Letters
CFL competitors
I always look forward to receiving the new issue of your terrific newsletter. I would like to make a few comments regarding the article on CFL competitors in issue 3/4 -97. First, it should be pointed out that all compact and fluorescent linear lamps can be dimmed with standard magnetic ballasts (you stated that only special ballasts could be used for dimming). We have been offering dimming solutions for standard magnetic ballasts for some 15 years. Second, you state that metal-halide lamps are only dimmable in conjunction with Òhighly specialized ballasts that are not generally availableÓ. However, such lamps can be dimmed with standard reactor ignitor control gear. Although not all light source manufacturers support this approach, GE and Venture are among the companies that do. Both the standard and the white-SON type of high-pressure sodium (HPS) lamps are dimmable as well. Finally, I miss HPS lamps in your overview of CFL competitors..Tomas BŠnziger, Inelux, Staad, Switzerland
Reply: It is true that there are dimming technologies for both fluorescent technologies operated on conventional gear as well as for conventionally operated high-intensity discharge (HID) lamps. As we understand it, these dimming systems are generally practical and cost-effective in large installations with many lamps on a circuit, such as in industrial facilities and street lighting installations. IAEEL Newsletter will come back with a review of various technology options for dimming HID lamps. As for standard HPS lamps and CFLs, it is our judgement that these two lamp technologies only compete on the margin, and that they serve very different lighting needs.
IAEEL Newsletter 3-4/97,article. Editors