Metal halide lamp ballasts

Energy Efficiency Regulations

Regulatory definition

Metal halide lamp ballast, a device that is used to obtain the voltage, current and waveform necessary for starting and operating a metal halide lamp that has a nominal power of at least 50 W but not more than 1000 W.

It does not include any of the following:

• a magnetic-regulated lamp ballast
• a replacement metal halide lamp ballast, or
• an electronic ballast that is designed for a nominal voltage of 480 V or to operate a lamp at an output fre­quency of 1000 Hz or more

Compliance date

Manufactured on or after February 10, 2017, or
Manufactured on or after December 31, 2019 for ballasts capable of using a nominal voltage of 347 V

Compliant product models

Metal halide lamp ballasts as listed on NRCan’s searchable database

Testing standard

CSA C863-16

Energy efficiency standard

Energy performance standard for metal halide lamp ballasts

Product designed to be operated with lamps of the following rated lamp wattage	Test input voltage††	Minimum energy performance standard (Ballast efficiency = results obtained by equation and fixed values multiplied by 100 for percentage)†
≥50 W and ≤100 W	480 V and 347 V	(1/(1+1.24×P^(−0.351))) − 0.0200
≥50 W and ≤100 W	All others	1/(1+1.24×P^(−0.351))
>100 W and <150 W *	480 V and 347 V	(1/(1+1.24×P^(−0.351))) − 0.0200
>100 W and <150 W *	All others	1/(1+1.24×P^(−0.351))
≥150 W ** and ≤250 W	480 V and 347 V	0.880
≥150 W ** and ≤250 W Electromagnetic or electronic pulse start	All others	For ≥150 W and ≤200 W: 0.880 For >200 W and ≤250 W: 1/(1+0.876×P^(−0.351))
≥150 W ** and ≤250 W Electromagnetic probe start	All others	0.94
≥150 W ** and ≤250 W Electronic probe start	All others	0.90
>250 W and ≤500 W	480 V and 347 V	For >250 W and <265 W: 0.880 For ≥265 W and ≤500 W: (1/(1+0.876×P^(−0.351))) − 0.0100
>250 W and ≤500 W Electromagnetic or electronic pulse start	All others	1/(1+0.876×P^(−0.351))
>250 W and ≤500 W Electromagnetic probe start	All others	0.94
>250 W and ≤500 W Electronic probe start	All others	0.92
>500 W and ≤1000 W Electromagnetic or electronic pulse start	480 V and 347 V	For >500 W and ≤750 W: 0.900 For >750 W and ≤1000 W: 0.000104×P + 0.822
>500 W and ≤1000 W Electromagnetic or electronic probe start	480 V and 347 V	For >500 W and ≤1000 W: 0.99 for probe start ballasts
>500 W and ≤1000 W Electromagnetic or electronic pulse start	All others	For >500 W and ≤750 W: 0.910 For >750 W and ≤1000 W: 0.000104×P+0.832
>500 W and ≤1000 W Electromagnetic or electronic probe start	All others	For >500 W and ≤1000 W: 0.99 for probe start ballasts

W = watts
V= volts

* Includes ballasts

• rated only for 150 W lamps
• contained within luminaires rated for wet location use as defined by Section 30-318 of the Canadian Electrical Code, Part I, and
• rated to operate at ambient air temperatures above 50 °C as specified by CAN/CSA-C22.2 No. 74 or UL 1029

** Excludes ballasts

• rated only for 150 W lamps
• contained within luminaires rated for wet location use as defined by Section 30-318 of the Canadian Electrical Code, Part I, and
• rated to operate at ambient air temperatures above 50 °C as specified by CAN/CSA-C22.2 No. 74 or UL 1029

^† P is defined as the rated wattage of the lamp the ballast is designed to operate
^†† Tested input voltage is specified in CAN/CSA-C863-16

Energy efficiency report requirements

• name of product
• brand name
• model number
• manufacturer
• name of the certification body or province whose verification mark will be on the product or its package
• whether a mathematical model as defined in the Regulations was used to generate any of the information provided below
• type
• efficiency of the lamp and ballast combination, expressed as a percentage
• nominal voltage
• input power, in watts
• power, in watts, of the lamps that the ballast is designed to operate
• power factor

Download the energy efficiency reporting template.

This document does not constitute part of the Energy Efficiency Act (Act) or its associated regulations. This document is an administrative document that is intended to facilitate compliance by the regulated party with the Act and its associated regulations. This document is not intended to provide legal advice regarding the interpretation of the Act or its associated regulations. If a regulated party has questions about their legal obligations or responsibilities under the Act or its associated regulations, they should seek the advice of legal counsel.