GENERAL LIGHTING INFO

Lamp Usage Guide

Using Lamps Safely

Please keep the following points in mind to ensure your safety when handling, installing and disposing any type of lamp.

• Lamps are fragile and should always be handled with care and stored appropriately to minimise the possibility of glass breakage. If you do break a lamp, please remember that some lamps, particularly fluorescent tubes and discharge lamps contain potentially harmful substances and should be handled and disposed of accordingly.

• All lamps should be easy to both install and remove from their fitting. Excessive force should never be applied to lamps, as this can result in breakage of the glass or in the bond that holds the glass to the base. If excessive force is applied to a lamp when removing it from a fitting the base may remain inside the lamp holder. If this occurs please contact an electrician; do not attempt to remove the base yourself.

• Most lamps become very hot during operation and should always be installed in a way that minimises the possibility of injury and the risk of fire. With this in mind, lamps should never be installed close to combustible materials or furnishings and any other instructions contained on packaging or in this catalogue should be strictly adhered to.

• Always install the correct lamp for your fitting and never exceed the maximum recommended wattage specified for it. Using a higher wattage lamp to that recommended, or a physically larger bulb than that specified (i.e a GLS lamp instead of a fancy round lamp) can cause damage to the fitting and even a fire risk. If you require a greater light output from a fitting consider using a low energy electronic compact fluorescent lamp as these offer a high light output at a low wattage.

• Most lamps are designed for indoor use only or for use in enclosed fittings that are protected from the elements. Most incandescent lamps are not suitable for use in open exterior fittings and can crack if splashed with water when hot. Ensure that you use an appropriate lamp for outdoor applications exposed to the weather.

• Do not touch tungsten halogen bulbs such as linear halogen lamps and bi-pin lamps with your bare hands. If the quartz envelope of these bulbs is contaminated with oils from your skin a hot spot can develop leading to a dramatic reduction in lamp life. To ensure this does not happen tungsten halogen lamps should be wrapped in tissue whilst they are being installed. If you do touch a tungsten halogen lamp remove your fingerprints using a tissue moistened with methylated spirits.

What Makes Lamps Fail?

As a manufacturer committed to ensuring complete customer satisfaction we are obviously concerned about any issues pertaining to the quality of our products. Although our lamps are of a very high standard a lamp can fail or exhibit a short lamp life if subjected to any of the following conditions:

• Over Voltage: 240V Lamps are generally designed to be operated at 240V AC. During off peak periods the voltage available in the mains often rises in excess of 250V. The voltage increase is a ‘normal’ phenomenon. The supply authorities work to provide 240V according to AS2926 Standard Voltages; where there is a permissible tolerance range of 216 – 253V. In practice a 5% overvoltage condition, ie, 252V instead of 240V will result in a lamp delivering a shorter lamp life. Many consumers deal with this failure rate by fitting our ‘extra long life’ lamps or lamps rated at 250V.

• High ambient temperatures: If the luminaries are mounted in a semi enclosed or insulated space the temperature that the fitting is operating at may be above that at which it is designed to perform, which in turn may cause the lamp to fail.

• Vibration: If a lamp is frequently subjected to vibration the filament may become vulnerable to breaking when the lamp is turned on. Many consumers deal with this by installing our ‘Rough Service’ lamps which are designed for use in applications where the lamp is subjected to excessive vibration.

What makes Long Life Lamps Last Longer?

Many lamps are available in long life versions.  These have been specially designed to last longer using different construction and manufacturing techniques.  It is important to note that ‘long life’ is a relative term and the life of a lamp depends more upon the technology it is based on.

What is a Watt?

All light bulbs are rated in Watts but what is a Watt?  Watts are named after James Watt the inventor of the steam engine and are the international standard unit of power.  The wattage of a lamp defines the amount of electricity it consumes and can also be related to the brightness of the lamp.  However, since different types of lamps are more efficient in producing light than others the Watt is not in itself a measure of brightness.

Did you know?

The candela (cd) is a standard measure of luminous intensity and allows a direct comparison of the brightness of different light sources. Unlike wattage is can be used to compare the relative brightness of incandescent, fluorescent, halogen and discharge lamps.

What does Colour Temperature Mean?

Colour temperature is measured in degrees Kelvin (K) and is a measure of the warmth or coldness of the light produced by a lamp. Lamps that produce a warm or yellow light have a low colour temperature, where lamps producing a white or bluish light have a higher colour temperature.