Hi Spehro ~

I did see that page, but missed this paragraph at the bottom:
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"The NEMA study recommends PS ballasts in applications with frequent
starts where extended lamp life is a primary concern. NEMA defines
frequently switched applications and recommends the use of PS ballasts
in applications of 5 or more starts per day. Applications with greater
than 8 starts per day may void lamp manufacturers' warranties when
used on an instant start ballasts. GE UltraStartR maximizes lamp life in
frequently switched applications and provides the GE Total System
and Electronic Limited Warranty."

This seems to be a plug for GE's UltraStart "Programmed Start" ballast vs
"Instant Start" ballasts, such as the one we are using.

They define "rapid cycling" as 1 sec on, 1 sec off.
Next to this there is a graph and this ad copy:

"GE lamp life studies have shown that lamp life is up to 20 times longer
in rapid cycle testing. Lamp life test have demonstrated 111,000 to
243,000 starts on F32T8 lamps when GE UltraStartR ballasts as opposed
to only 7,000 to 13,000 starts with standard instant start ballasts.
UltraStartT maximizes lamp life in frequently witched applications
and where lamp life is a primary concern. GE UltraStartR ballasts
and lamps provide guaranteed performance with the GE Total system
Limited Warranty."

This is interesting, and I may try one of these Programmed Start ballasts,
(though the specified 0.7 second turn-on time would be a problem.) =20

It is hard to estimate, but I don't think we got as many as 7000 starts
before lamp failure.  Possible, I guess. =20

Thanks for the link!

  Foster
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> -----Original Message-----
> From: piclist-bounces@mit.edu [mailto:piclist-bounces@mit.edu] On Behalf
> Of Spehro Pefhany
> Sent: Sunday, July 24, 2011 10:46 AM
> To: Microcontroller discussion list - Public.
> Subject: RE: [EE] Any fluorescent light experts? (Still More Info)
>=20
> At 12:20 PM 7/24/2011, you wrote:
>=20
> >I do appreciate everyone's thoughts and suggestions.  Maybe this is just
> one
> >of those "everyone knows" kinds of things, but again, I would really lik=
e
> to
> >understand what spec we are violating.
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> Hey, did you read the GE Lighting reference I provided?
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> "Applications with greater than 8 starts per day may void lamp
> manufacturers'
> warranties when used on an instant start ballasts".
>=20
> Seems clear enough.
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> Best regards,
>=20
> Spehro Pefhany --"it's the network..."            "The Journey is the
> reward"
> speff@interlog.com             Info for manufacturers:
> http://www.trexon.com
> Embedded software/hardware/analog  Info for designers:
> http://www.speff.com
>=20
>=20
>=20
> --
> http://www.piclist.com PIC/SX FAQ & list archive
> View/change your membership options at
> http://mailman.mit.edu/mailman/listinfo/piclist


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