Do LED lights need a ballast?

No LED bulbs require a ballast, although some are engineered to work with an existing ballast. You will find ballast-compatible or “plug-and-play” LEDs that are designed to replace linear fluorescents, compact fluorescents, or HIDs. Incandescent and halogen lamps do not require a ballast.

How do you tell if a ballast is going out?

If your fluorescent lighting is displaying any of the signs below, it could be a symptom of a bad ballast:

• Flickering.
• Buzzing.
• Delayed start.
• Low output.
• Inconsistent lighting levels.
• Switch to an electronic ballast, keep lamp.
• Switch to an electronic ballast, switch to a T8 fluorescent.

How much does it cost to replace a light ballast?

A replacement ballast costs about $10-25 depending on capacity and brand. The bite is that an electrician trip charge (which includes 30 or 60 minutes work) is going to be $75-150 probably – for about 5 minutes work on each light fixture.

Is an LED driver the same as a ballast?

The driver is an electrical device that regulates power to your LED lights. It’s comparable to a ballast for fluorescent lighting systems. In short, the driver keeps your LEDs running safely and consistently, even when the LED’s electrical properties shift due to fluctuating temperatures.

What happens when a ballast goes bad?

The ballast itself can go bad, which causes lights to flicker or even appear to be burnt out, when in fact they aren’t. They require maintenance and energy to power, on top of the power used to light the fluorescent bulb. They are a large part of the equation when using fluorescent lamps.

How long do ballasts last?

12 to 15 years
According to the Certified Ballast Manufacturers Association, the average magnetic ballast lasts about 75,000 hours, or 12 to 15 years with normal use. The optimum economic life of a fluorescent lighting system with magnetic ballasts is usually about 15 years.

Can you replace a ballast yourself?

You can get a new ballast at a hardware store or home center and install it in about 10 minutes. However, buying a ballast can be expensive, so consider pricing a brand-new fixture for comparison.

Do I need a new ballast?

Magnetic ballasts are those that tend to hum when the lights are on, and when they go bad, they can drip a black tar-like substance down into the fixture. If your lights flicker or turn themselves off—and you’re sure it’s not due to bad tubes or bad sockets—it’s time to replace the ballast.