NALMCO Certified Apprentice Lighting Technician (CALT) Practice Exam

Trigger start ballasts, which operate like rapid start ballasts, were designed to operate which type of lamps?

1. Rapid start lamps

2. Instant start lamps

3. Preheat lamps

4. Slimline lamps

The correct answer is: Preheat lamps

Trigger start ballasts are specifically designed to operate preheat lamps. Preheat lamps require a warm-up period where the electrodes are preheated before the arc is struck, allowing the lamp to start more easily and efficiently. Trigger start ballasts provide a brief high-voltage pulse to initiate the starting process by preheating the electrodes, enabling the lamp to turn on promptly. In contrast, rapid start lamps have different operational characteristics that do not require the same starting mechanism as preheat lamps. Instant start lamps and slimline lamps are also designed to operate with specific types of ballasts, but they do not necessitate the preheating feature that trigger start ballasts supply. Therefore, trigger start ballasts are tailored to support the preheat lamp function effectively.