The effects of undervoltage on the performance of compact fluorescent systems

A research program for studying the economic aspects and the lighting and electrical performance of a wide range of different compact fluorescent (CF) systems under a range of operating conditions, including reduced supply voltage, is described. The program involves the participation of national lighting research and electrical metrology laboratories in Canada, the US, and abroad. The authors report some of the results from this program. They describe the lighting and electrical performance of eleven different types of CP systems operating at 100, 110, and 120 VAC. Performance parameters include relative luminous efficacy, active and apparent power consumption, harmonic distortion, power factor, and flicker index. Economic analysis of the operation of the CF systems at 120 V is also provided