Instruction manual

10
life. Electronic Control Gear improve the efficiency and the lamp life of
fluorescent lamps significantly.
1.7 Ignition of Fluorescent
Lamps
Prior to ignition, modern ECG heat the cathode to its optimum temperature
for electron emission. After a defined period the lamp is ignited with the
required ignition voltage. Only an optimized preheat start can guarantee
that the number of switching cycles has only little effect on the lamp life.
This is another important feature of ECG which has a positive effect on the
cost of operation and which should not be neglected when looking for
alternatives to CCG.
1.8 Costs and Safety
At the end of lamp life the emitter paste applied to the lamp electrode is
used up. The complete loss of emitter results in an increase of voltage in
the vicinity of the electrode. This situation can last over a longer period of
time. As an immediate result of the accompanying temperature increase at
the lamp ends the lamp sockets may overheat. Modern ECG are able to
detect this malfunction and switch the lamps off. Unnecessary attempts to
ignite are avoided by an interrupting function and therefore, also
overheating is avoided - an important contribution to more safety.
Professional ECG control all parameters constantly. A safety shut down at
the end of the lamp life is mandatory from January 1
st
, 2007 on for all ECG
that operate T4 or T5 tubes as it is included in the IEC 61347
(Omnibusnorm for safety of Electronic Control Gear). For several years
now, all OSRAM QUICKTRONIC
®
fulfill the safety requirements acc. the
IEC 61347 already.
However as there was no Standard for this before, some ECG
manufacturer neglect this due to costs.
1.9 Flexibility upon
Request
During past years, we see a clear increase in new, better and more energy
efficient lamp systems. Unfortunately, this resulted also in a growing
number of various ECG-types. To reduce this large number of types
manufacturers of ECG have taken a new direction and have developed
new multi-purpose ECG which can be used for a variety of fluorescent
lamps of different wattages. New integrated circuits allow the optimum
control of lamp features such as lumen output. This type reduction has, of
course, a big effect on the customer: ordering, warehousing and installation
of only a few ECG-types. The so-called MULTIWATT-ECG reduce all
relevant cost drivers.
1.10 ECG bring Progress
In addition to the basic tasks of lamp operation which are also fulfilled by
magnetic ballasts, Electronic Control Gear have much more to offer: They
have better performance and are more reliable, more environmental
friendly and more practical than CCG; even more reasons to use
professional Electronic Control Gear.
1.11 The right ECG for every
Application
OSRAM offers the right Electronic ballast for every application as shown at
the example of T8/ ∅ 26 mm fluorescent lamps.