Re: Flourescent lamp -Wasting Power?
From: Mark Jones (abuse_at_127.0.0.1)
Date: 12/19/04
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Date: Sun, 19 Dec 2004 03:43:02 -0500
Jeff Wisnia wrote:
> Today I encountered something that is either stupid design or I've
> somehow missed the point.
>
> While out shopping last night I found some nice looking flourescent
> torchiere lamps on sale at a very attractive price. They had the usual
> pair of "circline" flourescent bulbs and a switch for three light
> levels. I decided it was time to pick up a couple and get rid of the
> ancient 300 watt halogen ones (Pre safety guard models even.) sitting
> around in two spare bedrooms. I had creepy feelings about some
> uninformed guest drying out damp clothing by hanging it over a lit
> halogen and starting a holocoust.
>
> I got 'em home, assembled them and was pleased with the results.
>
> This morning I went to move one and noticed that even though it had been
> off all night, the electronic ballast, which was located topside in the
> center of the bulbs, was noticably warm. I put my hand over the other
> lamp's ballast and it too was warm.
>
> I took one down to my workshop and measured its current draw with the
> lamp off. It was a bit over 9 watts. It appears that the ballast is
> powered up continuously and there's a couple of control lines which get
> diddled by the switch on the lamp's column to make the bulbs turn on.
>
> I've got a couple of other flourescent torchiers in the house which
> switch line power ahead of the ballast as I'd expect.
>
> As we're paying close to 10 cents a KWH for electricity these days, I'm
> not amused by the thought of paying around $15 a year for the priviledge
> of keeping those two "energy saving" lamps plugged in, nor do I want to
> go to the bother of unplugging them when they're not going to be used or
> installing and wiring wall switches to control the outlets they are
> plugged into.
>
> Those stupid lamps were returned to the store today, I'll go get ones
> next week which don't waste my money when they aren't in use.
>
> Am I missing a reason why those lamps were designed that way other than
> it may have enabled the manufacturer to save a few pennies on each one?
>
> Happy Holidays,
>
> Jeff
Could they use ferroresonant xfrmrs instead of chokes?
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