How to easily tell if you have a magnetic ballast or an electronic ballast?

Magnetic Ballast vs Electronic Ballast: How to Identify

How to Tell What Kind of Ballast You Have: Method One – Use Your Smartphone Camera

If you're wondering how to tell what kind of ballast you have, the easiest way is to use your smartphone camera. Here's how you can identify whether you have a magnetic or electronic ballast:

  1. Stand close to the light source, ideally within two metres, and point your smartphone camera at the light.
  2. Observe your camera screen:
    • Flickering effect: If you see strong dark stripes flickering on the screen, the light is powered by a magnetic ballast.
    • No flickering: If there are no flickers, it's likely an electronic ballast.

This method works well for identifying magnetic vs electronic ballast systems, especially when the light isn't installed too high. Below is an example of a flickering effect from a magnetic ballast and the stable lighting of an electronic ballast.

magnetic ballast viewed from a phone camera
electronic ballast viewed from a phone camera

Example: Flickering effect of magnetic ballast lights vs. Non-flickering effect of electronic ballast lights.

How Do I Know If I Have a Magnetic or Electronic Ballast? Method Two – Look for Starters

Another way to determine if your light uses a magnetic or electronic ballast is by checking for a starter. Here’s what to do:

  1. Turn on the fluorescent light.
  2. Check for a glowing starter:
    • The starter will emit an orange glow just before the main tube lights up.
    • This glow is easy to spot in a dark room and is typical for magnetic ballast lights.

Magnetic ballasts always have a starter, while electronic ballasts do not. If you find a starter in your fixture, you are dealing with a magnetic ballast. If no starter is present, it is likely an electronic ballast.

A starter for magnetic ballast tube light
A glowing starter for magnetic ballast tube light

Example: A starter emitting an orange glow before the tube lights up.

By following these methods, you can quickly figure out how to tell what kind of ballast you have and decide whether it is a magnetic or electronic ballast. Always exercise caution when inspecting lights and fixtures.

Save Energy by Retrofitting Fluorescent Tube Lights with LED Tube Lights

  • For magnetic ballast lights:
    1. Replace the old starter with the new LED starter provided.
    2. Replace the fluorescent tube light with the new LED tube light.
  • For electronic ballast lights:
    1. Bypass or remove the electronic ballast (requires rewiring).
    2. Install the new LED tube light after rewiring is complete.

Note: Rewiring for electronic ballast lights must be performed by a licensed electrician to ensure safety and compliance with regulations.

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