T12 and T5 Fluorescent Tubes:
T12 and T8 fluorescent lights are installed in most shops and offices etc around the country. You can directly replace a T12 tube with a T8 tube and acheive
roughly just under 10% energy saving. They both generally use magnetic ballasts. Together a standard T8 1200mm tube and ballast use between 44-46W, a T12 will use
about 48-50W
A standard T5 tubes uses 28W, whilst the FL MAXiLIGHT T5 uses just 22W, saving 50% of the power consumption compared to a T8. Even more when compared to T12 tubes. T5 tubes
cannot directly replace a T8 or T12 tubes because they are a different length and have different electrical characteristics. To use energy efficient T5 tubes you must either
replace the whole fitting (very expensive) or utilise a conversion unit (cost effective)
Power Usage Comaprison for 1200mm (4ft) Fluorescent Lights
T12 tube uses 48-50W Poor Power Consumption
T8 tube uses 44-46W Slightly Improved Power
Consumption 10% better than T12 tubes
T5 tube - others uses 28W Good Power
Consumption 41% better than T12 tubes
T5 FL MAXiLIGHT unit uses
22W Best Power Consumption 54% better than T12 tubes
FL MAXiLIGHT & T5 Tubes:
FL MAXiLIGHT is a complete fluorescent conversion system, for converting T12/T8 fittings to energy efficient T5's. It incorporates a T5 energy saving 22W
tube, an electronic ballast, an alloy reflector, and adapters, all assembled together to form a simple streamline unit. Check out its long list of benefits and features
here.
It is generally regarded that the T5 tubes are the industry standard for energy efficient fluorescent lighting. FL MAXiLIGHT units
go beyond the industry standard with further efficiencies built into the unit. These additional energy savings & efficiencies are what makes FL MAXiLIGHT the leader in its
field.
Phase Out Of Inefficient Light Bulbs:
Working with its state and territory counterparts, the Australian Government will gradually phase out all inefficient light bulbs and is aiming for full enforcement of new
lighting standards legislation by 2010. The old T12 fluorescent tube is also naturally being phased out, because they are so easily recognised as being inefficient. A T8 tube is
slightly more efficient and will fit into the T12 fitting without modification. However, the modern efficient type of linear fluorescent tube is known as a T5 tube.
Upgrading lighting is usually the most cost effective way of saving energy and of achieving a fast return on investment.
The FL MAXiLIGHT T8 to T5 converter is the simplest and most cost effective method of upgrading to T5 lighting.
LIGHTING AUDIT
(Free)
If you would like to perform your own workplace lighting audit, click on the button below. A free Lighting Audit Workbook will be downloaded from
Maxi Solutions Australia. You can go through the steps of the audit and see where your organisation may be able to save energy, not just with FL MAXiLIGHT, but by other methods
also.
CURRENT LIGHTING ENERGY EFFICIENCY METHODS
Fluorescent tubes:
Fluorescent tubes are the most common type of lighting found in office buildings and worksites. It costs $58.97 to run a single T8 fluorescent tube for 24 hours a
day for one year at the average price of $0.15 kWh.
The main methods for saving energy with fluorescent fittings are:
1. Reduce light levels where these exceed the requirements of the relevant standard. 2. Turn the lamps off when not needed. 3. Replace the old tubes with FL MAXiLIGHT T8 to T5 Converters. 4. Replace the fittings to improve efficiency. 5. Add in control systems to automatically turn off lights, on the basis of daylight levels or occupancy.
All fluorescent luminaires use fluorescent lamps. The lamp contains mercury vapour that is excited to produce UV light when a current flows in the lamp. The UV light strikes
white powder coating on the inside of the lamp wall, called phosphor, which re-emits visible light. The lamp current is controlled by a ballast which also provides the right
conditions to start the lamp. The most common circuit, which is called 'switch start', uses a small plastic cylinder which causes the flicking observed when the lamp starts. As
well as the lamp the ballast also consumes energy, with a standard ballast for a 36 W lamp consuming a further 9W or 25% of the energy utilised in running the light.
The FL MAXiLIGHT converts the T12/T8 fitting to use energy efficient T5 tubes, without the expense & disruption of removing the old fittings.
Power factor
The power the utility delivers is called apparent power. It is the vector sum of two components: active power (which does all the work in electrical devices) and reactive power
(which does no work). The ratio of active power to apparent power is called the power factor.
FL MAXILIGHT T8 to T5 converters have a power factor of 0.96 compared to existing T8 tubes with 0.5. Power factors below 0.6 are generally considered poor, while values above
0.9 are very good. For large installations, this makes the provision of electrical power more expensive as special measures need to be taken to bring the power factor closer to
unity (1.0).
Power harmonics
Fluorescent lamps are a non-linear load and generate harmonics on the 50 Hz or 60 Hz sinusoidal waveform of electrical power supply. This can generate radio frequency noise in
some cases that distort the magnitude and wave shape of the current and voltage supply. Harmonics can cause a range of minor to major problems with power-systems equipment
and connected devices. These include over-heated capacitors, electric motors, and transformers; malfunction of computers and other electronic equipment; and interference on
communication lines. Suppression of generation of harmonics is standard practice, but imperfect. Very good suppression is possible, but adds to the cost of the fluorescent
fixtures. The FL MAXiLIGHT has naturally very low harmonic distortion.
Audible Noise
Audible noise from a fluorescent light is likely due to a loose or faulty ballast. The ballast is an electrical device inside the lighting fixture that supplies the proper
starting and operating power to the lamp. Noise can also be an indication that the ballast is about to fail. Ballasts normally last 10-20 years, but often become noisy just
before they fail.
Electronic ballasts are inherently much quieter than older electromagnetic designs.
Figure 1: Diagrammatic representation of a switch start fluorescent tube circuit.
As fluorescent technology has advanced, the lamps have become smaller in diameter. The 38 mm lamp (known as a T12 lamp) was superseded in 1981 by the 26 mm lamp (known as a T8
lamp), which required 10% less power to produce the same light output. Phosphors have also improved, with the latest version of the triphosphor lamp producing 50% more light at
the end of its life than the cool white monophosphor lamp it replaced. The light is also of considerably better quality.
Most recently, new buildings are installing 16mm lamps (T5) which provide even greater energy efficiency of up to 40% and run exclusively on electronic ballasts.
Standard T5 lamps are not interchangeable with 38mm (T12) and 26mm (T8) lamps, so their use in retrofit applications is limited. However the FL MAXILIGHT T8 to T5 Converter
comes with an adapter with built-in reflector suitable for universal fitting on old exiting T12 and T8 fittings.
Exciting News Update: The new GOLD tube is now
available.
Contact us for a demonstration now by calling 03
9706 5340 or send an email to info@maxisolutions.com.au
True or False? Fluorescent lamps use so much energy on start-up that they
shouldn't be turned off.
A: False. The energy used to start-up a fluorescent lamp is actually quite small, and certainly no justification
for leaving the lights on. Indeed the main reason for not turning fluorescent lights on and off the same way you would a normal light bulb is lamp life. The life-span of a
fluorescent lamp is affected by the number of times it is switched on and off. Thus a frequently switched tube will fail sooner than one that is switched rarely. However, lamps
are cheap and the energy use of a tube during its lifetime is well over ten times its purchase cost. Taking all of these factors into account, you should turn off fluorescent
lamps if you don't need them for 10 minutes or more.
REGISTERED TRADEMARK
are a T5 Photoelectric-Integrative & Energy
Saving fluorescent tube lamp that can take the place of T8 tube fluorescent lamp (inductive electronic type). The products are highly energy efficient products with an energy
saving rating of up to 50% compared to standard fluorescent T8 tubes.
Distinctive Features of FL MAXiLIGHT:
1. High power factor 0.96 compared to existing T8 tube (0.5) with small harmonic content
2. Brightness is improved by up to 29% , the luminous efficacy is up to 300Lm/w stronger
3. Consumes 50% less power
4. Longer lamp life, up to 20,000 hours, lamp life are 2-3 times as much as T8 tubes (T8 have 8,000 hours max lamp life)
5. Designed to retrofit into existing fluorescent systems resulting in greater savings
6. Compatible with existing T8 & T12 fluorescent lamp fittings
7. Slow deterioration and extremely low noise
8. One time quick start and flicker free
9. Be able to start and work stably in a wide voltage range (AC150V-265V, 56-60Hz)
10. Operation temperature: -15°C to ~55°C
11. No starter required for operation (adding to further cost savings)
12. Easy installation: Simply remove existing T8 fluorescent tube and starter and replace with FL MAXiLIGHT T5. No need to change existing lamp fixtures.
1. Universal fitting
2. Up to 86% more brightness when installed with existing T8 fluorescent tubes
3. Corrosion resistant
4. Effectively needing less fluorescent tubes (potentially reducing 50% power consumption)
5. Easy installation: Simply mount the clips provided to each end of the reflector then clip reflector to T8 fluorescent tube.
6. Heat Resistant Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene (ABS)
7. Withstanding temperature: −25°c to 60°c
8. Manufactured from recyclable material
PRODUCT COMPARISON CHART:
The following chart illustrates a direct comparison between Standard T8 Fluorescent lamps versus the key benefits of MAXILIGHT Savers T5.
*Rating based on economical and
environmental savings and benefits of each individual unit. Electricity cost is calculated at 16c per KW/Hr. Brightness is compared in lumens. All tests conducted the same
method under normal office lighting conditions. Results are approximate indication only. Actual figures may vary according to environment conditions, power supply and other
external factors that could influence the results.
MULTI APPLICATIONS:
FL MAXILIGHT SAVERS T5 and MAXILIGHT REFLECTORS can be used for any indoor lighting applications in: offices, schools, hospitals, library, commercial buildings, restaurants,
marketplace, supermarkets, airport, warehouses, shops, churches, homes, hotels, etc.
are a T5 Photoelectric-Integrative & Energy
Saving fluorescent tube lamp that can take the place of T8 tube fluorescent lamp (inductive electronic type). The products are highly energy efficient products with an energy
saving rating of up to 50% compared to standard fluorescent T8 tubes.
1. Universal fitting
