Lights are controlled by ballasts, and there are different types of ballasts for you to choose from. When you pick the lighting for your business, you can choose from lighting that uses a fluorescent ballast, a metal halide ballast, a digital ballast, an electronic ballast or a specialized ballast.

An electrician can help you to pick the right ballast for your needs because each ballast has a different purpose. When choosing a ballast, consider these tips:

1. Make sure that your wiring will support the ballast type that you need. You should also consider the amount of heat released by your ballast and lighting system.

2. Find a professional electrician to install ballasts in your commercial building.

3. Find out if upgrading your existing ballasts would save your company money in the long run.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Find the right ballasts for your needs

When you pick the type of ballasts you need for your project, you must consider the purpose of each type. Metal halide ballasts, for example, are used in the pet industry to simulate sunlight in saltwater aquariums. All ballasts will give off some heat. If you have heat sensitive merchandise, picking an electronic ballast is often the best option.

I recommend: Sunshine Lighting has a wide variety of ballasts for sale, including electrical ballasts. They also offer ballast parts, including control gear. Fox Electric Supply Company sells wholesale ballasts. They offer specialty ballasts and custom ballasts. They also have numerous ballast parts for sale.

Have a certified electrician install your ballasts

In many areas, building codes for commercial properties stipulate that all wiring must be done by a licensed, certified electrician. It is important that you find someone who is familiar with your local codes and requirements for your type of business.

I recommend: BidClerk offers an online form to submit your project. Once it is submitted, electricians can bid on the project and you can pick the best one for your needs. ServiceMagic is a matching service that will put you in touch with pre screened professionals in your area.

Consider upgrading your ballast system

Over time, as components wear down, your ballasts will begin to use more electricity and produce less light. This will cause electric bills to rise. Upgrading the ballast system will increase your lighting efficiency, which will decrease your electric bills. In some cases, you can upgrade just the bulb without having to upgrade the ballast.

I recommend: Eco Enterprises has a variety of ballast upgrade kits available that will fit almost any ballast. Lighting on the Net offers bulb upgrades in many different varieties. This site offers contractor and builder specials on all of their light bulbs. In addition, they have a flat rate shipping program.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Picking the cheapest ballasts may seem like the right choice when you are planning your project. It is important to remember, however, that the ballast that costs less may end up costing more in the long run when you factor in operating costs.