A practical comparison among high-power-factor electronic ballasts with similar ideas

This paper provides a comparative analysis among four electronic ballast topologies with high power factor, employing the same switch for inverter and power factor correction stage. The analyses done are based on experimental results. A commercial electromagnetic ballast (EMB) is tested to provide a comparison with implemented electronic ballasts. The features of each topology are shown through the discussion of their advantages and disadvantages. The electronic ballasts are made for two 40-W fluorescent lamps at 50-kHz switching frequency and for a 110-V_rms 60-Hz utility line.