Lighting Basics

California begins the process of phasing out fluorescent lamps, with a complete ban on their sale and distribution set to be enforced by 2025. Fluorescent lamps, though widely used in the past due to their relatively low cost, have several drawbacks that have become increasingly apparent over time.

Key dates:

• Standard screw or bayonet CFLs are prohibited beginning January 1, 2024
• Linear fluorescent (“tube”) lamps and PIN-based CFLs are banned beginning January 1, 2025

How does a Fluorescent lamp work? Fluorescent lamps are “gaseous discharge” light sources. Light is produced by passing an electric arc between tungsten cathodes in a tube filled with a low pressure mercury vapor and other gases. The arc excites the mercury vapor which generates radiant energy, primarily in the ultraviolet range. Fluorescent light bulbs use mercury to create the white light that we see. While mercury is a very effective light bulb material, it is also incredibly toxic and can cause mercury poisoning if the bulb breaks. In order to learn more about this issue and what you can...

There are a few key specifications to know that will help narrow your ballast search including Lamp Type, Number of Lamps, Magnetic vs Electronic, and Starting Method

In order to understand the technology that allows each lamp type to produce light, it is important to review certain basic principles. This post covers lumens, service life, foot-candles, lighting source types, beam angle and other foundations of lighting.

What is Light?  Light travels at 186,000 miles per second and is expressed in wavelengths in billionths of a meter (nanometers). This visually perceived energy is measured in the range of wavelengths from 380 nm to 780 nm, a small portion of the electromagnetic spectrum  The color temperature of the lamp and the quality of color rendering (Color Rendering Index) of different lighting sources will impact your perception of colors, as the different wavelengths are reflected off objects.   How the Eyes Work  Light from a source (sun, lamp, etc.) is reflected off an object, first entering the eyes through the...

The differences between Electronic and Magnetic Transformers and their types are explored.