An emergency lighting ballast (100) includes: a power translation circuit (120) which receives input power from an emergency power source (10) and supplies output power to a load (20); a voltage monitor (130) that monitors voltage across the load and produces a voltage feedback signal; a current monitor (130) that monitors current across the load and produces a current feedback signal; a temperature sensor (160); and a programmable control device (140) which controls the power translation circuit (120) in response to either of the voltage feedback signal and the current feedback signal to cause the output power supplied to the load to have a programmed power output profile. The programmable control device also activates a self-test emergency state in response to a manual or preprogrammed request for a self-test, only if there is no power to the load as indicated by the voltage feedback signal and/or the current feedback signal.