Specialty and Architectural Lighting — Fluorescent

Legislation banning common incandescent bulbs has not been well received by most consumers. CFL and LED bulbs, often mentioned as the new go-to lighting option for homes, have caused an uproar. Consumers complain that the government is making them choose between one bulb that is "cheap and doesn't work" (CFL) and another bulb that is "too expensive and doesn't work" (LED). At the peak of these complaints, LED bulbs had cost around $35 each for...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

When comparing LED troffers and retrofits to fluorescent troffers, the most LED fixtures will either exceed or match the specifications of the fluorescent fixtures. LED lumen output often matches that of various fluorescent configurations but it, along with control compatibility, requires careful consideration to ensure the LED installation will meet the needs specific to the application.

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...

T5 fluorescent light bulbs are often overlooked as an excellent option for specific types of lighting in new construction and remodel projects. T5 fixtures can often be found in office lighting where ceiling fixtures supply the ambient illumination over workspaces. T5s are also frequently used in wall wash applications and in high bay direct lighting installations. This post will briefly explore the key differences between T5 fluorescent and T8 fluorescent systems, and show where T5...

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...