interesting FAQ's here:
http://www.expresslightbulbs.com/pulse-start-metal-halide-ballast-kit-p-15.html
Commonly Asked Questions (off the website in that link above)
What is included in my Pulse Start Metal Halide ballast kit?
All our Kits come with a ballast, capacitor, igniter and mounting hardware.
Is a Pulse Start ballast the same as a PS Metal Halide Transformer?
Yes- It is just another way of describing the Ballast.
Do I need the lamp wattage to match the ballast wattage?
Yes- The Ballast are designed for a specific wattage. There is a chance that using the improper lamp will cause a fire and also it can damage the bulb and the ballast.
Can you make a Pulse Start Metal Halide Ballast (Transformer) by simply adding an ignitor to a standard Metal Halide Ballast?
No- Many of today's metal halide ballasts do not sustain voltage very well. If you add an ignitor, it will do nothing to improve sustaining voltage. All pulse start ballasts that Express Light Bulbs carry have been designed to have approximately 270 volts sustaining which is about 50 volts higher than standard metal halide. A lot of MH bulbs available would probably start and operate properly for a short while but would not perform properly over the life of the bulb. Pulse start ballast have a better current crest factor and lower current off-time, which improves the performance for the bulb.
What is the restrike time for a Pulse Start Ballast Kit versus a Standard Ballast?
Pulse Start MH Ballast have a strike up time of about 2 minutes compared to 4 minutes of a standard MH Ballast.
Does the Pulse Start ballast immediately begin to send current to the PS Metal Halide lamp after the power is restored and how much current?
There will be no current flow through the MH Lamp until the light bulb starts. When the MH Bulb starts initially, there will be a higher current drawn because the voltage in the lamp's arc tube will be low at first; the current draw increases until the lamp reaches its operating voltage range.
During a momentary power outage, the MH lamps may be too hot to restart. This may cause a line circuit breaker to trip if there is not enough allowance for open circuit current. Neither Metal Halide CWA ballasts nor controlled current reactor MH ballasts should be an issue, if the installation was planned correctly. If you are planning retrofitting an installation with reactor gear, be extremely careful that circuit load is considered and designed correctly.
