Frequently Asked Questions



Lighting Events Lighting Terms Lighting FAQ's Lighting Associations

Incandescent & Halogen | Fluorescent | HID | Display/Optic & Specialty | Energy Savings

Lighting FAQ's provide answers to some of the frequently asked questions (FAQs) that relate to lamps and issues with which the lighting industry is concerned. Topics covered here are not specific to OSRAM SYLVANIA products, but rather are generic issues. In a few instances, reference may be made to particular SYLVANIA products for ease of explanation, but the response pertains to similar products regardless of manufacturer.

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Light & Color
	MacAdam Ellipses What are MacAdam Ellipses or color ovals? Lumens and Mesopic Vision How do lumens change in the area of mesopic vision? Perceived Changes Related to Fluorescent Retrofits What changes can I expect to notice when retrofitting T12 lamps with T8 lamps? Fading and Discoloration in Relation to Lighting How can controlling lighting limit the fading and discoloration of materials? Sources of Ultraviolet Blocking Materials Where can I get materials to block ultraviolet (UV) radiation? Color Codes How do I relate the European color designations to those used in North America? Dichroic Filters How do dichroic filters work? HMI Color Facts What are the color characteristics of OSRAM HMI lamps?
Health Issues
	Winter Blues or Cabin Fever How can I use lighting to help cure cabin fever? Neonatal Intensive Care Areas & Fluorescent Lighting Should I avoid using fluorescent lighting in neonatal care areas? Full-Spectrum Lighting What is full spectrum lighting and are there any related health benefits? Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) What is SAD and which lamps can be used to treat it? Fluorescent Lighting and Ultraviolet Does the ultraviolet output from fluorescent lighting present health risks?
Light Sources
- General Information
	Dimming of Lamps What is meant by "dimming" lamps? Mean Lumens for Various Lamp Types What are some mean lumen values for different lamp types?
- Incandescent & Halogen Lamps
	Temperature Concerns: Halogen Lamps Are halogen lamps hot enough to cause fires? Halogen Lamp Ultraviolet Output Do tungsten halogen lamps emit ultraviolet radiation? Performance of AR-Type Lamps What is the lumen output of AR70 and AR111 lamps? 250-Watt Infrared Heat Lamp Warnings What are the safety issues where heat or infrared lamps are concerned? Temperature of Heat Lamps Is there a difference in temperature between red and clear or inside frosted heat lamps?
- Fluorescent Lamp Systems
	Spectral Power Distributions of SYLVANIA Fluorescent Lamps Can you send me the SPDs of your most popular fluorescent lamps? Ballast-Lamp Technology Update What are the differences among fluorescent lamp starting & operating technologies? Cold Temperature Operation of Fluorescent Systems How do cold temperatures affect the performance of fluorescent lamps and ballasts? Compact Fluorescent Ballast Manufacturers Who makes ballasts for compact fluorescent lamps? Radioactive Materials in DULUX^Ž Lamps Are there radioactive materials in DULUX compact fluorescent lamps? UV Output of Linear Fluorescent Lamps Are there radioactive materials in DULUX compact fluorescent lamps?
- High Intensity Discharge (HID) Lamp Systems
	Mercury and Metal Halide Lamp Operation What happens when mercury lamps are operated on metal halide ballasts, and vice versa?
- Display/Optic and Other Specialty Lamp Types
	XBO^Ž Lamp Disposal How do I properly dispose of XBO lamps?
Lighting Equipment
	Power Factor What is power factor? Fluorescent Fixtures with Battery Back-up Systems Can I retrofit a battery back-up system with electronic ballasts?
Specialty Applications
	Light and Plants How does the light produced by different GRO-LUX^Ž lamps affect plant growth? Photosynthetically Active Radiation (PAR) Units How can I evaluate the effect of different light sources on plant growth? Color Change and Appearance of Meat Due To Lighting What color light source should I use to display meat?
Industry Contacts
	Lighting Industry Related Organizations How do I contact organizations related to the lighting industry? (ANSI, CBM, IESNA, UL, LRC)
Effects of Reduced Line Voltage
	Saving Energy Will I save energy if the line voltage to my lighting systems is reduced?

Incandescent & Halogen | Fluorescent | HID | Display/Optic & Specialty | Energy Savings

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