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SiriusHardware · 19th Nov 2021, 4:04 pm

I noticed my Dad's floor standing halogen uplighter (with 400W 118mm R7 halogen bulb) was at times consuming half of all the power being used by his house, according to his smart meter. This light is on every day from dusk until bedtime.

I've bought a 30W LED equivalent. It says in the instructions with the new LED assembly that if there is a 'ballast' in series with the original bulb it has to be removed (shorted out) before this new bulb is fitted.

I've often heard of ballasts in the context of flourescent lights, but in the context of Halogen lights, what are they (inductor, resistor?) and what is their original purpose? It appears that not all halogen light fittings have them because the instructions are to remove them IF fitted.

19th Nov 2021, 4:04 pm	#1
SiriusHardware Dekatron Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: Newcastle, Tyne and Wear, UK. Posts: 11,575	Ballast in halogen lamps (sometimes) I noticed my Dad's floor standing halogen uplighter (with 400W 118mm R7 halogen bulb) was at times consuming half of all the power being used by his house, according to his smart meter. This light is on every day from dusk until bedtime. I've bought a 30W LED equivalent. It says in the instructions with the new LED assembly that if there is a 'ballast' in series with the original bulb it has to be removed (shorted out) before this new bulb is fitted. I've often heard of ballasts in the context of flourescent lights, but in the context of Halogen lights, what are they (inductor, resistor?) and what is their original purpose? It appears that not all halogen light fittings have them because the instructions are to remove them IF fitted.