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- Operating Lamps in Winter Conditions
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Operating Lamps in Winter Conditions

Damp And Wet Areas
Corrosive Environments
Hazardous Locations
Areas That Experience Abnormal Temperatures
Ballast | Typical Minimum Starting Temperature |
---|---|
Magnetic w/T8 lamps | +50°F |
Magnetic w/standard T12 lamps | +50°F, 0°F |
Magnetic w/energy-saving T12 lamps | +60°F |
Magnetic w/HO or VHO T12 lamps | +50°F, 0°F, -20°F |
Hybrid* w/standard T12 or T8 lamps | +50°F |
Hybrid w/energy-saving T12 lamps | +60°F |
Electronic w/2, 3 & 4 ft. T8 lamps | +50°F, 0°F |
Electronic w/standard T12 lamps | +50°F, 0°F |
Electronic w/energy-saving lamps | +60°F |
Electronic w/8 ft. "Slimline" T8 lamps | +50°F |
Electronic w/HO T12 lamps | +50°F, 0°F, -20°F |
*Also called a cathode cut-out ballast
In areas experiencing high ambient temperatures, the ballast can overheat. Class P ballasts contain a thermal protection device that disconnects the ballast from the power source if it begins to overheat. The ballast then cools until an automatic resetter reconnects it to the power supply. If the overheating is not corrected, the process, called "cycling," will repeat itself. In addition, if the temperatures are high enough, ballast life could be shortened and light output reduced.
Areas That Experience Momentary Power Failures
In some industrial environments, momentary power failures can cause HID lamps to shut off; they must then cool down before restrike, which can take about a minute for high pressure sodium lamps and as long as 20 minutes for metal halide lamps.
In such environments, HID fixtures can be specified that include a built-in incandescent or halogen lamp that lights when a power failure occurs. Another option is to specify instant-restrike high pressure sodium lamps, which contain two arc tubes. When a momentary power failure or voltage dip occurs, the lighted arc tube goes out and when power returns, the other tube, already "cool," lights, providing some light output immediately and reaching full light output within minutes (see Table below).
Table. Instant-restrike HPS lamp performance. Source: Osram Sylvania, Inc.
Time from Power Return (Minutes) | % Light Output |
---|---|
0 | 11% |
1 minute | 60% |
2 minutes | 90% |
3 minutes | 100% |
Clean Rooms
Clean rooms are spaces where temperature, humidity, pressure and atmospheric particulates are tightly controlled; the requirements for cleanliness can exceed those for a hospital operating room. Air-handling recessed fixtures may be required that provide either air supply, air return or both.
Convenient Lamp Recycling with EasyPak™
When fluorescent lamps do burn out, mail them in for recycling with EasyPak boxes from LampRecycling.com. The EasyPak Sustainable Program is the simplest way to recycle lamps, reorder boxes, and track recycling efforts. Click here to start now.