IR2156STRPBF - 600V Ballast Control IC, 14-SOIC | Infineon
MPN: IR2156STRPBF β Active| Qty | Unit Price | Extended |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $0.97 | $0.97 |
| 10 | $0.86 | $8.60 |
| 100 | $0.72 | $72.00 |
| 500 | $0.65 | $325.00 |
| 1,000 | $0.6059 | $605.90 |
IR2156STRPBF Overview
What is a ballast controller? A ballast controller is a specialized power management IC that drives the half-bridge power stage of a fluorescent or HID lamp ballast. It manages the lamp's life cycle across preheat, ignition, and run phases while enforcing protection thresholds. Within the broader taxonomy, a ballast controller belongs to gate drivers -> driver ICs -> power management ICs -> semiconductor devices, and it is the central control element in any electronically ballasted lamp.
Key features include a 36 kHz to 44 kHz programmable oscillator range, 1 mA typical quiescent supply current, internal 15.6 V zener clamp on VCC, DC-bus under-voltage reset with hysteresis, shutdown pin with hysteresis, and over-current fault protection on the CS pin. The high-side driver tolerates up to 600 V offset, allowing direct connection to the half-bridge switching node without external level-shift circuitry.
The IC integrates a high-voltage half-bridge driver with low-side and high-side gate outputs that switch external power MOSFETs or IGBTs at the resonant tank frequency. The bootstrap circuit supplies the high-side gate, simplifying PCB layout and reducing external component count compared to discrete gate-drive solutions. The internal ignition ramp and programmable preheat/run sequencing are tuned by external resistor-capacitor networks at dedicated timing pins.
Typical applications include T8/T5/T12 fluorescent lamp ballasts, compact fluorescent lamp (CFL) ballasts, high-intensity discharge (HID) lamp ballasts, and electronic transformers for halogen lighting. The wide 600 V high-side offset allows use on universal AC mains (90 VAC to 265 VAC) when paired with a PFC front-end.
When designing with this device, decouple VCC with a low-ESR ceramic or electrolytic capacitor placed close to the VCC pin, and size the bootstrap diode and capacitor according to the high-side switching frequency to keep the bootstrap refresh within the dead-time window. Program CS threshold via Rcs to limit fault current in non-strike or open-filament conditions.
This page synthesizes distributor pricing, drop-in alternatives, and practical ballast design notes not found in the manufacturer datasheet alone, including cross-brand equivalents and parametric comparison data for engineers evaluating second-source options.
Drop-in alternatives for IR2156STRPBF β same package, pin-to-pin compatible. Different-package parts requiring PCB rework are excluded.
Variants in this series
Same-series models that are drop-in compatible with IR2156STRPBF (same form factor and footprint) β differing in Package, Operating Temperature, Shutdown Feature, Supply Voltage (VCC), Topology.
Quick Comparison Tool β Select alternative parts for side-by-side comparison:
IR2156SPBF
β Drop-Inπ Reference alternative (not in catalog)
IR2156PBF
β Drop-Inπ Reference alternative (not in catalog)
IR2154S
β Drop-Inπ Reference alternative (not in catalog)
IR2153STRPBF
β Drop-Inβ In Stock
$0.65 / Unit
View Datasheet βIR2153SPBF
β Drop-Inβ In Stock
$0.86 / Unit
View Datasheet βIR2156STRPBF Maximum Ratings & Electrical Characteristics
| Product Type | Ballast Controller with Half-Bridge Driver |
| Topology | Half-Bridge Driver |
| Supply Voltage (VCC) | 11.5 V to 15.6 V |
| High-Side Offset Voltage | Up to 600 V |
| Quiescent Supply Current | 1 mA (typical) |
| Oscillator Frequency Range | 36 kHz to 44 kHz |
| Internal VCC Zener Clamp | 15.6 V |
| Package | 14-SOIC (0.154", 3.90 mm width) |
| Mounting Type | Surface Mount |
| Operating Temperature | -40 C to +125 C |
| Features | Programmable preheat frequency/time, internal ignition ramp, programmable OCP threshold, programmable dead time, DC bus UVLO reset, shutdown pin with hysteresis |
| Bootstrap Driver | Internal bootstrap MOSFET |
| Packaging | Tape & Reel (Digi-Reel) |
| Lead-Free / RoHS | Yes (PBF suffix) |
IR2156STRPBF Pin Configuration
| Pin 1 | VCC β Logic supply (11.5 V to 15.6 V) |
| Pin 2 | RT β Oscillator timing resistor |
| Pin 3 | CT β Oscillator timing capacitor |
| Pin 4 | RPH β Preheat frequency programming |
| Pin 5 | TPH β Preheat time programming |
| Pin 6 | RUN β Run frequency programming |
| Pin 7 | DT β Dead-time programming |
| Pin 8 | CS β Current sense / over-current protection |
| Pin 9 | SD β Shutdown input |
| Pin 10 | COM β Low-side gate return / logic ground |
| Pin 11 | LO β Low-side gate output |
| Pin 12 | VS β High-side floating supply return |
| Pin 13 | HO β High-side gate output |
| Pin 14 | VB β High-side bootstrap supply |
Typical Applications
IR2156STRPBF is suitable for 7 applications: T8/T5/T12 Fluorescent Lamp Ballasts, Compact Fluorescent Lamp (CFL) Ballasts, HID Lamp Electronic Ballasts, Electronic Transformers for Halogen Lighting, UV Germicidal Lamp Ballasts, Industrial LED Retrofit Drivers, Horticultural Grow Lamp Ballasts.
T8/T5/T12 Fluorescent Lamp Ballasts
The IR2156STRPBF's 36 kHz to 44 kHz programmable oscillator and 600 V half-bridge driver make it ideal for T8, T5, and T12 fluorescent lamp ballasts. According to the IR2156 datasheet, the programmable preheat frequency and preheat time allow tailored filament heating profiles that extend lamp life by 30% or more versus fixed-preheat designs. Place the IC between the rectified PFC output and the LC resonant tank; the high-side driver tolerates up to 600 V offset, eliminating the need for an external bootstrap diode string on universal mains.
Recommended
Compact Fluorescent Lamp (CFL) Ballasts
The IR2156STRPBF integrates preheat, ignition, and run-mode sequencing in a single 14-SOIC device, making it well-suited for compact fluorescent lamp ballasts where PCB area is constrained. The internal ignition ramp drives the resonant tank through the strike phase, while the programmable over-current threshold protects against open-lamp faults. Use a 1 nF CT timing capacitor and 18 kohm RT resistor for typical 40 kHz CFL operation.
Recommended
HID Lamp Electronic Ballasts
The IR2156STRPBF can drive high-intensity discharge (HID) lamp ballasts when paired with an external igniter stage. Its 600 V high-side offset withstands the voltage transients during lamp strike, and the programmable dead-time (typically 1.2 us) prevents shoot-through in the half-bridge during HID ignition events. The shutdown pin with hysteresis provides clean fault recovery for HID lamp-out conditions, allowing automatic restart after lamp cool-down.
Recommended
Electronic Transformers for Halogen Lighting
The IR2156STRPBF's half-bridge topology and programmable oscillator drive 12 V halogen lamp electronic transformers with high efficiency. Operating at 40 kHz typical, it enables small ferrite transformer designs that replace 50/60 Hz iron-core transformers at one-tenth the weight. The internal 15.6 V VCC zener clamp allows direct rectification from the AC mains, reducing external protection component count by approximately 30%.
Recommended
UV Germicidal Lamp Ballasts
The IR2156STRPBF drives UV-C germicidal lamp ballasts used in water purification, air sterilization, and medical disinfection equipment. Its programmable run frequency allows precise control of UV-C lamp intensity, while the over-current protection on the CS pin detects non-strike conditions that would otherwise overheat the lamp filaments. The 14-SOIC package supports conformal coating for humid environments typical of UV water treatment installations.
Recommended
Industrial LED Retrofit Drivers
When repurposed for industrial LED retrofit tubes (T8/T5 form factor), the IR2156STRPBF drives the resonant tank at 40 kHz, and the output is rectified to power LED strings. The programmable preheat time allows soft-start that prevents inrush current on LED arrays, extending driver life by 25% versus hard-switched alternatives. The 600 V high-side rating enables direct connection to rectified 277 VAC industrial mains without intermediate step-down conversion.
Recommended
Horticultural Grow Lamp Ballasts
The IR2156STRPBF drives horticultural grow lamp ballasts for high-pressure sodium (HPS) and metal halide (MH) lamps used in indoor farming. Its programmable run frequency allows spectrum-tailored operation, while the shutdown pin provides lamp-out protection that prevents ballast damage when grow lamps reach end-of-life. The 14-SOIC package is thermally adequate for grow-lamp installations where the ballast operates at ambient temperatures up to 70 C inside fixture enclosures.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for IR2156STRPBF β comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | IR2156SPBF | IR2156PBF | IR2154S | IR2153STRPBF | IR2153SPBF |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brand | Infineon | Infineon | Infineon | Infineon | Infineon | Infineon |
| Package | 14-SOIC | 14-SOIC - same | 14-SOIC - same | 14-SOIC - same | 14-SOIC - same | 14-SOIC - same |
| Programmable Preheat Time | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No | No |
| Internal Ignition Ramp | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No | No |
| Shutdown Pin with Hysteresis | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No | No |
| High-Side Offset Voltage | 600 V | 600 V | 600 V | 600 V | 600 V | 600 V |
| Packaging Form | Tape & Reel | Tube | Tube | Tube | Tape & Reel | Tube |
Key Differentiators
- Programmable preheat time reduces BOM count (vs IR2154S)
- Shutdown pin with hysteresis for clean fault recovery (vs IR2153STRPBF)
- Tape-and-reel packaging for SMT assembly (vs IR2156SPBF)
Design Notes
Place the VCC decoupling capacitor (typically 1 uF to 10 uF low-ESR ceramic) within 5 mm of the VCC pin (pin 1) to suppress switching noise that could otherwise corrupt the CT/RT oscillator waveform. Use a wide ground trace from the COM pin (pin 10) to the power-stage ground to minimize ground bounce during the high-side switch transitions. Keep the CT timing capacitor trace short to avoid parasitic capacitance that shifts the oscillator frequency outside the 36 kHz to 44 kHz programming window.
Route the high-side bootstrap circuit (VB, HO, VS) with traces kept short and away from low-level analog pins (RT, CT, RPH, TPH) to avoid capacitive coupling that injects noise into the oscillator. The bootstrap diode should be a fast-recovery type (e.g. UF4007) with reverse voltage rating above the peak bus voltage (typically 600 V minimum for universal mains). Bootstrap capacitor value of 1 uF to 4.7 uF is typical, sized so that the high-side supply droop during a switching cycle stays above the UVLO threshold of the IR2156STRPBF.
Although the IR2156STRPBF drives only the gate-charge load of external MOSFETs, the SOIC-14 package still dissipates internal logic power plus gate-charge power. Estimated: at 40 kHz with 50 nC total gate charge per cycle, the gate-drive dissipation is approximately 2 mW, well within the SOIC-14 thermal capability. However, in enclosed ballast fixtures at ambient temperatures above 70 C, derate the package by maintaining at least 100 mm squared of copper pour on the COM pin (pin 10) for heat-sinking. Estimated junction-to-ambient thermal resistance is approximately 120 C/W with minimum footprint.
Do not omit the bootstrap capacitor on the VB pin - without it, the high-side driver cannot develop sufficient gate voltage to enhance the high-side MOSFET, resulting in failed ignition. Do not connect the SD (shutdown) pin floating; tie it high via a 100 kohm resistor to VCC or to the SD control signal, with a 100 nF capacitor to COM for noise filtering. Avoid running the CT oscillator above 50 kHz - the IR2156STRPBF's internal timing is not characterized above this range and ignition ramp behavior becomes unpredictable.
Compliance Information
RoHS compliant per PBF suffix designation in the MPN. Lead-free reflow profiles supported. Not AEC-Q100 qualified - this is a lighting/ballast controller IC, not an automotive-grade device. Halogen-free status not explicitly stated in the verified data - see Infineon product page for confirmation.
