How to Judge Whether an Electronic Ballast Is Damp

isual Inspection after Opening Housing

Water droplets or condensation on PCB, white oxidized solder pins and component leads.

Mold, white/green corrosive spots and black rusted copper traces on circuit board.

Clumpy damp dust accumulated inside.

Rust and black oxidation on terminals and metal brackets.

2. Abnormal Operating Phenomena After Power-on

Frequent tripping of leakage protector, electric shock sensation when touching the casing.

Hard lamp ignition, continuous flickering, frequent automatic shutdown due to leakage protection.

Abnormal hum or tiny sparking sound during operation.

Faults get worse at low temperature and ease up after heating up for a while.

3. Instrument Test (Most Reliable)

The insulation resistance measured by megohmmeter is lower than 5MΩ, and rises obviously after thorough drying, which proves dampness.

Insulation value drops further under low temperature and recovers after drying.

4. Environmental Auxiliary Judgment

If the ballast is installed beside water tanks, in damp basements or leaky cabinets with large temperature difference between day and night, internal dampness is highly likely.