Re: is slow start unavoidable?


<adrian@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
news:1194274238.747861.110930@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
I have been thinking of using some self-ballasted CFLs and possibly
installing fixtures with integral ballasts that use plug-in CFLs.

However, I saw a chart on GE's web page that showed the light output
as a function of time after ignition and after one minute the lamp in
question was only up to 40% output. It took 3 minutes to reach 100%
output and then output actually dipped 10% and it didn't stabilize
until about 10 minutes later.

http://www.gelighting.com/na/business_lighting/education_resources/literature_library/sell_sheets/downloads/cfl/biax_32.pdf

This starting behavior strongly limits places where I would be willing
to install CFLs. It means they can only be used in places where I
leave the lights on continuously. Is it a universal property of
CFLs? Or is it associated with particular lamps or ballasts? Do the
self-ballasted lamps that are sold as incandescent replacements do
this?

Also I have not observed this behavior with standard T8's that I have
installed. Would linear T5 lamps behave like this, or could they
start instantly like the T8s?

The lamp you referenced is an amalgam type which means that warm-up is a bit
slower than non-amalgam lamps; but all fluorescent lamps have a warm-up
curve and CFLs certainly warm up much faster than any HID general lighting
lamp which is the only other energy-efficient light source option.

As a lighting designer, I've never found the CFL warm-up time to be a
problem in actual installations. There's plenty of light output at switch
on in spaces at normal room temperature for safety and normal moving around.

Terry McGowan


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