Alex wrote:

Hey, I thought that an electronic light fitting for a fluorescent was
the smart modern smart thing to get. You make it sound like a backward
step!

What am I misunderstanding?

nothing afaics.

Newness Disease might come into it a bit though, the widespread
incorrect belief that technological progress is 10x as fast as it
really is, and that all things newer are better. Electronics does
progress, but not nearly as fast as adveritising hype, and the progress
does not always imply modern goods are any better, though it does make
them cheaper to buy.


Is there no real advantage to an electronic fitting (electronic starter
and ballast) other than instant-on and a slightly longer tube life?

as said above...

It does matter if youre equipping a whole showroom or retail complex,
as a few percent on energy consumption can add up, but for domestic use
its immaterial, and the energy involved in getting and fitting a
replacement would far outweigh the tiny savings.

There is also Victor's point about flicker, but really if a light is
flickering noticeably its replacement time anyway, so its not such an
issue in practice. It is in large lighting installations though, where
faulty fittings are liable to be left running. But as long as its
working ok, there isnt a problem.

Finally, some tronic ballasts are good and reliable, some arent, but
since you cant tell which is which easily, youre buying a reliability
issue if you get one. An old fitting of any type has higher initial
reliability, plus has proven itself.

I hope you spend your diy time solving some real problems and not
playing musical light swaps, as it wont really get you anything
noticeable or worthwhile, other than more chance of fitting failure.


NT