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Useful information about fluorescent tubes
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What was fluorescent?
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Which fluorescent tubes are available?
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What do you need to pay attention to when buying fluorescent tubes?
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Energy saving lamps: The compact shape of the fluorescent tube
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FAQs: The most common questions about fluorescent tubes
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Conclusion: You will find suitable fluorescent tubes
What was fluorescent?
Fluorescent tubes are available in rod and ring form and belong to the group of lamps. Conventional fluorescent tubes have been used in large commercial and public buildings for decades. They require a special socket, function via gas emission and are operated with a ballast. Energy saving lamps are known as compact fluorescent tubes. These are available in a smaller version and with an adapter for the socket and are increasingly used in private households. Fluorescent tubes are also known as neon tubes, but are now available in cold white, warm white, neutral white and daylight white, in contrast to the previously orange-colored light.
Which fluorescent tubes are available?
Rod form
Fluorescent tubes are available in rod form. The length of the light bars varies as well as the color and color coding, performance, energy efficiency and service life of the respective model.
Ring-shaped
fluorescent tubes in ring form are available less frequently than light bars and with different diameters. Ring tubes also vary in performance, color, color, energy efficiency and lifetime.
Compact fluorescent tubes
better known as "energy-saving lamps" are used in compact fluorescent tubes in homes and in smaller rooms. However, the operation is the same as with conventional fluorescent tubes.
What do you need to pay attention to when buying fluorescent tubes?
Suitable shape and size
- Rod shape
- Ring shape
- Compact fluorescent tube (energy saving lamp)
Socket types
- 2xGX13
- G10q
- G13
- G5
Power & life span
- 4-80 W
- Minimum 8,000 hours
- Switching strength should correspond to the service life
- Energy efficiency
Light color & color recognition
- cool white
- warm white
- Neutral white
- Daylight white
Functions
- Dimmable
Practical advice
Fluorescent tubes have a long service life. However, in order to ensure and increase these, it is recommended to use fluorescent tubes where permanent lighting is required. General lighting is particularly well suited to large offices, halls or other commercial operating areas. Frequent switching on and off has a negative effect on the life of this bulb: A frequent ignition causes the filament to slowly loosen, was eventually defective.
Energy saving lamps: The compact shape of the fluorescent tube
What was referred to as energy-saving lamps in the colloquial language is basically the further development of the conventional fluorescent tube in a compact form. These are bent and provided with a base, in addition the ballast is already installed in compact fluorescent tubes. In contrast to traditional fluorescent tubes, due to their targeted lighting, they are better suited for living rooms and smaller applications. While the concept of fluorescent tubes was developed more than 150 years ago and the mass production of fluorescent tubes began in 1938, energy-saving lamps have only been available since the 80er. Since the production stop of conventional light bulbs in 2012, energy-saving bulbs, in addition to halogen lamps and modern LED lamps, have been common in private use.
FAQs: The most common questions about fluorescent tubes
How do fluorescent tubes work?
Fluorescent tubes are filled with mercury and argon and function via gas discharge. Ignition occurs by putting gas with two electrodes under voltage. The electrodes° are heated up to 2,000 C. Due to the high temperatures, the mercury evaporates in the tube and the electrodes emit electrons. By colliding the mercury atoms with the free-floating electrons, the tube is made to glow.
What are the advantages and disadvantages of fluorescent tubes?
The greatest advantages of fluorescent tubes are their energy efficiency and longevity. The biggest disadvantage is the mercury contained, a nerve poison which is already fatal from a quantity of 150 mg. When a fluorescent tube breaks down, about 10 mg of mercury is released, a quantity that is already hazardous to health. To prevent this, many models are processed into a break-proof plastic frame. A further disadvantage of gas-discharge illuminants is their poorer light quality and their stronger electric field, which can be felt by some people in the form of headaches. Also a disadvantage is the sensitivity of fluorescent tubes with regard to frequent switching on and off.
How do ich find out which socket size ich need?
To find the correct base size, simply measure the pin spacing. Common base sizes for fluorescent tubes are about G5 (5 mm) and G13 (13 mm). Common lamp types such as T4 and T5 require G5 sockets, while lamp types such as T8 and T12 require G13 sockets. The Conrad online shop mainly offers the following base sizes: 2xGX13, G10q, G13 and G5.
For which areas of application are fluorescent tubes suitable and for which non?fluorescent tubes pay for themselves above all where they are used for permanent and long lighting. Fluorescent tubes are energy-efficient in continuous operation and impress with their long life. On the other hand, frequent switching on and off damages the fluorescent tube and considerably reduces its service life.
Conclusion: You will find suitable fluorescent tubes
In order to pick the right model when buying a fluorescent tube, a detailed comparison can be helpful. In the Conrad online shop you can compare one fluorescent tube with another under each product. In addition to the correct shape and size of the fluorescent tube, pay attention to other important parameters such as the suitable base type, the desired power, energy efficiency classes, light color and service life, in order to select the right model for your lighting requirements. With fluorescent tubes of energy efficiency class A, you save a lot of electricity, especially during continuous operation. The light color should be adjusted to suit the circumstances, daylight white, for example, promotes concentration, while warm white has a calming effect. In addition, make sure that the switching strength corresponds to the specified service life. If the fluorescent tube is to be able to withstand frequent switching on and off, the value of the switching resistance must be significantly higher than the service life. If you want to replace a conventional bulb with an energy-saving bulb, make sure that the power corresponds. 40 W corresponds to 9 W with an energy-saving lamp, for 60 W you need an energy-saving lamp with 11 W. conversion tables for this are available on the Internet. The Conrad online shop offers a wide selection of fluorescent tubes from the manufacturers OSRAM, Heitronic, TOOLCRAFT or Paulmann, Philips and SLV.