Lessons Learned – Phase 1
Suggestions for Improving Performance of R-CFLs in ICAT Fixtures
As part of the Phase 1 effort, a postmortem evaluation on 52 failed lamps was completed by a ballast expert to determine the mode of failure and identify opportunities for improvement, which included:
- Increase the filter capacitor size sufficiently such that Lamp Current Crest Factor (LCCF) will be reduced to 1.7 (a value that is generally accepted by the lamp industry).
- Check the high frequency circuit designs so that resonances at the operating high frequency do not produce voltages high enough to destroy components.
- Redesign the circuit so that the ballast will not burn up components at end of lamp life.