Compact fluorescent lamps

Compact fluorescent lamps

 

The professional alternative to energy-saving lamps

Compact fluorescent lamps are comparable to energy saving lamps. To put it more precisely, the so-called energy-saving lamps are compact fluorescent lamps with an integrated ballast and a screw base. However, in the case of compact fluorescent lamps the ballast required for operation is not integrated in the lamp, meaning that when the lamp breaks, you only have to replace the lamp rather than the lamp and the ballast. This is beneficial in areas requiring extensive periods of illumination, such as rooms in commercial buildings. These lamps also have a plug-in base instead of a screw base. The compact fluorescent lamp is therefore not a suitable replacement for the incandescent lamp. Compact fluorescent lamps are available with a wattage of up to 55 W. The output of a 55 W lamp is equivalent to that of a 300 W halogen lamp.

 

High efficiency & long service life

Compact fluorescent lamps stand out for having a very long and being highly efficient with energy efficiency class A and B.
They useful life is up to nine times longer compared to incandescent lamps and they consume approximately 80 per cent less electricity for an equivalent light intensity. The increased initial cost is therefore well worth paying. The only disadvantage in comparison to halogen lamps and incandescent lamps is the reduced quality colour rendering of 1B (R_a = 80). Halogen lamps and incandescent lamps provide optimum colour rendering (R_a=100). This means that in respect to the energy-saving lamp, the lower energy consumption results in a compromise on light quality. The colours appear less bright.
We recommend using 12 V halogen lamps or 230 V halogen lamps, if you want to make impressive energy savings but still want to achieve a high light quality and effect.
People who want to save money and are thinking in an environmentally conscious way, however, should opt for energy-saving lamps or compact fluorescent lamps. Compact fluorescent lamps are often used in premium quality outdoor lights and in commercial buildings.
 
 

Less power consumption for the same luminous flux

The following table shows a comparison between incandescent lamps and compact fluorescent lamps. This comparison underlines that compact fluorescent lamps require significantly less energy than conventional incandescent lamps to produce the same luminous flux.