International Rectifier has introduced the IRS2526DS ‘Mini8’ compact fluorescent lamp (CFL) ballast control IC that offers full programmability, and a high degree of accuracy and control for all lamp types.
Picture: IR
Available in an 8-pin SO-8 package, the new feature-rich IC reduces component count, simplifies circuit design and increases efficiency in a compact footprint.
The IRS2526DS features a 600 V half-bridge control circuit working at 50% duty-cycle and variable frequency for driving the resonant mode lamp output circuit. The high accuracy oscillator is controlled by a single analogue-to-frequency input pin used to set the different operating frequencies of the ballast.
Complete fault protection circuitry is also included for protection against such conditions as mains interrupt or brown-out, lamp non-strike, lamp filament failure and end-of-life. The new device also incorporates an internal frequency dither to reduce conducted EMI, ignition control to reduce inductor size, and end-of-life detection.
The IRS2526DS is the third generation ballast IC from IR and uses the technology featured in the previously released IRS2580DS ‘Combo8’ that combines a full featured fluorescent ballast with power factor correction (PFC) controller in a compact 8-pin package. The new IRS2526DS is targeted at applications that do not require PFC or use an external PFC controller.
