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Difference between revisions of "Philips Genie E-Saver"
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*Color rendering index Ra of 76 to 82 | *Color rendering index Ra of 76 to 82 | ||
*Typical lifetime of 6.000 hour | *Typical lifetime of 6.000 hour | ||
*Luminous efficacy of 47 to | *Luminous efficacy of 47 to 61 lumens/watt | ||
*Two colour designations (2700 and 6500 K colour temperature) | *Two colour designations (2700 and 6500 K colour temperature) | ||
*Universal operating position | *Universal operating position | ||
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== Durability and Repair-ability == | == Durability and Repair-ability == | ||
Due to their | Due to their construction, these lamps are not serviceable in the true sense. The lamp itself cannot be plugged in and out of the base, to allow simple replacements. While some board repairs can be done if the ballast experiences failure, the most likely cause is the lamp itself burning out, meaning that fillaments are so damaged that the lamp behaves erratically or does not work at all. The lamp's fillaments can be joined to allow forced lamp starting although success varies on the actual lamp condition. | ||
Philips Genie E-Saver lamps have some useful life left, especially as the starting method is quite harsh on electrodes if the lamp is frequently switched on and off. The lamp's ballast is quite difficult to access but considerably more durable than typical Chinese unbranded or no-name lamps. Operation in enclosed fixtures still is the biggest premature failure cause due to the high stress posed by high temperature operation, mainly in the case of the internal ballast components. | Philips Genie E-Saver lamps have some useful life left, especially as the starting method is quite harsh on electrodes if the lamp is frequently switched on and off. The lamp's ballast is quite difficult to access but considerably more durable than typical Chinese unbranded or no-name lamps. Operation in enclosed fixtures still is the biggest premature failure cause due to the high stress posed by high temperature operation, mainly in the case of the internal ballast components. | ||
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== Review == | == Review == | ||
Genie E-Saver lamps were very cheaply made incandescent replacement lamps. There was no real advantage to using such lamps over incandescent types other than lower energy consumption. Due to the lamp's mediocre build quality there were many issues with shorter than average lamp life, especially for lamps produced late in 2000s in China, when competition centered mostly on cost. While it is true that these lamps served their purpose, they were not appreciated as light quality was nowhere near the lamps they replaced while, relatively soon, LED lamps were available. | Genie E-Saver lamps were very cheaply made incandescent replacement lamps. There was no real advantage to using such lamps over incandescent types other than lower energy consumption. Due to the lamp's mediocre build quality there were many issues with shorter than average lamp life, especially for lamps produced late in 2000s in China, when competition centered mostly on cost. While it is true that these lamps served their purpose, they were not appreciated as light quality was nowhere near the lamps they replaced while, relatively soon, LED lamps were available. This product range was considered by users mostly an unwanted transition solution to the energy crisis of the 1970s. | ||
== Operation == | == Operation == | ||
The lamp's operation is straightforward, as no gear is required and the lamp can be directly plugged into the mains. On the other side, dimmer switches designed for classic incandescent lamps (almost all classic mains voltage dimmers operate as such) should be avoided as they cannot reliably operate the lamp and they increase the failure rate of it due to additional stress. Just as well, classic light switches with a neon probe lamp should not be used as their low leakage current through the lamp creates potential cycling of the lamp every few seconds. | The lamp's operation is straightforward, as no gear is required and the lamp can be directly plugged into the mains. On the other side, dimmer switches designed for classic incandescent lamps (almost all classic mains voltage dimmers operate as such) should be avoided as they cannot reliably operate the lamp and they increase the failure rate of it due to additional stress. Just as well, classic light switches with a neon probe lamp should not be used as their low leakage current through the lamp creates potential cycling of the lamp every few seconds. If many lamps are operated on a circuit, such as 10 or more higher powered ones, keep in mind that the circuit load or apparent power is much higher than what the sum of wattages might suggest, due to no power factor correction. This also means that lamps have some small radio interference since they are unshielded and not built to handle these emissions in any way. | ||
== Suitability == | == Suitability == | ||
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== History == | == History == | ||
Compact fluorescent lamps with integrated ballasts were designed as a more energy efficient product that replaced incandescent lamps. Although there was another competing technology in late 70s that could have prospects as energy saving lamps, the small metal hallide lamps, the flourescent lamp won in the end. Flicker, colour variations, slow start and especially long delays on the restart made low power metal hallide lamps as entirely unsuitable. Also, there was the issue of cost and tighter manufacturing tolerances that made metal hallide lamps very expensive compared with incandescent lamps. The research on compact fluorescent lamps was centered on miniaturization of the lamp and integrated ballast while keeping a reasonably moderate efficiency. Tubes could be made slimmer if the flourescent coating could operate at higher temperature and avoid absorbing mercury so development was not entirely straightforward. Development of more powerful green an blue phosphorus than the standard halophosphates was essential, while a good red phosphorusof Yttrium/Vanadium was already available from research on cathode ray tube high efficiency red emitting powders. In the end, cost was extremely important. | |||
While this lamp generally follows the typical progress of flourescent light sources, there is one major feature that was specific to this range. In late 1980s, a compact flourescent lamp was designed, the venerable SL. It was the first product to use a magnetic ballast and starter that were integrated into a rather bulky base. The lamp had a noticeable hum and flicker but it brought major advantages in terms of energy efficiency in replacing typical incandescent lamps. In the 1990s, compact lamps received an improved electronic ballast that improved lamp's efficiency and lifetime, with no visible flicker. This development lead to later mass market popularity of compact fluorescent lamps, as they were more compact and slightly more pleasant to use. Of course, there was also a downside. Philips noticed that lamp replacements at the end of their useful life was not popular due to the typical user mindset so Philips did not bother to create, from that point further, lamps that had separate bases and lamps, reducing user mistakes upon replacement. | While this lamp generally follows the typical progress of flourescent light sources, there is one major feature that was specific to this range. In late 1980s, a compact flourescent lamp was designed, the venerable SL. It was the first product to use a magnetic ballast and starter that were integrated into a rather bulky base. The lamp had a noticeable hum and flicker but it brought major advantages in terms of energy efficiency in replacing typical incandescent lamps. In the 1990s, compact lamps received an improved electronic ballast that improved lamp's efficiency and lifetime, with no visible flicker. This development lead to later mass market popularity of compact fluorescent lamps, as they were more compact and slightly more pleasant to use. Of course, there was also a downside. Philips noticed that lamp replacements at the end of their useful life was not popular due to the typical user mindset so Philips did not bother to create, from that point further, lamps that had separate bases and lamps, reducing user mistakes upon replacement. | ||
As all compact fluorescent lamps were ultimately an economy prospect to replace consumer's incandescent lamps, price was the most the important factor. This lamp's design was slightly changed over the years as tubes having a lower diameter were used and this brought a modest improvement in light maintenance, useful life and efficiency. | As all compact fluorescent lamps were ultimately an economy prospect to replace consumer's incandescent lamps, price was the most the important factor. This lamp's design was slightly changed over the years as tubes having a lower diameter were used and this brought a modest improvement in light maintenance, useful life and efficiency. The compact fluorescent lamp market was increasing up until the early 2000s, when most incandescent fixtures were replaced, and it slowly declined with the transition towards led lighting. The worldwide incandescent bulb ban had a major impact in increasing sales but in a slightly different way: users simply purchased lower quality bulbs or cheaper integrated compact flourescent lamps, meaning that there was little incentive in the design improvement except manufacturing cost savings. | ||
The compact fluorescent lamp market was increasing up until the early 2000s, when most incandescent fixtures were replaced, and it slowly declined with the transition towards led lighting. The worldwide incandescent bulb ban had a major impact in increasing sales but in a slightly different way: users simply purchased lower quality bulbs or cheaper integrated compact flourescent lamps, meaning that there was little incentive in the design improvement except manufacturing cost savings. | |||
== Manufacturing specificities == | == Manufacturing specificities == | ||