Instruction manual

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system. The cut-off of the permanent filament heating after lamp ignition is
an advantage.
Further the values of the horseshoe curves also indicate the arrangement
of the lamps within the fixture. To avoid thermal influences of the lamps
minimum distances in between have to be kept. The lamps have to be
placed that the stamp of all lamps is on the same side. For vertical
arrangement the stamp of the lamp always should be placed down. For
circular lamps FC the socket has to be placed down.
The measurement of the cold spot temperature is especially important for
the luminaire manufacturer. This temperature offers opportunities to
optimize the luminaire efficacy.
2.15 End of Life
(EoL acc. to T.2)
Fluorescent lamps use up their emitter during operation. The complete loss
of emitter on an electrode results in a voltage increase in the vicinity of the
electrode filament. As most Electronic control gear have no problem
providing this high asymmetric voltage and with it the required additional
power the temperature around the electrodes rises significantly.
At the moment the international ECG safety standard IEC 61347-2-3 is
under revision. In the future, all ECG must provide a “end-of-life” safety
shutdown which is continuously controlled in order to avoid overheating of
lamp sockets.
The actual status of the standard considers three different test circuits for
Electronic control gear. If an ECG complies with one of the three tests, it
offers protection against the “end-of-life” behavior of fluorescent lamps.
• Asymmetric pulse test (Test 1)
• Asymmetric power test (Test 2)
• Open filament test (Test 3)
The asymmetric power test (Test 2) is directly simulating the additional load
which results from the increased asymmetric voltage in the case of “end-of-
life”. In order to pass the test the additional load may nod exceed a specific
value depending on the lamp type. Most ECG experts see test 2
(asymmetric power test) as the safest “end-of-life” control, because the
direct measurement of the asymmetric additional load mirrors the real lamp
behavior at its end of life. OSRAM does not compromise the safety of
Electronic control gear and has, for quite some time, specified Test no. 2 as
standard test.
2.16 U-OUT
U-OUT a binding ECG label according to safety standard EN 61347-2-
3. The former standard EN 60928, still valid until 2006, allows labeling
of U-OUT either in the product catalogue or on the ECG housing. U-
OUT specifies the largest effective working voltage between
- Lamp terminals
- Each lamp terminal and earth connection, if applicable
This information is important for all components electrically connected on
the lamp side of the ECG.
All components such as lamp cables, sockets (EN 60061-2), isolating