1. Where can I find information about the UltraMax™ electronic ballast system?
With GE's new line of UltraMax™ ballasts, lighting systems save more energy, become more adaptable, and deliver optimal lamp performance.
- UltraMax ballasts can virtually "read" the incoming voltage and adapt automatically to any voltage from 108V to 305V.
- Multi-Voltage Control (MVC) means fewer models handling more jobs, which reduces inventory requirements.
- UltraMax's high efficiency design results in ultra-cool operation, providing AC energy savings during peak demand periods.
- UltraMax is the only full line of T8 ballasts with a UL type CC anti-arc rating.
2. Why do fluorescent lamps need a ballast?
Fluorescent light bulbs need a ballast because they use a gas to create light. When the gas is excited by electricity, it emits invisible ultraviolet light that hits the white coating inside the fluorescent bulb. The coating changes the ultraviolet light into light you can see. (Because fluorescent bulbs don't use heat to create light, they are far more energy-efficient than regular incandescent bulbs.)
The combination of gas, electricity, and coating in a fluorescent bulb is so effective at producing light that, without something to regulate the electricity flowing into the bulb, the light will continue to gain intensity until the bulb stops working. That's where a ballast comes in. It supplies the initial electricity that creates the light, and then it regulates the amount of electricity flowing through the bulb so that the right amount of light is emitted.
3. How do I minimize UV radiation from fluorescent lamps?
Lamp manufacturers generally strive to minimize ultraviolet light (UV) radiation in all lamps used in general lighting applications.
The amount of UV produced by standard fluorescent lamps, such as those in your office, home, or school, is not hazardous and does not pose a major health concern. In fact, a paper by the National Electrical Manufacturers Association (NEMA) explores this subject in more detail. It cites a study in which it was determined that UV exposure from sitting indoors under fluorescent lights at typical office light levels for an eight-hour workday is equivalent to just over a minute of exposure to the sun in Washington, D.C. on a clear day in July.
Some applications require the absence of UV. To completely eliminate UV, we would recommend using CovRguard® shatter-resistant lamps. Where CovRguard is not available, UV sleeves or filters are also used to eliminate UV.
4. What should I do if I break a fluorescent bulb?
Puncture resistant gloves are recommended for cleaning up broken glass. After picking up all large fragments, wipe area thoroughly to clean any remaining glass or phosphor residue. If necessary, ventilate area to remove any remaining fine phosphor dust. After handling broken lamps, wash hands and face thoroughly. Incidental exposure to lamp contents is not harmful. The basic phosphor used in the manufacture of fluorescent lamps is a relatively inert phosphate. The small amount of mercury contained in each lamp will not cause any significant amount of airborne mercury, since most of the elemental mercury remains adhered to the phosphor surface. No adverse health effects are expected from exposure to a broken fluorescent tube.
5. Is it more energy-efficient to turn a lamp off or leave it on?
The question of "turn them off or let them burn" is a common one in lighting. Since there is no surge involved in the starting of any residential bulb, the answer is "if you are not using them, turn them off." The cost of operating a light bulb is the wattage consumed while lighted thus the general answer is turn them off.
High intensity discharge lamps (rarely found in indoor household applications) and fluorescent lamps have different operating needs. If you have a fluorescent lamp, the general rule is turn the lamp off unless you are going to need it again within fifteen minutes. Frequent cycling, turning on and off for short periods of time such as in a closet application, can reduce the life of a fluorescent lamp.
6. Why is noise coming from my fluorescent lamp?
Audible noise from a fluorescent light is likely due to a loose or faulty ballast. The ballast is an electrical device inside the lighting fixture that supplies the proper starting and operating power to the lamp.
Sometimes, changing a lamp loosens the ballast mounting or other parts of the fixture and the slight vibration from the ballast during normal operation causes a buzzing or hum. The volume of the sound may change - louder or softer - as the fixture warms up. You might try tightening any screws or loose fixture parts to see if this alleviates the noise problem. Checking the ballast mounting screws is a little more complicated since the fixture has to be opened, but that would be the next step.
Be sure that anyone servicing a lamp, ballast, or fixture first turns off the electricity to avoid the chance of electrical shock.
Noise can also be an indication that the ballast is about to fail. Ballasts normally last 10-20 years, but often become noisy just before they fail. If the light goes out and then comes back on unexpectedly after initially operating for a while, it means that a thermal switch inside the ballast has opened and closed - another indication that the ballast is at its end-of-life.
If the ballast needs replacing, inquire about an electronic replacement unit. Electronic ballasts are inherently quieter than older electromagnetic designs.
7. Can fluorescent lamps be put on a dimmer?
Yes, only if the fluorescent light is using a dimmable ballast. Any time a dimmable ballast is used, a compatible dimming switch needs to be installed. The ballast manufacturer can provide a list of compatible switches.
8. What is the wave length of a germicidal lamp?
The germicidal wavelength is short. Wavelengths shorter than 300nm are generally most effective for killing bacteria. The peak emission of the GE Germicidal lamps is 254 nm.
9. How much heat is radiated from a fluorescent lamp?
About 90% of all energy emitted by tungsten filaments (including those in halogen lamps) is infrared, or radiant heat. The way to decrease heat from your fixtures is to use lower wattage lamps, or to use compact fluorescent bulbs.
The common types and colors of fluorescent lamps radiate an estimated 30% of their energy in the infrared range -"principally far infrared (wavelengths beyond 5000 nm)". More information is included in "The IESNA Lighting Handbook" by the Illuminating Engineering Society.
Regular fluorescent light bulbs used in your home and office do not produce a hazardous amount of ultraviolet light (UV). Most light sources, including fluorescent bulbs, emit a small amount of UV, but the UV produced by fluorescent light bulbs is far less than the amount produced by natural daylight. (Ultraviolet light rays are the light wavelengths that can cause sunburn and skin damage.)
Your safety is important to us; that's why, for all of our light bulbs designed for general public use, we strive to minimize the amount of UV light emitted.
If you're looking for a low-UV bulb for an especially sensitive area, try our Saf-T-Gard® bulbs. They block most ultraviolet light emissions, and they're also shatter-resistant.
11. What are the benefits of CovRguard® and Saf-T-Gard® lamps?
CovRguard Saf-T-Gard lamps offer extraordinary protection with minimum light loss, block most ultraviolet light emissions, and meet FDA, NSF, and OSHA standards, keeping your surroundings bright and protected.
The new incandescent lamps utilize a coating for breakage protection, and offer superior energy-efficient and an outstanding quality of light for whatever the application. The fluorescent lamps have a polycarbonate coating. Both coatings help contain the glass in the event of breakage protecting the area from flying glass.
For additional information, download the CovRguard Brochure (201 KB)
12. What's the difference between a blacklight and a blacklight-blue bulb?
Blacklight lamps emit light in the 350-400 nanometer region of the spectrum. That band is within the UV-A region of the spectrum that is from 315-400 nanometers.
GE manufactures the following blacklight lamps:
F15T8/BL
F4T5
F20T12
F40/U3 (U-tube)
F40.
All five of the lamps listed above come in Blacklight (BL) or Blacklight Blue (BLB) types. The BL type emits both visible light and UV; you need to wear protection for your eyes and skin to avoid irritation. The BLB type is made of special glass that filters out most of the visible light and passes UV-A. Under normal conditions, BLB lamps are safe, although if you are going to be exposed for prolonged periods of time, consider wearing eye and skin protection. BLBs are classified as Risk Group 1 per the ANSI/IESNA RP-27.3-96. (1997 Recommended Practice for Photobiological Safety for Lamps and Lamp Systems: General Requirements). This category is referred to as "low risk" where "the lamp does not pose any photobiological hazard due to normal behavioral limitations on exposure."
13. How should I dispose of fluorescent lamps?
Please refer to our state disposal policies page. In most states, fluorescent and compact fluorescent light bulbs used at home can be disposed of in the same way as regular light bulbs. While all fluorescent bulbs contain a trace amount of mercury, the quantity is so minute that household disposal is not regulated by federal standards (established by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency).
However, if you are disposing many fluorescent lamps you should know that because they contain mercury they are classified as hazardous waste unless:
1. You, as the end user, generate less than 100kg of hazardous waste per month (approx. 360 4' T12 lamps)
OR
2. The lamps pass the EPA Toxicity Characteristic Leaching Procedure (TCLP) Test.
If the lamps meet these criteria and your state's regulation on TCLP is not stricter than the EPA's regulation, the lamps can be disposed of the same way as normal waste. However, if the lamps do not meet the criteria to be classified as normal waste, they will need to be either recycled by a lamp recycler or disposed under the hazardous waste guidelines of your state.
GE Ecolux® lamps pass federal TCLP regulations and therefore, by federal standards, are not considered hazardous waste. However, you should check with your state regulations to determine if they are stricter than the federal regulations. Other non-Ecolux lamps are not consistently TCLP-compliant.
Look for Ecolux lamps in the fluorescent section of our Lamp Product Catalog.
Since fluorescent lamps have such a long life compared to incandescent lamps, eventually the brightness (lumen output) of the lamp will begin to decrease.
Because of this, fluorescent lamps have an initial lumen rating and a mean lumen rating. The mean lumen output is measured at 40% of the lamp life.
NOTE: Decorative or colored bulbs do not have a lumen rating since they are not considered a primary source of lights, only decorative.
15. Does GE manufacture fixtures for Circline fluorescents?
GE does not offer fixtures (sockets, lamp bases, lampholders, etc.) for the Circline fluorescents. Electrical distributors often carry lighting fixtures. Look in your local Yellow Pages or on the Internet to find the distributors or manufactures of lighting fixtures.
16. How can I get lighting product catalogs and sell sheets?
The Literature Library contains downloadable PDFs, including the latest full-line catalog and product sell sheets with in depth product specifications.