T5 fluorescent lamps for energy efficiency

Saturday, 18 August, 2007

T5 fluorescent technology has become the designer's choice for general office lighting where energy efficiency, light control and aesthetics are important.

With the new Building Code limiting lighting power density, T5 lamps more than meet these requirements. Since 1995, over five million T5 lamps and ballasts have been installed in Australia.

T5 lamps can only operate on electronic control gear. The light output and lamp life were designed from the beginning to an optimum of up to 104 lm/W. The maximum luminous flux of T5 lamps is at 35oC compared to 25oC for T8s. This increase in temperature enables the luminaire designer to develop smaller and more aesthetically pleasing light fittings.

T5 lamps need to have the luminaire designed for the lamp. It's not a replacement for the T8 lamp, as T5s are 50 mm shorter. It's also important in luminaire design not to exceed the electronic ballast case temperature (tc point). This is measured during the testing of the luminaire as outlined in AS/NZS 60598.2.1. If the tc point temperature is exceeded by 10oC, service life can be reduced by 50%. However, when it's permanently 10oC or more below the maximum, the expected service life can be doubled. Current technology T5 ECG's using microprocessors are rated at 100,000 hours, so a luminaire operating the ECG at 10oC below the maximum tc temperature could result in a 200,000 hour service life.

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