounted inside or alongside the luminaire. Understanding which situation you are dealing with is the first step to choosing the right replacement or upgrade.

Types of Ballasts: CCG, VVG, EVG and LED Drivers Compared

Conventional ballasts (CCG – konventionelles Vorschaltgerät)

The CCG is the oldest ballast technology: a magnetic choke consisting of an iron core with an air gap, wound with copper or aluminium wire. It operates at mains frequency (50 Hz in Europe) and limits lamp current through inductive impedance. Losses are significant – typically 10–20 % of the lamp's rated wattage – because of copper winding resistance and iron-core eddy-current and hysteresis losses. A 58 W T8 fluorescent tube running on a CCG draws around 71 W at the system level.

CCGs for fluorescent lamps require a separate starter to preheat the electrodes and deliver the ignition voltage pulse. The characteristic flicker at switch-on is caused by the glow starter cycling several times before the arc stabilises. CCGs are extremely robust – they can operate for decades without failure – but their poor energy efficiency led the EU to ban the sale of Class C and below CCGs from November 2005.

Low-loss ballasts (VVG – verlustarmes Vorschaltgerät)

VVGs use improved electrical steel laminations, larger copper cross-sections and an optimised core geometry to reduce self-losses compared with conventional CCGs. A 58 W T8 system draws roughly 66 W with a VVG versus 71 W with a CCG – a modest improvement. VVGs still operate at mains frequency and still require a starter. Since April 2017, EU regulations permit only ballasts with energy efficiency index (EEI) class A1 or A2 to be placed on the market, which effectively phases out VVGs for new installations.

Electronic ballasts (EVG – elektronisches Vorschaltgerät)

EVGs convert mains AC to high-frequency AC in the range of 25–50 kHz (some designs reach 90 kHz). Operating at high frequency eliminates physically perceptible flicker and increases the lamp's luminous efficacy. The same 58 W T8 tube draws only 55 W at system level with an EVG – a saving of approximately 23 % compared with a CCG system.

Key advantages of EVGs:

• Ballast and ignition circuit combined in one unit – no separate starter required
• Flicker-free instant or warm start
• Longer lamp life due to controlled warm-start preheating
• Power factor close to 1 (0.97–0.99 for larger units)
• Automatic switch-off of defective or end-of-life lamps
• Dimmable versions available (A1 BAT class – Best Available Technology)

For high-wattage HID lamps above 400 W, reliable electronic ballasts are rare; magnetic units remain the norm at these power levels.

LED drivers

LED modules are not gas-discharge devices, but they still require a dedicated driver to operate correctly. An LED driver rectifies the mains AC and delivers a precisely regulated DC output – either constant current (e.g. 350 mA, 700 mA or 1,050 mA) or constant voltage (typically 12 V or 24 V DC). Constant-current drivers are used for individual LED modules and spot arrays; constant-voltage drivers power LED strips and tape lighting.

Drivers can be integrated on the LED module PCB or supplied as a separate external unit. Advanced drivers support dimming via phase-cut (trailing or leading edge), 1–10 V analogue, DALI or DSI protocols – critical for retail, hospitality and office environments where dynamic lighting control is required.

Transformer vs Ballast vs LED Driver – Which Do You Need?

These three terms are often confused. Here is a concise decision guide:

Halogen transformer vs LED driver

A halogen transformer steps 230 V AC down to 12 V AC for low-voltage halogen lamps (GU5.3 / MR16 format). If you replace those halogen lamps with LED lamps socket GU5.3, you may find that the existing transformer is incompatible with the much lower LED wattage – most magnetic transformers require a minimum load of 20–40 W to function correctly. In that case, replace the transformer with a dedicated LED driver sized to the total LED load.

Ballast vs LED driver for fluorescent retrofit

When retrofitting a fluorescent luminaire with LED luminous tubes (G13 socket), you have two options: use a ballast-compatible LED tube (designed to work with an existing EVG) or bypass/remove the ballast entirely and wire the luminaire directly to the LED tube's internal driver. Always check the tube manufacturer's compatibility data before choosing your approach.

Choosing the Right Ballast: Lamp Type, Wattage, Socket and Dimming

Selecting the correct ballast is straightforward once you know the four key parameters. Use this checklist every time:

1. Lamp type and tube format

• T8 tubes (G13 socket, 26 mm diameter): The most common fluorescent format. Requires a T8-rated CCG, VVG or EVG. Standard lengths: 600 mm (18 W), 1,200 mm (36 W), 1,500 mm (58 W).
• T5 tubes (G5 socket, 16 mm diameter): Higher efficacy, shorter lengths. Always requires a T5-specific EVG – T5 tubes are not compatible with T8 ballasts.
• Compact fluorescent (2G11, G24d, G24q, GX24d): Check the pin count and socket type; 2-pin types need an external starter circuit, 4-pin types are designed for EVG operation.
• HQI / metal halide (G12, GX8.5, GY9.5): Require a discharge-lamp ballast plus a separate ignitor in series. Match ballast wattage exactly to the lamp (e.g. 70 W, 150 W, 250 W, 400 W).
• High-pressure sodium (E40): Similar requirement to HQI; ignitor voltage and ballast inductance must match the lamp specification.

2. Rated wattage

The ballast output wattage must match the lamp wattage exactly. A 58 W ballast driving a 36 W tube will overheat the lamp; a 36 W ballast on a 58 W tube will underperform and shorten lamp life. Always read the wattage printed on the ballast label.

3. Number of output channels

Some EVGs can drive two or even four lamps from a single unit (e.g. 2 × 36 W or 4 × 14 W T5). Verify that the number of channels matches the number of lamps in your luminaire.

4. Dimming protocol

For retail shops, restaurants, hotel lobbies and offices where dimming is required, choose an EVG or LED driver with the appropriate control interface:

• Phase-cut (trailing edge / TRIAC): Compatible with most standard wall dimmers; suitable for residential and small commercial use.
• 1–10 V analogue: Simple, low-cost dimming widely used in offices and warehouses; requires a separate control wire.
• DALI (Digital Addressable Lighting Interface): Individual lamp addressing, scene setting and energy monitoring; the professional standard for retail and hospitality.
• DSI (Digital Serial Interface): An older digital protocol, still found in legacy installations.

Dimmable EVGs of energy efficiency class A1 BAT (Best Available Technology) combine the lowest system losses with full dimming capability – the premium choice for any installation where energy costs and lighting quality both matter.

Retrofitting Fluorescent Tubes to LED and Swapping CCG for EVG

Retrofitting an existing fluorescent installation is one of the most common reasons customers visit this category. Here is a practical step-by-step guide.

Option A: Replace CCG or VVG with an EVG

This upgrade retains the existing fluorescent tubes but eliminates the energy waste of the old magnetic ballast.

1. Confirm lamp type compatibility – the new EVG must be rated for your tube format (T8 or T5) and wattage.
2. Check the output channel count – if your luminaire holds two 36 W tubes, you need a 2 × 36 W EVG.
3. Verify the mechanical form factor – EVGs come in different housing sizes; measure the available space inside the luminaire.
4. Replace the starter with a starter-bridge adapter – EVGs do not use a starter. Fit a starter-bridge (also called a dummy starter or bypass plug) in the starter socket, or rewire the circuit to remove the starter loop entirely.
5. Check the power factor capacitor – if a compensation capacitor was fitted alongside the old CCG, it is no longer needed and should be disconnected.

Option B: Retrofit LED tubes (bypass the ballast)

Many LED T8 tubes are designed for direct mains connection, meaning the existing ballast must be removed or bypassed.

1. Identify your LED tube type – "ballast-compatible" tubes work with certain EVGs; "mains direct" tubes require ballast removal.
2. For mains-direct tubes: disconnect the ballast wiring and connect live and neutral directly to one end of the tube holder. Follow the wiring diagram supplied with the tube.
3. Remove or short-circuit the starter – fit a starter-bridge if the starter socket remains in the circuit.
4. Safety first: always isolate the luminaire from the mains before opening it. If you are not confident working with mains wiring, engage a qualified electrician.

Reading the ballast label – a quick checklist

Before ordering a replacement, note these details from the existing ballast label:

• Lamp type (e.g. T8, T5, HQI)
• Rated lamp wattage (e.g. 1 × 58 W or 2 × 36 W)
• Number of output channels
• EEI class (A1, A2, B1, B2 …)
• Dimming interface (if any)
• Supply voltage (230 V / 50 Hz for European installations)

Applications: Where Ballasts and Drivers Are Used

Ballasts and drivers are required wherever gas-discharge or LED module technology is used – which covers a remarkably wide range of environments.

Retail shops and showrooms

Retail lighting relies heavily on T5 and T8 fluorescent tubes in recessed troffers and display-case luminaires, as well as LED modules in track-mounted spotlights. DALI-dimmable EVGs and constant-current LED drivers allow scene-based lighting control that can highlight merchandise and create the visual impact that sets a shop apart. Browse our LED spotlights and display and fluorescent lights for compatible luminaires.

Hospitality and restaurants

Hotels and restaurants often combine warm-white LED downlights with decorative pendant fittings. Dimmable LED drivers with trailing-edge phase-cut compatibility integrate seamlessly with existing rotary dimmers, enabling the kind of atmospheric lighting that creates a genuine wow-effect in dining and reception areas.

Offices and industrial halls

Open-plan offices and warehouses typically use T8 or T5 fluorescent battens or LED panel luminaires. Electronic ballasts with 1–10 V dimming or DALI control, combined with daylight sensors, can reduce energy consumption by 30–50 % compared with a fixed-output CCG installation.

Outdoor and damp locations

For outdoor lighting and bathroom installations, choose LED drivers with an appropriate IP rating. IP65-rated drivers are suitable for damp locations; IP67 or IP68 units are required for direct water exposure. Always check the driver's IP class before installation in any wet or outdoor environment.

High-bay and industrial discharge lighting

Metal halide (HQI) and high-pressure sodium lamps in warehouse high-bays require heavy-duty magnetic ballasts plus a separate ignitor. These lamps deliver outstanding lumen output per watt – up to 150 lm/W for sodium – making them cost-effective for large-area industrial illumination where colour rendering is less critical.

Leuchtmittel Verkauf – Your Specialist for Lighting Control Gear

Leuchtmittel Verkauf has been a specialist retailer for lamps, luminaires and lighting infrastructure for over 20 years. Our ballast range covers every technology generation – from replacement CCG units for legacy installations to state-of-the-art DALI-dimmable EVGs and constant-current LED drivers from trusted manufacturers including Osram, Ledvance, Philips and SLV.

Every product in our range is backed by our 3-year guarantee, giving you long-term peace of mind whether you are a homeowner replacing a single ballast or a facilities manager specifying control gear for an entire building.

Orders over €69 qualify for free shipping, and all goods are dispatched from our warehouse in Bocholt, Germany – ensuring fast, reliable delivery across the UK, Ireland and Europe. Need help matching a ballast to your lamp type or planning a retrofit project? Our team is ready to assist via our Contact & Service page.

Explore our full range of fluorescent lamps and discharge lamps to find the compatible lamps for your new control gear – all from one trusted source.

FAQ – Questions & Answers