Patent attributes
A device for determining a type of a power source for powering a LED lighting unit, wherein one possible type comprises a ballast originally designed for a high intensity discharge lamp and repurposed for use with an LED lighting unit. The power source type determiner monitors at least one electrical parameter of either a load or the power source itself after a power drawn by the load whose characteristic is set to a critical value. A value of the electrical parameter is used to identify a type of the power source. A value of the electrical parameter is the pulse generated by the traditional ballast for gas discharge lamp, which pulse is detected to determine the type of the power source.