Methods of manufacturing ballasts and starter assemblies used in gas discharge lamps

A method of manufacturing a ballast used in a gas discharge lamp comprising the steps of:

• providing a plurality of ballast components including a glow bulb and remaining ballast components;
• placing the ballast components into a ballast enclosure;
• and
• separating the glow bulb from the remaining ballast components including the step of placing the glow bulb in a rigid protective enclosure, wherein the protective enclosure electrically isolates the glow bulb from the remaining ballast components.

A method of manufacturing a ballast used in a gas discharge lamp comprising the steps of:

• providing a plurality of ballast components including a glow bulb and remaining ballast components;
• placing the ballast components into a ballast enclosure;
• and
• separating the glow bulb from the remaining ballast components including the step of placing the glow bulb in a protective enclosure, wherein the protective enclosure electrically isolates the glow bulb from the remaining ballast components;
• mounting a ballast inside the ballast enclosure, wherein the remaining ballast components includes the ballast;
• passing power supply wires inside the ballast enclosure through the protective enclosure;
• electrically connecting the power supply wires to glow bulb leads inside the protective enclosure;
• and
• closing a lid on the protective enclosure.

A method of manufacturing a ballast used in a gas discharge lamp comprising the steps of:

• providing a glow bulb;
• placing the glow bulb in a rigid protective enclosure, the protective enclosure having an interior generally conforming to a size and shape of the glow bulb;
• and
• placing the protective enclosure in a ballast enclosure.