I'm curious about something guys. Energy saving compact fluorescent
bulbs and fluorescent tube light fixtures don't work well at relatively low
temperatures (below freezing) which is why they shouldn't be used in cold
climates in an unheated garage.

Here's my question; how can fluorescent tube light fixtures in outdoor
commercial signs work in cold temperatures? Are they designed different?

Handi

P.S.: Fluorescent bulbs can not be operated with the typical light fixture
dimmer. I'm assuming that they require a specialized dimmer. And one last
thought. I like the idea of saving money with energy saving compact
fluorescent bulbs but I don't like the color of their light. What do you
think?

"Randy" wrote in message
news
I'm curious about something guys. Energy saving compact fluorescent
bulbs and fluorescent tube light fixtures don't work well at relatively
low temperatures (below freezing) which is why they shouldn't be used in
cold climates in an unheated garage.

Here's my question; how can fluorescent tube light fixtures in outdoor
commercial signs work in cold temperatures? Are they designed different?

Handi

P.S.: Fluorescent bulbs can not be operated with the typical light fixture
dimmer. I'm assuming that they require a specialized dimmer. And one
last thought. I like the idea of saving money with energy saving compact
fluorescent bulbs but I don't like the color of their light. What do you
think?

Many signs use HO (high output) lamps and ballasts. There is also VHO (very
high output). Lamp current, thus wattage is much higher in these with a
little expense of efficiency. Of course light output is higher. There are
also lamps that are designed to operate in the cold and there aer sleeves
that fit over the tube to help insulate it.

There are dimmable compact fluorescent lamps available. They don't get the
nice orangey warm glow as does dimmed tungsten.

Different brands give a different color tone. Many rated 2900 K look fine to
me while some look pinkish. Color was never much of a concern to me. I like
lighting a room with 28 watts vs. 120 w.

John

"Randy" wrote:

I'm curious about something guys. Energy saving compact fluorescent
bulbs and fluorescent tube light fixtures don't work well at relatively low
temperatures (below freezing) which is why they shouldn't be used in cold
climates in an unheated garage.
-snip-

There are inexpensive 'shoplights' - 2 4foot bulbs- that work in near
zero temps. I have gotten them at Lowes for less than $20.

Jim

There are clear plastic covers you can buy that prtect fluroscent tube
type bulbs from being damaged by impact and at the same time help in
cold conditions

Randy wrote:
I'm curious about something guys. Energy saving compact
fluorescent bulbs and fluorescent tube light fixtures don't work well
at relatively low temperatures (below freezing) which is why they
shouldn't be used in cold climates in an unheated garage.

Funny they work just fine in my garage. Many of today's models work
fine at low temp. They may take a few additional seconds to come up to full
brightness however.


Here's my question; how can fluorescent tube light fixtures in
outdoor commercial signs work in cold temperatures? Are they
designed different?

I also have the general light in my garage using tube type (4 ft and 8
ft) that are cold rated and they work great.


Handi

P.S.: Fluorescent bulbs can not be operated with the typical light
fixture dimmer. I'm assuming that they require a specialized dimmer.

Special light and maybe a special dimmer, check the light for details.

And one last thought. I like the idea of saving money with energy
saving compact fluorescent bulbs but I don't like the color of their
light. What do you think?

I think you should buy a CF with a different light color. They are not
all the same color and in general they are getting better.

In the bath I use a mix of CF and tungsten. It makes a good light.


--
Joseph Meehan

Dia duit

Randy wrote:
I'm curious about something guys. Energy saving compact fluorescent
bulbs and fluorescent tube light fixtures don't work well at relatively low
temperatures (below freezing) which is why they shouldn't be used in cold
climates in an unheated garage.

Here's my question; how can fluorescent tube light fixtures in outdoor
commercial signs work in cold temperatures? Are they designed different?


I have half of my unheated shop lit by 48" 2 tube fixtures. They are
T-8s. I've never had a problem with them in cold weather.

The other half of my shop is lit with CFs. The Cfs definitely take
longer to warm up. The light is more yellow.

Amperage measured isn't really a fair comparison. The total watts of
each half of the shop do not match, the CF side draws more ampres,
while it seems to be darker at times and brighter at other times.When
warm weather comes back, I'll be replacing the CFs with new T-8
fixtures and trashing the CFs.

Tom in KY, It's only taken me 4 years to make that decision.,,That's
about right, ain't it?

"Randy" wrote in message
news
I'm curious about something guys. Energy saving compact fluorescent
bulbs and fluorescent tube light fixtures don't work well at relatively
low
temperatures (below freezing) which is why they shouldn't be used in cold
climates in an unheated garage.

Here's my question; how can fluorescent tube light fixtures in outdoor
commercial signs work in cold temperatures? Are they designed different?

Handi

P.S.: Fluorescent bulbs can not be operated with the typical light fixture
dimmer. I'm assuming that they require a specialized dimmer. And one
last
thought. I like the idea of saving money with energy saving compact
fluorescent bulbs but I don't like the color of their light. What do you
think?


Ballasts come in several temperature categories. 50 F, 20 F, 0 F, and -10
F.
At least those are the ones I have installed. The ballast basically has a
heater inside the case to keep the ballast warm. These temps depend on the
application and the manufacture.
HO and VHO lamps are more lumens per watt. Yes they are used on signs, but
because they want the sign to "pop out" of the darkness. Not because they
are better at cold weather.

FYI, Lower wattage CF like 5 and 7 watt do work well in colder weather. We
installed a bunch of CF for outside lighting. We found that the 5 & & watt
ones were good down to ~30 F. Also if they were turned on before the sun
went down and it got colder prevented them from the flickers.

SQLit wrote:

"Randy" wrote in message
news
I'm curious about something guys. Energy saving compact fluorescent
bulbs and fluorescent tube light fixtures don't work well at relatively

low

temperatures (below freezing) which is why they shouldn't be used in cold
climates in an unheated garage.

Here's my question; how can fluorescent tube light fixtures in outdoor
commercial signs work in cold temperatures? Are they designed different?

Handi

P.S.: Fluorescent bulbs can not be operated with the typical light fixture
dimmer. I'm assuming that they require a specialized dimmer. And one

last

thought. I like the idea of saving money with energy saving compact
fluorescent bulbs but I don't like the color of their light. What do you
think?



Ballasts come in several temperature categories. 50 F, 20 F, 0 F, and -10
F.
At least those are the ones I have installed. The ballast basically has a
heater inside the case to keep the ballast warm. These temps depend on the
application and the manufacture.

I thought temp rating related to output characteristics to run lamps at
low temp; would think magnetic ballasts wouldn't have anything in them
that would have a problem with cold. They produce heat anyway.

HO and VHO lamps are more lumens per watt. Yes they are used on signs, but
because they want the sign to "pop out" of the darkness. Not because they
are better at cold weather.

Don't know about lumens/watt but they are used because they are brighter
- more lumens/foot (may be what you meant).
I also thought they were better in cold temperatures because they run
hotter.

But its been a long time since I worked on signs.

bud--

Thanks for all the feedback fellows. You've provided me with a lot to
think about.

Handi

Is there a CF brand that is a whiter light but not so extreme as the
daylight ones which look blue to many people?

"Steve Kraus" wrote in message
ink.net...
Is there a CF brand that is a whiter light but not so extreme as the
daylight ones which look blue to many people?

Colors of CFL are becoming standardized. For home use, the standard color
is designed to be a close match to that of standard incandescent lamps. If
you buy a CFL in a retail outlet with the Energy Star symbol on it, you'll
get that color.

To get a "whiter" or "cooler" color, you'll likely have to get a
commercial/industrial CFL product. Look in the lamp catalogs or on CFL
packages for the CFL "Chromaticity" rating in "Kelvins". It works like
this:

2700 K = warm tone (like low-wattage incandescent)
3000 K = warm tone (like high-wattage or halogen incandescent)
3500 K = neutral white tone
4100 K = cool tone (similar to traditional cool white fluoresent)
5000 K and higher = very cool tone like daylight or blue sky

TKM