Compact fluorescent lamp

Compact fluorescent lamp (“energy-saving lamp “) with integrated fluorescent lamp

ballast (EVG) and Edison screw base E27

Compact fluorescent lamp with integrated starter to the enterprise at an external

conventional fluorescent lamp ballast

Compact fluorescent lamps are particularly small fluorescent lamps and frequently as
energy-savings lamp are designated.

The tube, in which the gas discharge takes place, is with these lamps opposite other
fluorescent lamps smaller and curved or folded repeated, in order to accommodate it
more space-saving, therefore the prefix compact.

Energy energy-savings lamp strictly speaking are compact fluorescent lamps with
integrated fluorescent lamp ballast and a Edisonsockel (screw base), in order to be able to
use them in place of lamps. The term is however technology neutral actually and can
include also different economical shining means with.
Structure and function
The function of the compact fluorescent lamps essentially corresponds to that of the
conventional fluorescent lamps. They work opposite these however at higher internal
pressure, are smaller therefore and have a higher brilliance. The pressure build-up and/or
the evaporation of mercury is done when switching on on via preheating of the cathodes
and/or heater elements (directly heated cathodes) and following self-heating. Therefore
compact fluorescent lamps achieve not immediately their full luminosity.

In the base EVG present of an energy-saving lamp with 12 Watts of capacity (diameter of
the plate about 32 mm)

, Today usually the electronically working fluorescent lamp ballast (EVG), built with
energy energy-savings lamp in the base, heats the cathodes with lamp start first, by lying
in the electric circuit in row to a PTC resistance. This warmed up the lamp high
impedance by current flow, becomes it and gives the unloading distance for the
fluorescent lamp ballast freely – ignites. The gas discharge distance works on an inverter,
i.e. the net alternating voltage first parallel, in order afterwards again into an alternating
voltage of higher frequency (about 45 kHz) to be converted. Inverting takes place with
two Switch Transistors. This alternating voltage arrives over a ferrite core throttle at the
lamp electric circuit. The throttle is very small, low-loss and material-saving due to the
higher working frequency opposite 50-Hz-Drosseln of conventional fluorescent lamp
ballasts.

In the meantime there are also a energy-saving lamp without glow cathodes; these
energize the gas discharge by the electrical field between the electrodes and avoid
thereby the wear problems of the glow cathodes completely. They are for an unlimited
period adjustable and some more, more effective than models with glow cathodes.
 Financial saving
A conventional lamp („bulb “) has an average life span of approximately 1,000 operation
hours and is economical in the acquisition. A compact fluorescent lamp holds against it,
depending upon make and type, between 3.000 and 15.000 operation hours, and is first
clearly more expensive in the acquisition. As the table standing down shows, an energy
energy-saving lamp 75–80 uses % less electricity. With consideration of their
substantially longer life span energy energy-savings lamp are usually already in the
acquisition more favorable than appropriate lamps. With consideration of the smaller
energy consumption the economy of the compact fluorescent lamp strengthens clearly.

In order to demonstrate financial saving, approximate saving is to be demonstrated here

on the basis an example. With electricity tariffs of approximately 0.20 €/a KW/H
(conditions: January 2008) leaves itself approximate financial saving over the life cycle
of a high-quality 11 W compact fluorescent lamp in the comparison with in the same
period needed 60 W lamps to compute as follows. To mark it is that this saving
distributes itself over the complete actual working time of the energy energy-saving
lamp. In an average household this takes about 15 years.

Purchase costs + Power consumption x Power costs = Total costs

Lamp + =

Halogen bulb + =

Compact
Phosphor + =
lamp
Saving potential =
 Extra costs of 153, calculated here, €
Capacities in the comparison
and the saving potential should be
understood however as approximate
Light-current value, since the value varies
Compact Halogen bulb strongly. Among other things the
phosphor Lamp following factors can change the
lamp costs saving.
150 lm 4W 20 W
200 lm 5W 20 W 25 W Different life span: According to
250–400 lm 6/7 W 20/25 W 30/35 W donation energy-savings lamp hold
goods test depending upon model
450 lm 8/9 W 28 W 40 W between „only “4,000 and over
500 lm 10 W 35 W 50 W 19.000 hours
550–700 lm 11 W 40/42 W 60 W
800 lm 14 W 42/50 W 65 W
950 lm 17 W 50 W 75 W
1200 lm 20 W 70 W 100 W
1500 lm 23 W 100 W 120 W
Characteristics [work on]
High luminous efficiency [work on]

Source of light Luminous efficiency

Lamp (standard) 12 - 15 lm/W
Halogen lamp approx. 25 lm/W
LED (knows) 40 - 110 lm/W
Compact fluorescent lamp approx. 60 lm/W

Compact fluorescent lamps use clearly less el. Energy, there it clearly less warmth (red)
produce.

How efficient a source of light is is indicated, as the luminous efficiency. This indicates,
how many lumens light with a Watt river are produced. While a normal lamp has a
luminous efficiency from approximately 12 to 15 lm/W and the luminous efficiency of
modern, white LEDs is appropriate for W between 40 to 110 lm/, compact fluorescent
lamps have an average luminous efficiency of zirka 60 lm/W.