Fluorescent lamp high frequency evaluation

The advantages of operating fluorescent lamps at high frequency (HF) are well known. Unfortunately, there are no ANSI standards for HF operation for many fluorescent lamps. This paper supplies provisional data for future industry consideration for generating such standards. The paper focuses on the most common fluorescent lamp, the F32T8 and provides 77/spl deg/F, integrating sphere, open burn, recommended HF reference ballast lamp voltage, current and power curves at 80% through 120% light output, with respect to the corresponding 60 Hz reference ballast operating specifications (100% light output). Also included are the procedure for determining cathode heating requirements for HF rapid start operation and the HF reference ballast open circuit voltage requirements for starting one lamp by either HF rapid start or HF instant start means.