[Greenbuilding] compact fluorescent bulbs

[David Delaney]

At 10:01 AM 19/03/2007, Ted Inoue wrote:

>What appears to be the cause is the starter sequence of the ballast.
>"Instant-on" ballasts start the lamp with a very high starter voltage. This
>voltage strains the pre-heater element, leading to a diminished life.
>"Quick-on" ballasts use a somewhat lower starting voltage and damage the
>pre-heater less. "Programmed start" ballasts soften the start cycle even
>more and allow  20,000 hour life with shorter on-off cycles.

Are there any programmed start electronic ballasts? There 
don't seem to be for T8 tubes. There used to be, I have two 
of them in my kitchen (Phillips). They and others  
seem to have been removed from the market.  They take
1.5-2 seconds from operation of the switch to the advent of 
illumination, which even now, several years after 
installation,  can make me doubt sometimes that I have 
operated the right switch. This may be why they are no 
longer marketed. This might be even more of a problem for 
the smaller lighting area of a compact fluorescent. Or 
perhaps I'm wrong, and it's only in Ottawa that you can't get 
them.

David Delaney, Ottawa