In message , Victor Roberts
writes
I'm rather surprised about your comments switch-start lamp life in
the UK. Major manufacturers are now advertising fluorescent lamps with
rated lives of 30,000 hours and greater when operated on programmed
rapid start ballasts using the 3-hour on and 20-minute off cycle. Can
a switch-start lamp in the UK really come close to that same life with
the same operating cycle?

The early instant starting ballast's in the UK really hammered the
electrodes. It's not the same now.

--
Clive Mitchell
http://www.bigclive.com