Discharge Lighting: Power Factor and Electrical Design Considerations Walkthrough

Section role: This presentation supports the 'Designing for Performance' section while the teacher explains the technical requirements and installation constraints for discharge lighting systems. Slides: (1) Title — 'Power Factor and Electrical Design for Discharge Lighting'; (2) The Problem of Industrial Lighting — visual of a tripped breaker panel, explanation of inrush current and why it's a concern for discharge lamps; (3) Understanding Power Factor (PF) — definition of real vs. apparent power, explanation of inductive ballasts causing phase shift, formula for power factor; (4) The Cost of Low Power Factor — diagram showing current waveform phase shift, bullet points on increased current draw and higher utility charges for factories; (5) Power Factor Correction (PFC) — diagram of a capacitor in parallel with a ballast, explanation of how capacitors mitigate phase shift; (6) Wiring for Discharge Lamps — explanation of inrush current requiring larger cable sizing (1.5x-2x running current), discussion of the 'stroboscopic effect' and its mitigation using three-phase supply; (7) Re-strike Time Explained — diagram showing a lamp cooling curve, definition of re-strike time, why lamps cannot be immediately re-lit after shutdown; (8) Recap and Challenge — 'Why is correct electrical design crucial for discharge lighting systems beyond just providing light?' — sets up the subsequent section on technical calculations and circuit analysis.

Lara from Teachy