Specialty and Architectural Lighting — Fluorescent
What is the Voltage of Fluorescent and Ultraviolet Bulbs?
Posted by Dave on for ProLampSales
You may have noticed that the specifications for fluorescent tubes, compact fluorescent bulbs, and ultraviolet lamps provide watts, but almost never volts. Why not? Ballasts, invisible inside the fixture, are required for all fluorescent bulbs to operate. Ballasts modify the line voltage they are connected to (120V, 277V, etc.) so the proper current is supplied to the bulb. Because ballasts are hidden, it is easy to assume the bulbs are simply operated directly off line voltage from the...
- Posted in Ballasts, Fluorescent, Ultraviolet Light
What Are Amalgam Fluorescent and Ultraviolet Bulbs?
Posted by Dave on for ProLampSales
The performance of fluorescent tubes, compact fluorescent light bulbs, and low pressure mercury ultraviolet bulbs deteriorates in ambient temperatures that rise above certain design parameters. At high fixture and room temperatures, light output and color characteristics deteriorate. CFLs are particularly affected by this, as anyone who has had a CFL bulb in a porch light or the garage fail on a hot summer day has learned. But this effect on ultraviolet germicidal bulbs can be...
- Posted in Fluorescent, Ultraviolet Light
What to Know About Mercury in Fluorescent, Ultraviolet, and HID Bulbs
Posted by Dave on for ProLampSales
Reasonable care should be taken in both the handling of broken light bulbs and the disposal of burned out bulbs that contain mercury. For decades, fluorescent and CFL bulbs have been used widely in commercial and residential general lighting settings, but there has been a vast increase in homeowners, businesses, and institutions utilizing ultraviolet bulbs to purify air and sanitize surfaces due to the COVID-19 situation. Fluorescent tubes, compact fluorescent, UVC germicidal, UVA blacklight, metal...
- Posted in Fluorescent, HID & Metal Halide, Ultraviolet Light
Comparing Fluorescent vs. Metal Halide Aquarium Bulbs
Posted by Nick on for ProLampSales
Lighting for aquariums is an incredibly complicated task. Too little light can endanger plant and fish life and growth, while too much light can lead to a high rate of algae growth. There is also a heat factor, in too much heat can kill fish and plants. Aquarium owners will often combine several types of light sources to achieve the spectrum and intensity of light they are trying to achieve. Traditionally, fluorescent and metal halide...
- Posted in Aquarium, Fluorescent, HID & Metal Halide
When Does It Make Sense to Upgrade Linear Fluorescent Systems to LED?
Posted by Dave on for ProLampSales
By a considerable margin the most common lighting job in North America is general space lighting for commercial and institutional occupancies provided by fluorescent tubes mounted in troffers, direct / indirect pendants and strip lights. In 2016, the U.S. Department of Energy (USDOE) estimated there were over 300 million fluorescent troffers installed in the country. The installed base of fluorescent lamps (primarily T8) is measured in the billions. Five years ago another USDOE study reported...
- Posted in Fluorescent, LED
LED Troffers Offer Strong Case To Replace Fluorescent
Posted by Dave on for ProLampSales
- Posted in Energy Efficiency, Fluorescent, LED, Workplace
How to Choose an Electronic Fluorescent Ballast
Posted by Dave on for ProLampSales
Fluorescent lighting is a system that relies on the compatibility between the lamp and ballast for reliable lamp starting, desired illumination level, energy efficiency, and achieving rated lamp life. The ballast controls the voltage and current applied to the lamp(s). Beyond these basics, ballasts also have many additional characteristics that need to be considered so the selected ballast is the best match for the lamp and the application. The operational and energy efficiency of the...
- Posted in Ballasts, Fluorescent
Emergency Ballasts Convert Fluorescent Fixtures to Code Compliant Operation During Power Outage
Posted by Dave on for ProLampSales
Emergency lighting that provides occupants with a clear path of egress is a code requirement in most commercial and institutional buildings. Emergency lighting can consist of dedicated emergency fixtures including combo exit/emergency units mounted on walls or ceilings. Another option is fluorescent fixtures that include both standard ballasts for normal operation and a battery operated emergency ballast that converts the fixture to emergency mode during a power outage. Numerous codes can apply including International Building...
- Posted in Ballasts, Fluorescent
Comparing Three LED T8 Retrofit Options
Posted by Dave on for ProLampSales
Currently, T8 fluorescent tubes dominate the commercial and institutional lighting sector both in number of lamps and in lumen output. The USDOE estimated in 2010 that there were 1 billion fluorescent fixtures in the U.S. It is no surprise that LED manufacturers have focused on this potentially huge retrofit market with a large number of LED options. Unlike other LED replacement bulbs, T8 tubes have some subtle, but critical differences in how they are installed....
- Posted in Fluorescent, LED, Retrofits
Flickering Fluorescent Tubes and Buzzing Ballasts
Posted by Nick on for ProLampSales
If you've ever had to work for 16 months in an office with overhead fluorescent tubes that flicker or buzz, you know how annoying they can be. If you work in an office with flickering lights AND buzzing ballasts, you may have a permanent headache (in addition to your boss). While the effects are headache-inducing for some people, you may wonder why no one has called the maintenance manager to replace what appears to be...
- Posted in Ballasts, Fluorescent