GE
GE 72262 UltraMax Electronic Fluorescent T8 Ballast 10-Pack
Multi-volt Class A ballasts that drive T8 fluorescent tubes with anti-striation precision and independent per-lamp current control — sold in a practical 10-pack.
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Overview
Reliable and Efficient Fluorescent Lighting Solution
The GE Lighting UltraMax Electronic Fluorescent T8 Ballast provides a reliable and energy-efficient solution for your lighting needs. Designed for use with T8 fluorescent lamps, this multi-volt ballast ensures consistent and high-quality performance.
Specifications:
- Type: Electronic Fluorescent T8 Multi-volt Instant Start Ballast
- Voltage: 120/277-Volt
- Lamp Compatibility: 2 or 1 F32T8 Lamps
- Mounting Dimensions: 9-Inch L x 0.9-Inch W
- Mounting Slot Set: 0.3-Inch apart
- Efficiency: More than 90-Percent efficiency
- Sound Rating: Class A (20-24 decibels)
- Ballast Factor Rating: Low .77
- Lamp Operation: Parallel
- Minimum Starting Temperature: -20 Degree Fahrenheit
- Certifications: UL Type CC, UL Type 1 Outdoor, UL Type HL, UL Class P listed, CUL listed, ETL NRCan, NEMA Premium, and ROHS Compliant
Key Features
Multi-volt Instant Start T8 Ballast will accept up to 2 or 1 F32T8 lamps
Accommodates multi-voltages from 120 to 277-volts, extra versatile for your unique projects
Anti-striation circuitry helps to eliminate and prevent the spiraling effect from lights
Active current regulation independently controls current output to each lamp
Mounting dimensions
9-Inch L x 0.9-Inch W, Mounting slot set 0.3-Inch apart
Pros & Cons
👍 Pros
- Anti-striation circuitry eliminates the spiral artifact common in lower-quality ballasts, producing visually uniform tube illumination that is critical for color-accurate studio or broadcast lighting.
- Active current regulation independently controls each lamp, so one lamp running at a different point in its life cycle does not cause visible brightness imbalance between tubes in the same fixture.
- Class A sound rating at 20-24 dB ensures the ballast produces no audible hum detectable by studio microphones or disruptive in quiet production or broadcast environments.
- Multi-volt 120-277V operation eliminates the need to stock separate ballast SKUs for different circuit voltages in facilities with mixed power distribution systems.
- Parallel lamp operation ensures that a single failed lamp does not extinguish the remaining lamp in a two-lamp fixture — maintaining partial illumination while awaiting replacement.
👎 Cons
- The low ballast factor of 0.77 reduces lumen output to 77% of rated lamp output — installations designed to a specific lux level using full-rated F32T8 lumens will produce noticeably less light with this ballast.
- Instant-start operation, while efficient, subjects lamp cathodes to higher ignition stress than programmed-start ballasts — resulting in shorter lamp life in applications where lamps are switched on and off frequently throughout the day.
- This ballast is rated for F32T8 lamps only — it is not compatible with T5, T12, or LED retrofit tubes, which limits future lamp-type flexibility within existing fixtures.
- The 9-inch form factor requires adequate fixture length for installation — retrofitting into very short or unconventional fixture housings may require verification before committing to a 10-pack purchase.
- The ballast factor of 0.77 is fixed — there is no dimming capability, so light output cannot be adjusted below the 77% operating point without a separate dimming ballast.
Frequently Asked Questions
What T8 lamp configurations does this ballast support?
Each GE 72262 ballast drives either one or two F32T8 lamps in an instant-start configuration. The parallel lamp operation means if one lamp fails, the other continues to operate — a useful reliability characteristic in fixtures where relamping is inconvenient.
What does the multi-volt capability (120-277V) mean for installation?
This ballast operates on any voltage between 120V and 277V without requiring a different SKU for different circuits. That means a single ballast model can be used across standard 120V branch circuits and 277V commercial lighting circuits — simplifying purchasing, stocking, and maintenance across mixed-voltage facilities.
What is the ballast factor of 0.77 and how does it affect light output?
A ballast factor of 0.77 (Low) means the ballast drives the lamp at 77% of its rated lumen output compared to a reference ballast. This produces less light per fixture but also reduces power consumption — useful in applications where light levels can be reduced without compromising the environment, typically for energy management compliance.
What does the Class A sound rating (20-24 dB) mean in a lighting environment?
Class A is the quietest sound rating available for fluorescent ballasts. At 20-24 decibels, the ballast produces negligible audible hum — this matters in quiet recording environments, broadcast studios, schools, or offices where a buzzing ballast would be distracting or picked up by sensitive microphones.
What certifications does this ballast carry and why do they matter?
The GE 72262 carries UL Type CC, UL Type 1 Outdoor, UL Type HL, UL Class P, CUL, ETL NRCan, NEMA Premium, and RoHS compliance listings. For professional and commercial installation, these certifications confirm the ballast meets safety and efficiency standards required for code compliance in the US and Canada.
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