Re-Lamping and Attention to Detail
Re-Lamping and Attention to Detail
When it comes time to re-lamp, it is important to understand that if you want the same or equal performance as the original installation, you must re-install the same type of lamp. If you had previously used the high-lumen / high-performance lamp, (800 XPS series) there will be somewhere between 8-10% lumen depreciation at end of life (not counting lamp outages).
If you re-lamp with the less expensive 700 series lamp, you’ll end up with lower lighting levels than you had prior to the re-lamp. Remember, a standard 700 series starts out with 15% less lumens as compared to an 800 series lamp. This means the chances are good that you may end up with a 5% decrease in lighting levels and still not save any energy. We’ve heard several customers and specification technicians suggest standardizing on lamps for their facilities. They’ve chosen T8 lamps over T5-HO solely on the basis that T8 lamps are presently being used in the office areas or elsewhere in the facility.
Frequently we find that the less expensive T8 lamps are being used because the purchasing department has a pre-arranged buying agreement or there is no apparent need for the additional lumen output (as well as the cost involved) delivered from high-performance lamps.
If you had previously used the high-lumen / high-performance lamp (800 XPS series) there will be somewhere between 8-10% lumen depreciation at end of life (not counting lamp outages). If you re-lamp with the less expensive 700 series lamp, you’ll end up with lower lighting levels than you had prior to the re-lamp.
Remember, a standard 700 series starts out with 15% less lumens as compared to an 800 series lamp. This means the chances are good that you may end up with a 5% decrease in lighting levels and still not save any energy.
Another general rule of thumb is a 4-lamp T5-HO fixture will replace a standard 400-watt metal halide or high-pressure sodium fixture, while you will need six T8 lamps in the proper fixture to achieve the same results. Certainly, the T8 lamp with its various ballast types (ballast factors) will offer more options to finely tune the lighting levels along with desired savings. When the time comes to make your decision, ask around to find out what others are doing and how well it has worked for them. If there is still any doubt, ask for a demonstration or some sample fixtures that you can install. Even with exhaustive research and calculation, there is nothing as convincing as actually seeing a fixture installed and performing.
When it comes time to re-lamp, it is important to understand that if you want the same or equal performance as the original installation, you must re-install the same type of lamp. If you had previously used the high-lumen / high-performance lamp, (800 XPS series) there will be somewhere between 8-10% lumen depreciation at end of life (not counting lamp outages).
If you re-lamp with the less expensive 700 series lamp, you’ll end up with lower lighting levels than you had prior to the re-lamp. Remember, a standard 700 series starts out with 15% less lumens as compared to an 800 series lamp. This means the chances are good that you may end up with a 5% decrease in lighting levels and still not save any energy. We’ve heard several customers and specification technicians suggest standardizing on lamps for their facilities. They’ve chosen T8 lamps over T5-HO solely on the basis that T8 lamps are presently being used in the office areas or elsewhere in the facility.
Frequently we find that the less expensive T8 lamps are being used because the purchasing department has a pre-arranged buying agreement or there is no apparent need for the additional lumen output (as well as the cost involved) delivered from high-performance lamps.
If you had previously used the high-lumen / high-performance lamp (800 XPS series) there will be somewhere between 8-10% lumen depreciation at end of life (not counting lamp outages). If you re-lamp with the less expensive 700 series lamp, you’ll end up with lower lighting levels than you had prior to the re-lamp.
Remember, a standard 700 series starts out with 15% less lumens as compared to an 800 series lamp. This means the chances are good that you may end up with a 5% decrease in lighting levels and still not save any energy.
Another general rule of thumb is a 4-lamp T5-HO fixture will replace a standard 400-watt metal halide or high-pressure sodium fixture, while you will need six T8 lamps in the proper fixture to achieve the same results. Certainly, the T8 lamp with its various ballast types (ballast factors) will offer more options to finely tune the lighting levels along with desired savings. When the time comes to make your decision, ask around to find out what others are doing and how well it has worked for them. If there is still any doubt, ask for a demonstration or some sample fixtures that you can install. Even with exhaustive research and calculation, there is nothing as convincing as actually seeing a fixture installed and performing.
