What Are Fluorescent Lights?
The control gear gives the light a small surge of current to start it up. Then it supplies only enough current to keep the fluorescence in balance.
It also helps prevent the loss of rhodopsin, which is required for vision at night. It is a good idea to replace the ballast regularly.
Cost
While they offer many benefits, one of the biggest drawbacks to fluorescent light tubes is their high operating cost. They are expensive to run because they use a lot of electricity. In addition, they contain mercury, which is a toxic material that cannot be recycled or thrown away in the trash. The tubes must be disposed of by a professional company that handles hazardous waste. This can cost about $0.80 per tube, which can add up quickly if you have an entire warehouse full of these lights.
Fluorescent light fixtures are available in a variety of shapes, sizes and colors to suit specific lighting needs. They are commonly used in offices and schools where lights need to stay on for long periods of time. You can also choose from different color temperatures, incandescent light bulb ranging from warm white to daylight. If your lights are difficult to start, the problem may be with the ballast or starter. To troubleshoot this issue, you can use a multimeter. This device measures electric current, voltage and resistance.
Energy efficiency
Fluorescent lamps use less energy than incandescent bulbs and produce more lumens per watt. They are commonly used in office lighting, warehouses and other large spaces. They emit a soft white light and can be altered by the type of inert gas or silica powder that is inside them to create different levels of brightness and color.
The first step in fluorescent bulb efficiency is preventing the energy from being wasted as heat. The metal balls on the tray model represent electrons in each type of bulb. When the light is on, these electrons will randomly collide with other particles in the glass. Some of these collisions will produce light and some will generate wasteful heat. The more collisions there are, the less efficient the bulb.
One way to prevent this is by using a magnetic ballast with a starter. This cylinder-shaped component sits at the base of the lamp and contains components that, when heated, enable the current to enter the electrodes. This makes the electrons more mobile and able to shoot off the cathode.
Another option is to opt for a rapid-start ballast, which uses a lower current to start the light and only a small surge of electricity afterward. This method prolongs the life of the bulb, but it can cost more up front.
Long life
Unlike incandescent bulbs that burn out quickly, fluorescent lights are long-lasting. They can last up to 90,000 hours, depending on the model. You can find them in warehouse fixtures, over-the-counter lighting, or cubby lighting. These tubes have a low, gentle current that glows very dimly when they are first turned on. However, as the ballast continues to push the current, the mercury molecules heat up and become more charged, resulting in a brighter light. This process is called phosphorescence, and it occurs on the inner surface of the tube.
A fluorescent tube’s rated life, also known as its lifespan or lamp life, is the number of hours that it can be used before it requires replacement. This is an important factor when choosing a fixture for a particular application, such as a storefront display. The rated life is stated in terms of L70, L80 and L90, which represent the percentage of initial light/lumen output the lamp can be expected to emit upon reaching the specified hour.
Despite their long lives, fluorescent lights degrade over time because they need more voltage to emit the same amount of lumens. This can be accelerated by frequent switching (turning on and off) of the light, which causes it to use more energy than it should. Newer technology using aluminum gallium indium phosphide and indium gallium nitride, which are more stable than traditional fluorescent materials, have improved longevity.
Variety of fixtures
There are many different types of fluorescent light fixtures. They vary in shape, size and base type. Some are designed to accept fluro lights curved tubes, while others use single pin bases. You can also get them in a variety of colors and wattages. Some are even energy efficient.
Fluorescent lighting uses a chemical reaction to produce electricity. The process involves molecules of mercury gas being heated and made more conductive. The ballast helps to control this reaction by turning the alternating current from your home’s power lines into a steady stream of direct voltage. This allows the light to start and keep running without burning out or catching fire.
Most of the time, a problem with a fluorescent light fixture is caused by a failing ballast. In this case, you should switch off the power to the fixture and remove the ballast from the socket. If the ballast looks burnt, you should replace it. You can also test it with a multimeter to make sure that the problem is with the ballast and not the tube or socket.
Some fluorescent lights are designed to be high-output. These are called T5s, and they last longer and provide more light (lumens) than standard T12s. They are often used in warehouse fixtures and other high-bay fixtures. These lights are available in a wide range of correlated color temperatures, or CCTs, ranging from 2700K to 6500K.
