Apparatus and method for remotely detecting a magnetic ballast

A method for remotely detecting and indicating whether a ballast driving a fluorescent lamp is of the magnetic type, comprising the steps of:

• sensing the flicker frequency of light emitted by the fluorescent lamp with a light sensor;
• generating a digital signal stream based upon the sensed flicker frequency of the emitted light, wherein the digital signal stream has a pulse frequency proportional to the sensed flicker frequency;
• determining whether the pulse frequency of the digital signal stream is between predetermined high and low threshold levels;
• and
• producing a first indicator signal indicating the presence of a magnetic ballast when the pulse frequency of the digital signal stream is determined to be between the threshold levels.

An apparatus for remotely detecting and indicating whether a ballast driving a fluorescent lamp is of the magnetic type, comprising:

• a light-sensing circuit that receives light emitted by the fluorescent lamp having a flicker frequency and, in response, produces an output signal having an output frequency proportional to the flicker frequency of the emitted light;
• a microcontroller that receives the output signal and determines whether the output frequency of the output signal is between predetermined high and low threshold levels, wherein a first indicator signal indicating the presence of a magnetic ballast is produced by the microcontroller when the output frequency is determined to be between the threshold levels;
• and
• at least one power supply for the light-sensing circuit and the microcontroller.