NEMA LL 9

DIMMING OF T8
FLUORESCENT
LIGHTING SYSTEMS
 NEMA Standards Publication LL 9-2011

Dimming of T8 Fluorescent Lighting Systems

Published by

National Electrical Manufacturers Association

1300 North 17th Street, Suite 1752
Rosslyn, Virginia 22209

www.nema.org

© Copyright 2011 by the National Electrical Manufacturers Association. All rights including translation into
other languages, reserved under the Universal Copyright Convention, the Berne Convention for the
Protection of Literary and Artistic Works, and the International and Pan American Copyright Conventions.
 NOTICE AND DISCLAIMER

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 LL 9-2011
Page i

CONTENTS

Foreword .....................................................................................................................................ii
Section 1 GENERAL ................................................................................................................................. 1
1.1 Scope ......................................................................................................................................... 1
1.2 References ................................................................................................................................ 1
Section 2 SYSTEM SPECIFICATIONS ..................................................................................................... 2
2.1 Lamp Characteristics ................................................................................................................. 2
2.2 Information for Dimming Ballast Design .................................................................................... 2

© Copyright 2011 by the National Electrical Manufacturers Association.

LL 9-2011
Page ii

Foreword

The NEMA Lamp and Ballast Sections have prepared this standards publication based on discussions
with numerous manufacturers and end users following years of data gathering, testing, and analysis. In
order for fluorescent dimming systems to provide maximum performance and safe operation, the system
components should adhere to industry accepted practices and meet appropriate National Electrical
Manufacturers Association (NEMA), American National Standards Institute (ANSI), Underwriters
Laboratories Inc. (UL), International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC), and Illuminating Engineering
Society of North America (IESNA) standards and practices. The objective of this NEMA standard is to
provide the reader with guidance for the design of high frequency fluorescent lamp dimming systems.

The portion of this NEMA standard for dimming lamp currents at or above 60 mA became effective
January 1, 2010.

The portion of this NEMA standard for dimming lamp currents below 60 mA becomes effective January 1,
2015.

In the preparation of this standards publication, input of users and other interested parties has been
sought and evaluated. Inquiries, comments, and proposed or recommended revisions should be
submitted to the concerned NEMA product subdivision by contacting the:

Vice President, Technical Services

National Electrical Manufacturers Association
1300 North 17th Street, Suite 1752
Rosslyn, Virginia 22209

© Copyright 2011 by the National Electrical Manufacturers Association.

 LL 9-2011
Page 1

Section 1
GENERAL

1.1 SCOPE
This standards publication provides recommendations for dimmable T8 fluorescent lighting systems
capable of being dimmed between approximately 100% and 10% of total light output. A T8 fluorescent
lamp dimming system may include the following lamp types: 17 W, 2-foot; 25 W, 3-foot; 32 W, 4-foot; or
40 W, 5-foot lamps or other lamp types approved for use on the ballasts.

1.2 REFERENCES
The following normative documents contain provisions, which through reference in this text constitute
provisions of this standards publication. By reference herein, these publications are adopted, in whole or in
part as indicated, in this standards publication.

ANSI/ANSLG C78.81-2010 Electric Lamps—Double-Capped Fluorescent Lamps—Dimensional and

Electrical Characteristics

ANSI C78.375-1997 Fluorescent Lamps—Guide for Electrical Measurements

ANSI C79.1-2002 Nomenclature for Glass Bulbs Intended for Use with Electric Lamps

ANSI/ANSLG C81.61-2009 Electrical Lamp Bases—Specifications for Bases (Caps) for Electric Lamps

ANSI C81.63-2007 Gauges for Electric Lamp Bases and Lampholders

ANSI C82.3-2002 Reference Ballasts for Fluorescent Lamps

ANSI C82.11-2002 High Frequency Fluorescent Lamp Ballasts—Supplements

ANSI C82.13-2002 Lamp Ballasts—Definitions—for Fluorescent Lamps and Ballasts

IEEE 100-2000 The Authoritative Dictionary of IEEE Standards sTerms

NEMA LSD 34-2006 Recommended Practices for T8 Rapid Start Fluorescent Lamp Dimming (17 W, 25
W, 32 W, and 40 W Lamps)

© Copyright 2011 by the National Electrical Manufacturers Association.

LL 9-2011
Page 2

Section 2
SYSTEM SPECIFICATIONS

2.1 LAMP CHARACTERISTICS

Fluorescent lamp dimming systems are typically configured with adjacent lamp cathodes in the same
ballast filament circuit. These cathodes may be connected in series or in parallel. Thus, a proper balance
of heating power between cathodes sharing the same circuit relies on well-balanced lamp cathode
characteristics. Lamps in dimming applications should meet the following requirements.

a) Lamps should comply with all relevant existing ANSI C78.81 standards requirements for non-
dimming operation.
b) Hot cathode resistance, Rh, at 3.6 applied volts should be 12 ± 2 ohms for each cathode.
c) The ratio, Rh/Rc, of cathode hot resistance at 3.6 applied volts to cold resistance at 25°C ambient
temperature should be 4.75 ± 0.50 for each cathode.

2.2 INFORMATION FOR DIMMING BALLAST DESIGN

Dimming ballasts should meet all the requirements of ANSI C82.11-2002 High Frequency Fluorescent
Lamp Ballast under all operating conditions with the exception of the sections specifying ballast factor and
input current harmonic distortion. Dimming ballasts should also meet the requirements of ANSI C82.11-
2002 for ballast factor and input harmonic distortion during operation at full light output.

For operation below rated current, the cathode requires supplemental ohmic heating by means of
circulating current in the tungsten heater coil. The following are specifications for the voltage drop, EV,
across each cathode in a system of one or more lamps for a range of lamp current, I D, in dimmed
operation (see also Figure 1).

Maximum heating voltage (V): EVmax = 5.3

Minimum heating voltage (V): EVmin = 4.0 for 0.020  ID < 0.050 (A)
EVmin = 5 – 20*ID for 0.050  ID < 0.100 (A)
EVmin = 8.45 – 54.5*ID for 0.100  ID < 0.155 (A)
EVmin = 0 for 0.155  ID (A)

© Copyright 2011 by the National Electrical Manufacturers Association.

 LL 9-2011
Page 3

6.0

5.0
Electrode Voltage (V)

4.0

3.0

2.0

1.0

0.0
0.000 0.020 0.040 0.060 0.080 0.100 0.120 0.140 0.160
Lamp Current (A)

EVmin EVmax

Figure 1
Electrode Voltage Limits for T8 Fluorescent Dimming Systems

© Copyright 2011 by the National Electrical Manufacturers Association.