New fixture applications for compact twin tube fluorescent lamps

Efficient luminaires have been designed for compact, twin-tube-type fluorescent lamps. One important example of their application is the 1-ft-by-1-ft luminaire with three 18 W, high-lumen, twin-tube fluorescent lamps. The performance of this luminaire type has been compared for different 18 W lamps operating on preheat and rapid-start-type ballasts. The preheat (switch start) measurements were made at 240 V and 50 Hz using single-lamp reactor-type ballasts, and the rapid-start measurements were made at 120 V and 60 Hz using three-lamp electromagnetic and electronic ballasts. In addition, comparisons are made against a 150 W incandescent downlight fixture with approximately the same light output level, indicating substantial improvement in system photometric performance for the new compact fluorescent light sources.<>