Fluorescent is related to the word fluorspar, or fluorite, which is a mineral that glows. Notice the -u- in these words. Fluorescent comes from the Latin fluere "to flow" — fluorspar can be added to welding compounds, for instance, to make them flow more easily.
Fluorescent lamps work by ionizing mercury vapor in a glass tube. This causes electrons in the gas to emit photons at UV frequencies. The UV light is converted into standard visible light using a phosphor coating on the inside of the tube.
Typical Average Rated Life for Various Types of Bulbs
| Incandescent | 750-2,000 hours |
|---|
| Fluorescent | 24,000-36,000 hours |
| HID | 10,000-24,000 hours |
| Compact Fluorescent |
| Plug-in | 10,000-20,000 hours |
1 : having or relating to fluorescence. 2 : bright and glowing as a result of fluorescence fluorescent inks broadly : very bright in color.
In a fluorescent lighting system, the ballast regulates the current to the lamps and provides sufficient voltage to start the lamps. Without a ballast to limit its current, a fluorescent lamp connected directly to a high voltage power source would rapidly and uncontrollably increase its current draw.
A fluorescent lamp consists of a glass tube filled with a mixture of argon and mercury vapour. Metal electrodes at each end are coated with an alkaline earth oxide that gives off electrons easily. When current flows through the gas between the electrodes, the gas is ionized and emits ultraviolet radiation.
LED tube lighting is the better choice because it lasts about 40,000 hours longer in testing, is more energy efficient, will save you more money, and will leave less impact on the environment.
If your fluorescent lighting is displaying any of the signs below, it could be a symptom of a bad ballast:
- Flickering.
- Buzzing.
- Delayed start.
- Low output.
- Inconsistent lighting levels.
- Switch to an electronic ballast, keep lamp.
- Switch to an electronic ballast, switch to a T8 fluorescent.
Often fluorescent lights will turn pink (caused by a loss of mercury) with black burns on the ends of the lamp as the light reaches its end of life. Replacing the light tube should fix this.
Mercury is used in a variety of light bulbs. Mercury is useful in lighting because it contributes to the bulbs' efficient operation and life expectancy. Fluorescent and other mercury-added bulbs are generally more energy efficient and last longer than incandescent and other equivalent forms of lighting.
The two most common types are 40-watt, 4-foot (1.2-meter) lamps, and 75-watt, 8-foot (2.4-meter) lamps. Now, tubular fluorescent technology has improved. New products such as T8 and T5 are much more energy efficiency than T12 (T12 – 57 lumens/watt; T8 – 92 lumens/watt; T5 – 103 lumens/watt).
Premature ballast failure is often caused by the surrounding environment. Heat and moisture are enemies #1 and #2 to your ballast. When it's too hot or too cold, the ballast can burn or fail to start your lamps at all. Heat combined with prolonged condensation inside an electronic ballast can cause corrosion.
Take lamps and tubes to a household hazardous waste collection center or event. Find where to recycle or dispose fluorescent lamps and tubes at Where Can I Recycle My?, or Earth 911, or call 800 CLEAN-UP (253-2687). Enter your zip code to find the nearest recycling center.
The amount of mercury in a fluorescent lamp varies from 3 to 46 mg, depending on lamp size and age. Newer lamps contain less mercury and the 3–4 mg versions are sold as low-mercury types. A typical 2006-era 4 ft (122 cm) T-12 fluorescent lamp (i.e. F34T12) contains about 5 milligrams of mercury.
Fluorescent lighting tubes are classified as hazardous waste due to their mercury content. They need to be disposed of correctly to make sure your business remains compliant. Our purpose-built facility is licensed to process over 40 million lamps, bulbs and fluorescent lighting tubes each year.
Recycling and Disposal of CFLs and Other Bulbs that Contain Mercury. EPA recommends that consumers take advantage of available local options for recycling CFLs, fluorescent bulbs and other bulbs that contain mercury, and all other household hazardous wastes, rather than disposing of them in regular household trash.
No, the amount of vapour exposure will not kill you, in 10 years. CFL bulbs have been around for about 30 years, Long fluorescent bulbs have been around for at least 90 or so. No one has been identified as having died , as a result of exposure to these tubes.
At air temperatures found in homes, mercury evaporates slowly. Outdoors, mercury vapors tend to go away quickly, but indoors (particularly with windows closed), mercury vapors will accumulate in the air. People can absorb metallic mercury into their bodies when they breathe the vapors.
