fluorescent dimming systems technical guide | Lutron

Fluorescent Dimming Systems Technica l Guide

FLUORESCENT DIMMING SYSTEMS TECHNICAL GUIDE

Why Fluorescent? ...........................................................................................................................................2

Why Different Dimming Ranges? .....................................................................................................................3

How Do Fluorescent Lamps and Dimming Ballasts Work? ..................................................................................4

Choosing the Right Lutron Dimming Ballast......................................................................................................5

Sockets ..........................................................................................................................................................6

Socket Wiring .................................................................................................................................................8

Ballast Temperature ......................................................................................................................................11

Recommended Installation Practices ..............................................................................................................12

Lamp Information .........................................................................................................................................14

Ballast Wiring ...............................................................................................................................................15

Function Testing Ballasts and Controls ...........................................................................................................16

Appendix: Wiring Diagrams ...........................................................................................................................17

Glossary .......................................................................................................................................................23

Warranty ......................................................................................................................................................25

LUTRON THE LEADER IN L IGHTING CONTROL

Since its founding over 40 years ago, Lutron has emerged as the recognized leader

in residential and commercial lighting control, and is the brand most preferred by lighting

designers and specifiers worldwide. Lutron invented the solid state dimmer (1961), the

electronic fluorescent dimming ballast (1969) and qualified for ISO 9001 registration (1991).

With over 100 U.S. patents, Lutron has continuously led the industry with high quality

innovative products and solutions for lighting control.

Technica l Support : 1 .800.523.9466 \ www.lutron.com/bal lasts

For ballast model numbers and control selections, please see theFluorescent Dimming System Selection Guide, P/N 366-002.

contents

Fluorescent Dimming Systems Technica l Guide

WHY FLUORESCENT?

Fluorescent Lighting Saves Energy

Fluorescent lighting uses much less power than incandescent

lighting. In a typical installation, a 32 Watt compact fluorescent

lamp provides approximately the same light output as a

100 Watt incandescent lamp. As both sources are dimmed,

fluorescent lamps continue to be a more energy efficient

light source.

Some states are mandating certain energy usage limitations

for workspace lighting. Fluorescent lighting may now be

required in some areas in order to meet both the lighting

requirements and energy regulations.

Fluorescent Lighting Reduces Operating Costs

Reduces HVAC Operating Cost

Fluorescent lighting generates 75% less heat than incandescent

lighting and therefore can reduce HVAC ongoing operating cost.

Reduces HVAC Initial Equipment Cost

For new construction, air conditioning systems must be sized

with regard to the maximum lighting load (all lights on at full

brightness). A fluorescent solution reduces the lighting load

by as much as 66%. This reduction significantly decreases the

initial size and cost of AC equipment. Every 3,300 Watts of

electricity saved eliminates 1 ton of AC equipment.

Reduces Maintenance Cost

Fluorescent lamps last longer than incandescent lamps and

require fewer lamp changes, reducing maintenance costs.

2

ElectricityConsumedBy IncandescentSource

ElectricityConsumedBy FluorescentSource

Over 60 Watts of electricity is saved per fixture by using fluorescentlamps.

Measured Light (%)

Power (W)

100

90

80

70

60

50

40

30

20

10

00 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100

Technica l Support : 1 .800.523.9466 \ www.lutron.com/bal lasts

WHY DIFFERENT DIMMING RANGES?

The Difference Between Measured and Perceived Light

The human eye responds to dim light by automatically enlarging

the pupil to allow more light into the eye, making the light

appear brighter. Measured light (%) is always less than the

perceived light (%). Lights dimmed down to 1% measured

light are perceived as 10% by the human eye. One percent

(1%) is essential for architectural applications.

Application Examples

1%Architectural Dimming

3

Perceived Light (%)

MeasuredLight (%)

15

10% to 100% Energy Management Dimming

1% to 100% Architectural Dimming

5% to 100% High Performance Dimming

10 3222 40 50 60 70 80 90 100%0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

90

100

5%High Performance Dimming 10%

Energy Management Dimming

Conference Room/Boardroom

Classroom/Lecture Hall Patient Room/

Examination & Treatment Room

House of Worship Theater Convention Area Elegant Dining Space Air Traffic Control Center Industrial Control Room Partitioned Meeting Room Graphic Art Workstation CAD/CAM Workstation Private Office

Large Open Office Small Meeting Room Customer Service Area/

Call Center Lobby Hotel Guest Room

Corridor/Stairwell Utility Room Restroom Load Shedding Occupant Detection Daylight Harvesting

Source: IESNA Lighting Handbook, 9th Edition,(New York: IESNA, 2000), 27-4.

4 Fluorescent Dimming Systems Technica l Guide

HOW DO FLUORESCENT LAMPS AND DIMMING BALLASTS WORK?

How Do Fluorescent Lamps Work?

A linear fluorescent lamp consists of a glass tube containing

low pressure mercury vapor with a tungsten filament at each

end. Light is produced by striking an arc across the lamp from

one filament to the other, causing the gas to glow. The amount

of current passing through the lamp determines the light output.

How Does Lutron Dim Fluorescent Lamps?

Lutron ballasts control the current passing through the lamp

to offer the user light level control. As part of the dimming

process, it is important to keep the filaments warm by passing

a current through them. Instant-start ballasts do not provide

heat to these filaments and use sockets that connect the two

filament pins together. A Lutron ballast uses these filaments

and it is important that these two pins are not shorted

together in the socket. Hence the need for rapid-start

sockets which keep these pin connections separate.

Using instant-start sockets with a Lutron ballast will

cause excess current to flow in the lamp wires which

may permanently damage the ballast.

Lamp Voltage

Arc Current

Ballast

Red Leads

Blue Leads

FilamentCurrent

Filament

Excitation of Phosphor Coating (Visible Light)

UV Light Emission Arc

U-bent, twin tube and compact fluorescent lamps are

simply linear lamps with a varying number of bends.

Filament

Technica l Support : 1 .800.523.9466 \ www.lutron.com/bal lasts 5

CHOOSING THE RIGHT LUTRON DIMMING BALLAST

Factors for Choosing Dimming Ballasts

Ballasts are specified according to the lamp type, low-end light

level, supply voltage, and control method.

Lamp Type

Each type of fluorescent lamp has specific electrical require-

ments in order to operate at variable light levels and achieve

the expected lamp lifetime. Lutron designs each fluorescent

dimming ballast to achieve the best performance for each

lamp type. The result is superior dimming, continuous flicker-

free illumination, and expected lamp lifetime.

For information on the various lamp types, please see pg. 13.

Low-End Light Level

Lutron offers 10%, 5%, and 1% dimming ballasts.

This percentage refers to the measured low-end light level.

Ballast Dimming ControlFamily Range Method

Hi-lume 100%-1% 3-wireTu-Wire 100%-5% 2-wireCompact SE 100%-5% 3-wireEco-10 100%-10% 3-wireTVE 100%-10% 0-10V, 4-wire

Supply Voltage

Lutron offers ballasts for 120V, 277V, and 347V, all at 60Hz.

Ballasts for international voltages and frequencies are also

available. Consult Lutron for availability.

For selection information on our entire line of ballasts and controls for different lamp types, please see the Fluorescent Dimming Systems SelectionGuide (P/N 366-002), visit www.lutron.com/ballasts, or contact the toll-free Lutron Technical SupportCenter at 1.800.523.9466.

Control Method

Lutron offers sever