Effects of electronic ballasts in fluorescent lamp lifetime

This paper approaches several topics in lifetime prediction of fluorescent lamps. An expression that relates lamp lifetime with on/off cycles is proposed. The independent variables of the model are identified with two parameters supplied to the fluorescent lamp by the ballast. The effect of different values of on/off cycles are also assessed together with the possibility of designing accelerated test in order to quote the effect of ballast in fluorescent lamp lifetime. As an example of application of the model, it is used a simplified version in order to evaluate the influence of changes in the voltage supplied to the electronic ballast by photovoltaic systems. Finally the influence of electrode heating on cathode fall voltage at different values of lamp voltage is measured for a fluorescent lamp.