System, apparatus, and method for controlling lamp operation when subject to thermal cycling

A control system for preventing thermal cycling of a ballast coupled to at least one lamp, the ballast including a thermal protection mechanism to disable power to the lamp while the thermal protection mechanism is activated, the control system comprising:

• a current monitor coupled to monitor current flow through the ballast to the lamp, and to provide an indication of a state of the current flow;
• at least one temperature sensor positioned within a predetermined vicinity of the ballast to measure an ambient temperature proximate the ballast;
• and
• a controller coupled to the current monitor and the temperature sensor to determine whether the ballast's thermal protection mechanism is activated based on the indication of the state of current flow and the ambient temperature, and to disable power to the ballast when it is determined that the ballast's thermal protection mechanism is activated.

An ultraviolet (UV) air treatment system for treating air provided by an air handling system having an air duct arrangement for channeling the air through a targeted space, the UV air treatment system comprising:

• at least one UV lamp positionable within the air duct arrangement;
• a ballast coupled between a power source and the UV lamp, wherein the ballast includes a thermal protection mechanism to disable power to the lamp while the thermal protection mechanism is activated;
• a current monitor coupled to monitor current flow through the ballast to the UV lamp, and to provide an indication of a state of the current flow;
• at least one temperature sensor positioned within a predetermined vicinity of the ballast to measure an ambient temperature proximate the ballast;
• and
• a controller coupled to the current monitor and the temperature sensor to determine whether the ballast's thermal protection mechanism is activated based on the indication of the state of current flow and the ambient temperature, and to disable power to the ballast when it is determined that the ballast's thermal protection mechanism is activated.