Low voltage DC supply dimmable ballast for 1 x 36W T8 lamp

It is possible to design an effective dimmable ballast based around the IR21592 that is powered from a low voltage DC supply instead of the AC line. A non-dimmable version based around the IR2156 is also possible using the same basic configuration. This application note shows a ballast for a single 36W T8 lamp driven from a 30V DC supply. Lower supply voltages are possible. However, the IR21592 control IC requires up to 13V supplied to the V_CC pin before it will operate. Also, as the current is high large conductors are needed to keep losses at an acceptable level (for a 36W ballast operating from a 30V supply the input current is around 1.25A).

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