Philips Advance RMH-20-K-BLS

Philips Advance RMH-20-K-BLS – e-Vision Mini 22W Ceramic Metal Halide Electronic Ballast | 120V | ANSI C175 | Bottom Exit Leads with Mounting Studs | 90°C Max Case

The Philips Advance RMH-20-K-BLS is a low-frequency electronic HID ballast from the e-Vision Mini family, built to operate one 22W Mini MasterColor ceramic metal halide lamp (CDM-Tm 20W/830, ANSI code C175) on a 120V supply. It draws 26W ANSI input power at 0.23A line current, carries a 90°C maximum case temperature rating, and starts down to -20°C / -4°F. The BLS suffix designates bottom exit leads with mounting studs — the mechanical configuration that distinguishes it from the LF and LFS versions of the same ballast. Maximum ballast-to-lamp distance is 6 feet using typical wiring methods and materials.

Technical Specifications

Product Overview

Low-frequency electronic HID ballasts in the Philips Advance e-Vision line continuously measure and adjust lamp wattage, which is what allows a ceramic metal halide lamp to hold its color properties across life. That regulation is the reason CMH on an e-Vision ballast became a practical replacement for tungsten halogen and incandescent sources in retail, where color consistency between adjacent fixtures is visible to the customer and drift is not acceptable.

The Mini series packages that electronics into one of the smallest housings in the category, sized for track-mounted ceramic metal halide luminaires, compact downlights, and accent fixtures where there is very little room behind the aperture. The 90°C maximum case temperature rating is the specification that matters most in those tight enclosures: it gives usable headroom where a lower-rated ballast would be operating at the edge of its envelope, which in turn protects the life of the lamp and the ballast.

Philips offers this ballast in three mechanically distinct versions that share identical electrical performance. LF has side exit leads with mounting feet, with leads exiting opposite ends of the ballast. LFS has side exit leads with mounting feet and leads exiting the same side. BLS, this version, has bottom exit leads with 8-32 mounting studs on 2.0 in. centers. Choosing among them is purely a question of how the ballast mounts and where the leads need to leave the case; they are not electrical substitutes for one another in a fixture designed around a specific footprint.

Compatible Applications

• Track-mounted ceramic metal halide luminaires in retail and showroom lighting
• Compact recessed downlights using 20W and 22W CMH sources
• Architectural accent and display lighting in lobbies, restaurants, and hospitality spaces
• Museum, gallery, and merchandising lighting where color consistency across fixtures is critical
• Retrofit of tungsten halogen or incandescent accent lighting to ceramic metal halide
• Fixtures with a flat mounting surface suited to bottom studs rather than side mounting feet
• Replacement of a failed RMH-20-K-BLS in an existing installation

Before Ordering – Verify

• Confirm the lead exit and mounting configuration. This is the BLS version with bottom exit leads and 8-32 x 7/32 in. mounting studs on 2.0 in. centers. The LF and LFS versions use side exit leads with mounting feet and will not drop into a fixture drilled for studs.
• Confirm the lamp is a 22W Mini MasterColor ceramic metal halide, ANSI code C175. This ballast is not rated for C156, C130, C179, or C193 lamps, which are served by other models in the e-Vision Mini range.
• Confirm the supply is 120V. The RMH-20 models are 120V only; the IMH Intellivolt models in this family cover 120–277V.
• Confirm the ballast-to-lamp distance does not exceed 6 feet. Longer runs risk ignition failure.
• Confirm there is clearance for a 4.4 in. overall length case with a 4.5 in. mounting footprint.
• Confirm the mounting location keeps the case at or below 90°C in operation, since the warranty is conditioned on it.
• Confirm the ambient will not fall below -20°C / -4°F at startup.
• Note that this ballast supports remote mounting but not tandem or through wiring.

Safety and Handling Guidelines

• Disconnect the 120V supply at the breaker before installing, wiring, or replacing the ballast.
• The ballast case must be grounded.
• Follow the wiring diagram on the ballast label: black and white are input, red and blue are output to the lamp.
• The red lead must be connected to the center terminal of the lamp on Edison screw base lamps. Do not connect the red or blue lead to neutral or ground.
• Use an appropriately rated lampholder for the lamp being driven.
• Provide adequate ventilation so the case stays within its 90°C maximum rating.
• After replacing an end-of-life lamp, cycle the power mains off and back on to reset the ballast; the EOL shutdown circuit will otherwise keep the output disabled.
• If a lamp begins to cycle or behave erratically, replace it promptly rather than leaving the ballast to repeatedly invoke its protection circuit.
• Installation should follow all applicable national and local electrical codes.

Compliance

• UL Listed
• CSA Certified where applicable
• FCC rules and regulations, Title 47 CFR Part 18, Non-Consumer equipment
• ANSI C62.41 Category A transient protection
• Sound rated A
• Power factor greater than 90% and THD less than 15%
• Contains no polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs)
• Produced in a factory certified to ISO 9002 quality system standards
• 3-year limited warranty from date of manufacture, conditioned on operation at or below the marked maximum case temperature
• Specifications per Philips Advance form EH-5070-D; specifications subject to change without notice

Ordering Information

• Catalog number: RMH-20-K-BLS (also written RMH20KBLS)
• Lead exit options in this family: LF (side exit leads, mounting feet, leads opposite ends), LFS (side exit leads, mounting feet, leads same side), BLS (bottom exit leads, mounting studs)
• Related wattages in the e-Vision Mini range: RMH-39-K-BLS for 39W CDM-Tm 35W/930 lamps (ANSI C179)
• Intellivolt 120–277V alternatives: IMH-G20-K-BLS, IMH-39-K-BLS, and IMH-50-K-BLS
• Companion lamp: Philips MasterColor CDM-Tm 20W/830
• Case and project quantities available

For wholesale pricing, bulk availability, or help confirming the correct replacement lamp, contact ADL Supply at 1-800-235-3489.