| 250-Watt T4 Quartz Halogen This omni-directional 120-volt halogen source Is used in a compact rectangular track flood/wall wash fixture with a diffuse reflector. It is most suitable for low to medium ceiling applications with shorter/ limited burning hours where initial cost is the primary concern and energy and operating costs are not considerations. Typical life is 2000 hours. Compact Fluorescent (CFL) A broad family of fluorescent lamps, characterized by multiple small-diameter fluorescent tubes integrated into a single-ended plug in base, CFLs are available in a wide variety of sizes, wattages and color temperatures with efficiencies approximately three times greater than halogen sources. Their distribution is characteristically diffuse, making them ideally suited for perimeter wall wash applications. CFL lamps require a ballast to start and regulate the current to the lamp. Typical life is 12,000 hours. T5HO Fluorescent This 6/8" diameter linear fluorescent lamp is the latest generation of fluorescent lamp technology. Owing to its small diameter, it has been referred to as a "linear point source," offering very good optical control from a single tube vs. the multiple tubes of CFLs. T/HOs produce very high light levels and excellent uniformity from fixtures that have a more compact profile than those using CFLs. T/HO lamps require a ballast to start and regulate the current to the lamp. Typical life is 16-20,000 hours. Ceramic Metal Halide ED17 A variety of CMH lamps have been integrated into spot, narrow flood and flood reflector optics. Compared to fluorescent sources, CMH lamps can be designed into smaller fixture housings and produce a more specular quality of light, resulting in more sparkle and highlights. Many have comparable efficiencies and lamp life versus T/HO and CFL sources when operated with recommended electronic ballasts. In combination with electronic ballasts that precisely regulate the current to the lamp, they offer consistent lamp-to-lamp color and excellent color stability over life. Typically available in 3000K and 4000K colors, CMH lamps are often preferred in side-by-side comparisons vs. halogen for their color rendering qualities that can reach CRIs near 90. CMH lamps require a couple of minutes to reach their full brightness and several minutes to restrike in the event of a power disruption, making them poor candidates for dimming and sensor controlled applications. ED17 lamps tend to be the most inexpensive and universally available CMH lamp choice; T6 lamps offer a smaller lamp envelope and a rigid bi-pin base, enabling smaller fixtures with better beam control and reliable lamp replacement; T4 lamps have the smallest lamp envelope, yielding the potential for the smallest fixture designs and best beam control. Typical life ranges from 6-10,000 hours for T4 lamps, 9-15,000 hours for T6 lamps and 15-20,000 hours for ED17 lamps. |