FLUORESCENT LAMPS

• Introduction in 1938
•Aesthetically they are second class – unpopular with interiordesigner
•Widely used because they are more efficient than incandescentlamps.

Glass tubes coated on interiors with phosphor – a chemicalcompound

that emits light when activated by ultraviolet energy.
Air in the tube is replaced with argon gas & a small amount of
mercury is added.
When f. lamp is turned on, the electricity heats cathodes at each end
causing them to emit electrons, which in turn create an electric arc
between the cathodes. The electrons in this arc collide with mercury
vapour & argon or other gas atoms to produce invisible ultraviolet rays.
These rays excite the fluorescent phosphor coating, producing visible
light.
Fluorescents are highly efficient because 80% of their light comes
from the phosphor coating.
BASIC COMPONENTS OF A FLUORESCENTLAMP
• BULB: usually a straight glass tube - can be circular, U-shaped,
or curved .
•PHOSPHOR: coating inside the bulb thattransforms ultraviolet
radiation into visible light. The colour of the light produced depends
upon the composition of phosphor.
•BASE: used to connect the lamp to the circuit & support it in the
fixture.
•CATHODE: located at each end of thelamp. Cathodes are coated
with a material that emits electrons & usually are made of coiled coil or
single coil tungsten wire.
•GAS: argon or a mixture of inert gas at low pressure – krypton
sometimes is used.
•MERCURY: a minute quantity of liquid mercury is placed in the bulb
to furnish mercury vapour.
BASIC COMPONENTS OF A FLUORESCENTLAMPS
COMPACT FLUORESCENT LAMP
•It is a fluorescent lamp designed toreplace an
incandescent lamp.
•Some types fitinto light fixtures formerly used
for incandescent lamps.
•The lamps use a tube which is curved or folded
to fit into the space of an incandescent bulb.
•Smaller in size
•Different shapes – folded, spiral,
circular.
•Available in 9 watt to26 watt.
•It saves 75% of energy
•Generally used for commercial lights

•FL& CFL– provides good energy

efficiency.
•FL& CFLcan used in many places –
homes, businesses etc.
LAMP LIFE & EFFICIENCY
• Fluorescent lamps 4/5 times more efficient.
• 40 watt incandescent lamp produces 445 lumens.
40 watt fluorescent lamp produces 3050 lumens
• 40 watt incandescent lamp – 1500 hours
40 watt fluorescent lamp – 20,000 hours

 BRIGHTNESS
EFFICACY COMPARISION
Compact fluorescent bulbs are
more efficient than
incandescent bulbs in
brightness, power
23 WATT = 100 WATT consumption & lamplife.

BULB REPLACEMENT COST

 LAMPLIFE
10,000 HOURS
One 23 watt CFLlasts as long
750HOURS
as 18 incandescent bulbs –
thereby saving the cost of
 POWER CONSUMPTION
25%
replacing those bulbs.
100%