User Guide

Ampere A unit expressing the rate of flow of
electric current.
ANSI (American National Standards
Institute)
The organization that develops
voluntary guidelines and produces performance
standards for the electrical and other industries.
Audible Noise (Sound) All fluorescent lamp
ballasts produce some noise. Most OSRAM
SYLVANIA brand ballasts are sound rated A (up
to 75% quieter than magnetic types) and are
acceptable for most applications. Care should
be taken when mounting the ballast to reduce
vibration.
Average Rated Life An average rating, in hours,
indicating when 50% of a large group of lamps
have failed, when operated at nominal lamp volt-
age and current; manufacturers use 3 hours per
start for fluorescent lamps and 10 hours per start
for HID lamps when performing lamp life testing
procedures; every lamp type has a unique mortali-
ty curve that depicts its average rated life. For
Photo-Optic specialty lamps, average rated life
refers to the operating period after which on statis-
tical average, 50% of the lamps will perform within
their specified values.
Ballast A device used with an electric discharge
lamp to obtain the necessary circuit conditions
(voltage, current and waveform) for starting and
operating; all fluorescent and HID light sources
require a ballast for proper operation. Dimming
ballasts are special ballasts which, when used
together with a dimmer, will vary the light output of
a lamp. OSRAM Photo-Optic discharge lamps are
either designed for AC operation (sine wave and/or
square wave with recommended operational fre-
quencies below 1KHz) or DC operation (current
regulated or power regulated). Please see OSRAM
lamp specifications for correct ballast or electronic
control gear selection.
Ballast Basics Ballasts have two primary func-
tions: 1) start the lamp and 2) control operation
of the lamp once it has started. High frequency
electronic ballasts operate lamps more efficiently
and eliminate the hum and visible flicker normally
associated with standard magnetic ballasts.
Electronic ballasts also typically have better power
quality than magnetic ballasts.
Ballast Efficacy Factor (BEF) Ballast factor (as
a whole number) divided by input power (watts).
Used to measure the level of efficiency of similar
ballast models. For example, the OSRAM SYLVA-
NIA QT2X32IS which has a ballast factor of 0.90
and input watts of 59 (BEF= 90/59 = 1.53), is
more efficient than electronic ballasts with ballast
factor of 0.875 and input watts of 62 (BEF=1.41).
Ballast Factor (BF) The measured ability of a
particular ballast to produce light from the lamp(s)
it powers; ballast factor is derived by dividing the
lumen output of a particular lamp/ballast combina-
tion by the lumen output of the same lamp(s) on a
reference ballast.
Ballast Fusing (See Fusing.)
Ballast Life OSRAM SYLVANIA ballasts are
designed to have an average life expectancy of
60,000 hours. To maximize life, ambient temperature
should be kept as low as possible. It is also impor-
tant to maintain effective dissipation of heat using the
lighting fixture as a heatsink for the ballast enclosure.
Ballast Losses Power consumed by a
ballast that dissipates as heat instead of being
converted into light. Electronic ballasts operate
more efficiently than magnetic or hybrid ballasts. A
typical ballast loss for a standard two lamp energy
saving magnetic ballast is 12 watts, where an
electronic equivalent would only be 7 watts.
Ballast Types There are three types of lighting
ballasts: 1) Magnetic: an inefficient device that
uses a core and coil assembly transformer to
perform the minimum functions required to start
and operate the lamp; 2) Hybrid or “low frequency
electronic”: essentially a magnetic ballast with a
few electronic components that switch off voltage
to the lamp coil once the lamp has started. A mini-
mal increase in efficiency is obtained via more
expensive magnetic core material and the absence
of power to the lamp coils during operation; 3) High
frequency electronic: a ballast that operates lamps
at frequencies above 20,000 Hz. Maximum efficien-
cy is obtained through the use of electronic circuitry
and optimum lamp operating characteristics.
Base The lamp base mechanically holds the lamp
in place in the application. The lamp base directly
or indirectly (via a cable or lead-in wires) conducts
electricity from the circuit to the lamp and can be
designed to dissipate heat. Lamp bases should be
operated within specified temperature ranges.
Beam Angle The angle between the two direc-
tions for which the intensity (candlepower) is 50%
of the maximum intensity as measured in a plane
through the nominal beam centerline (center beam
candlepower).
Beam Spread In any plane, the angle between
the two directions in the plane in which the candle-
power is equal to a stated percent of the maxi-
mum candlepower in the beam.
Black Body (Planckian radiator) An ideal
thermal radiator whose SPD curve is defined by its
temperature in Kelvin and whose color coordinates
lie exactly on the Planckian curve.
Brightness (See Luminance.)
Bulb Hard, soft or quartz glass enclosure, which
can contain a vacuum, elemental inert gas or
metal and a means of light generation (filament or
electrodes).
Candela (cd) The unit of measure indicating the
luminous intensity (candlepower) of a light source
in a specific direction; any given light source will
have many different intensities, depending upon
the direction considered.
Candlepower Distribution A curve that repre-
sents the variation in luminous intensity (expressed
in candelas) in a plane through the light center of a
lamp or luminaire; each lamp or lamp/luminaire
combination has a unique set of candlepower dis-
tributions that indicate how light will be spread.
Center Beam Candlepower (CBCP) The
intensity of light produced at the center of a
reflector lamp beam, expressed in candelas.
Chromaticity The aspect of color that includes
consideration of its dominant wavelength and purity.
Color Rendering Index (CRI) The Color
Rendering Index (CRI) measures the effect a light
source has on the perceived color of objects and
surfaces. High CRI light makes virtually all colors
look natural and vibrant. Low CRI causes some
colors to appear washed out or even to take on a
completely different hue.
Color Temperature (CT) Color temperature,
which is measured in Kelvin, indicates whether a
lamp has a warm, midrange or cool color appear-
ance. “Warm” light sources have a low color tem-
perature (2000-3000K) and feature more light in
the red/orange/yellow range. Light with a higher
color temperature (>5000K) features more blue light
and is referred to as “cool.”
Compact Fluorescent Lamps Compact
fluorescent lamps employ small diameter tubes that
are bent so they begin and end in a single base.
This allows them to be produced in a wide variety
of configurations, greatly extending the applica-
tions for fluorescent lighting.
Correlated Color Temperature (CCT)
A specification of the color appearance of a
lamp, relating its color to that of a reference
source, black body radiator, heated to a particu-
lar temperature, measured in degrees Kelvin (K);
CCT generally measures the “warmth” or “cool-
ness” of light source appearance.
Current A measure of the rate of flow of
electricity, expressed in amperes (A).
Description (See Ordering Abbreviation.)
Design Amperes The approximate current
which the lamp will draw at design volts.
Directional Lighting Illumination on the work-
plane or on an object predominantly from a single
direction.
Double-Ended Lamps that have two bases
opposite one another for series electrical connec-
tion, mechanical mounting and heat dissipation.
Efficacy The rate at which a lamp is able to con-
vert power (watts) into light (lumens), expressed in
lumens per watt (LPW or lm/W). See also LPW
Performance.
Electronic Control Systems (See Ballast.)
EMI/RFI Electronic Ballasts contain circuits that
limit electrical noise conducted onto the power line
or radiated through the air, otherwise referred to as
EMI/RFI. OSRAM SYLVANIA ballasts comply with
FCC 47 CFR Part 18, non-consumer limits for
commercial applications. Ballasts for residential
application must meet consumer limits. OSRAM
SYLVANIA has a complete line of magnetic bal-
lasts for residential use.
Product Catalog Glossary of Terms
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