| Q.1: What
does retro-fitting mean?
A.1 : Retro-fitting
means installing Energy Saving (Energy Efficient) lighting products
without any modification on the existing fittings. The retrofit
concept is to minimize the costs faced by users to achieve energy
efficiency.
Q.2 : What does adapT5 stand for?
A.2 : adapT5 is the
product name of the energy saving tube light adapters which Green
Britain distributes in Europe. adapT5 has been designed on the concept
of retro-fitting existing fittings, adapting them to use and benefit
from T5 technology..
Q.3 : What are the main highlights of
the adapT5 adapter?
A.3 : Conventional
T8 tubes consume 36 / 58 Watt, but the magnetic ballast has an additional
power loss of about 7 / 14 Watt, hence total system consumption
is around 43 / 72 Watt. The system power consumption of the adapT5
adapter is only 31 / 40 Watt including the losses of the magnetic
ballast, which can remain inside the fitting.
Q.4 : It is mentioned that adapT5 consumes
less wattage i.e. 31 Watt, does this mean that the light output will
also be less?
A.4 : Even at a consumption
of 31 W , the light output of the adapT5 system is comparable to
the conventional T8 tube lights. The light output can be measured
using a lux meter.
Q.5: All
energy saving products available in the market are very expensive.
Is it the same case with the adapT5 adapter?
A.5 : adapT5 can
offer an average energy saving of approx. 40%. The average return
of investment therefore is around 2 years
Q.6: The savings sound too good to be
true. How can the user have such big savings?
A.6 : The additional
power losses of T8 and T12 magnetic ballasts are around 20 to 25%,
whereby the power losses of the AdapT5 adapters including the remaining
magnetic yoke are only around 13%. Furthermore the tube wattages
of T8 / T12 are much higher than the tube wattages of T5 tubes.
Both together will usually give the user savings of around 40% compared
to T8 and T12 fittings with magnetic ballasts.
Q.7: Why can the user not install T5
fluorescent tubes in existing T8 fittings?
A.7 : The T5 fluorescent
tube is a different fluorescent tube. It is shorter in length than
standard T8 tubes. The tube requires an electronic ballast with
pre-heat function to start and to operate it. The adapT5 adapter
is designed in such a way that it overcomes the problem of different
length, different pin distance and the requirements of an electronic
ballast.
Q.8: Why should one use electronic ballasts?
What's wrong with the existing magnetic ballasts?
A.8 : As mentioned
earlier, adapT5 does not usually (though it can) replace the existing
ballast. For ease of installation adapT5 is using the existing magnetic
ballast in combination with its own electronic ballast.
Q.9: Can the AdapT5 adapter be used
if there is already an electronic ballast installed in the fitting?
A.9 : Yes, AdapT5
can still give up to 25% saving compared to the T8 electronic ballast.
The existing electronic ballast needs to be disconnected and an
adapT5E unit has to be installed instead.
Q.10: It is known as a fact that electronic
ballasts operate on a high frequency (40,000 Hz) and sometimes this
creates problems with harmonics in computerized environment. How can
the user be sure, that the adapT5 ballast will not interfere with
other electronic equipment?
A. 10 : The adapT5
adapter has been tested and certified complying with European norms
required such as EN 60598-2-1.89 and EN 60598-1.00.
Q.11: How does the AdapT5 adapter react
to high voltage fluctuations?
A.11 : adapT5 has
been designed taking voltage fluctuation into consideration. The
electronic ballast can withstand fluctuation in the range of 160
-260 Volt.
Q.12: What is the average life time
of the adapT5 adapter and the T5 tube?
A.12 : The life time
of T5 tubes is around 20,000 hours and the life time of the built-in
ballast is around 50,000 hours.
Q.13: What is the difference in light output
over the life time between T5 and T8 fluorescent tubes?
A.13 : TheT5 tubes
are designed to last for a longer period of around 20,000 hours.
The depreciation of lumen output is only around 10% after 10,000
hrs. compared to 35-40% for standard T8 tubes. This reduces the
service and maintenance costs and will give the user additional
savings.
Q.14: What does better quality of
light mean?
A.14 : The colour
rendering index ( CRI ) of T5 tubes is 85. CRI translated in common
language means that T5 tubes are 85% close to natural sun light.
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