Compact fluorescent lamps electromagnetic compatibility measurements and performance evaluation

Compact fluorescent lamps (CFL) have multiple benefits and give a much longer lifespan when compared to incandescent or halogen bulbs. The lower power consumption is their main great advantage, the higher price being one of the most known disadvantages. Because of the internal structure, CFL have also other disadvantages not such evident, being sources of great electromagnetic fields, both radiated and conducted at the mains port. Also, the ultraviolet radiations should be considered when dealing with them, aspect not covered in this paper. Several tests were done on different types of CFL, from different manufacturers - most of them well known, in order to determine the level of electromagnetic pollution. The electromagnetic radiated field and conducted disturbances level at the mains port were measured, in the frequency range from 80 MHz to 1 GHz and from 150 kHz to 30 MHz, respectively. The resulted values were compared against the limits provided by the CISPR 22 international standard. All measurements were done in a shielded enclosure, to avoid unwanted interferences with other EM filed sources.