The operating principle of energy-saving lamps. How does a modern energy-saving lamp work?

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According to the principle of operation, an energy-saving lamp (ESL) is similar to a lamp with a conventional fluorescent lamp. Like a lamp, a saving lamp consists of a ballast and a fluorescent lamp (bulb). The main difference between an ESL and a conventional fluorescent lamp is that the ESL has a built-in electronic ballast.

The flask shape can be various shapes(U-shaped, spiral, etc.). The walls of the flask are coated on the inside with a phosphor, and two spirals are sealed at the ends of the tube. When heated, the spirals provide the emission of electrons on their surface. Under the influence of high voltage applied between the spirals, a glow discharge in mercury vapor occurs in the flask. In this case, mercury atoms emit ultraviolet radiation. Under the influence of UV, the phosphor on the walls of the bulb emits visible light (luminescence). The color of the lamp depends on the chemical composition of the phosphor.

Figure 1 - Uniel energy saving lamp (32 W).

In most cases, to open the case, you need to carefully pry out the junction of the two parts of the case with a screwdriver or knife, while being careful not to damage the board and the flask. After opening, unwind the exposed copper wires of the bulb from the pins on the board. After which you can measure the resistance of the spirals, which should be approximately 8-10 Ohms in a cold state. If one of the spirals is broken, the flask should be replaced. If there is no other flask, then you can short-circuit the pins on the board to which this spiral was connected. If the seal of the flask is broken, it cannot be repaired. If the spirals are intact, then the cause of the malfunction is most likely in the ballast board. You can take the board from another lamp, or you can try to repair it.

The circuit of the 32-Watt Uniel ESL-S12-32 lamp is copied from the board and shown in Figure 2.

Figure 2 - Scheme of the Uniel energy-saving lamp

The circuit operates on the principle of a self-oscillator. Positive feedback is organized by a transformer (it is not indicated on the board) on a ferrite ring with three “colored” windings. The generator operates at the resonant frequency of the circuit formed by capacitors C4, C5, and the inductances of the resonant choke and transformer feedback. The current in this circuit maintains the heating of the coils, and the voltage removed from capacitor C5 maintains the glow discharge in the lamp.
Most ESLs operate on this principle and their board circuits are similar to each other. Depending on the lamp power, the nominal values of the elements and the sizes of the boards vary. Lower wattage lamps may lack some safety circuits. Figure 3 shows the board of the ESL electronic ballast.

Figure 3 - Uniel energy saving lamp board

In practice, most frequent malfunctions are breakdowns of transistors K1/K2. In this case, the fuse blows, resistors R5/R6 break, and sometimes the resistors in the base circuits R3/R4 break. Swollen C2 electrolytes are common, and the lamp may work but flicker and glow a little dimmer. If you hear a squeak or ringing noise when starting up and the lamp does not light up, it may be a break in one of the control windings of the OS transformer, or one of the resistors in the bases. If the keys break down, it is possible that the DB3 dinistor will be broken, but there will be no generation.

Board repair usually consists of the following:

if one or two transistors break down, replace both with similar ones;
if resistors R5/R6 break, replace them with similar ones, or replace them with jumpers;
in case of breaks in resistors R3/R4 in the bases, replace them with resistors of the same ratings;
replace the fuse with a similar one;
if the C2 electrolyte is swollen, replace it with a similar one designed for a voltage of 400V;
if the DB3 dinistor is broken, you should replace it with an appropriate one.

Despite the fact that one lamp was considered, the repair technique is applicable to most energy-saving lamps (unless, of course, they are LED), since their operating principle is the same.
At the time of writing, all lamps (about 8 pieces) of the type considered have been working for more than a year without any problems after repair.

In the context of the ever-increasing price of electricity, we strive to save money and at the same time use normal lighting that does not hurt the eyes, is bright enough and does not cause irritation. This is why energy efficient devices are the most optimal solution for those who want to use high-quality light sparingly. From this material you will learn which lamps are the most energy-saving, what types this moment exist, the better this or that type is and whether their cost is really fully recouped.

Energy saving lamps: which ones are better

To understand which lamps are the most energy-saving, let’s compare them with the usual incandescent light bulbs that are already familiar to us all, or, as they were also called, “Ilyich light bulbs.” By purchasing one such device, in just a month you will understand how profitable it is, how pleasing to the eye and how economical it is. Compared to a conventional incandescent lamp they:

They consume less energy but give the same light output. That is, the efficiency is of this device much higher. Unlike an incandescent light bulb, which produces an efficiency of no more than 18–20%, such a product achieves maximum performance of no less than 70–80%. Speaking more in simple language, out of every hundred watts, an ordinary lamp, working at full power and heating the spiral, produces only eighteen to twenty percent of the light.
They last longer and have a longer warranty period. Any store that sells energy-saving light bulbs will provide you with a guarantee for a certain service life. In some varieties it can be about twenty years. Considering how often ordinary lamps burn out, this is very beneficial, because you can always replace a burnt-out energy-saving device under warranty.
Quite safe. All energy-saving lamps (except the halogen type) do not have direct contact connections, while the Ilyich light bulb has all contacts connected by a spiral. Therefore, in this case, a short circuit is practically impossible.
They do not carry such a load on the general apartment network as conventional ones. This is also one of the safety indicators; thanks to the non-overloaded network, other household appliances will not be affected.

To understand which products are better, it is worth considering the standard comparison table for energy-saving lamps. It compares light bulbs in terms of heating, power, anti-vandalism, luminous flux, service life and economic benefits. A comparison of energy-saving lamps with conventional lamps clearly speaks in favor of the former. And if you overpay when purchasing, you definitely save when using it.

If we consider all these devices regarding their effect on human vision, energy-saving lamps, incandescent lamps, daylight, then they all flicker with a certain periodicity during their operation. This is due to the way the electron pulse passes through them. This is not noticeable to the naked eye, but when detailed study scientists have discovered that:

The cold spectrum affects vision more than usual and because of this, the retina is destroyed.
Brightness and increased flicker in fluorescent lamps affect the brain and the stability of the nerve ganglia. People who work in an office with such lighting are 30 times more likely to seek help from psychoanalysts.
According to the latest data from ophthalmologists, the optimal brightness is considered to be 2700–3100 K. This is good for both the living room and the children's room. Therefore, when choosing a light bulb, take this into account.
If the lamp is located opposite the mirror, it affects vision an order of magnitude higher. It is best to install energy-saving light bulbs near mirror surfaces and glass doors. By paying attention to your appearance, putting yourself in order before going out to the store or for a walk, your eyes and brain will not be so tired.

When comparing economical light bulbs with each other, it is worth paying attention Special attention heating. Your LED device will hardly heat up, the luminescent one will become warm, and you can even burn your fingers on the halogen one. By warranty period Their service life is also very different from each other, and if the halogen one will work for 2000 hours, then the LED one is ready to provide its factory warranty for at least 50 thousand hours.

If we talk in more detail about what they are and what they are, then let's move on to the next point of our material.

What types of energy-saving lamps are there?

By definition, an energy efficient lamp is special device for uniform light distribution, powered by mains power. Compared to its analogues, this product has an increased level of light output and significantly saves electricity.

Such economical devices are linear (LL) and compact (CFL). They all contain mercury and LED substances. A common feature linear and compact fluorescent lamps can be considered tangible consumption savings electrical energy. And at the same time, they fill the space with much more light than conventional incandescent lamps. The latter are gradually going out of use, since many countries of the world are Lately set the course for operating energy-efficient devices due to their overall safety and cost-effectiveness.

Which lamps are energy-saving?

Energy-saving fluorescent lamps include compact and linear lamps, which differ from each other in technical indicators and functions. Let's take a closer look at them to understand which energy-saving lamps are better for the home:

CFL (compact fluorescent lamps) It is characterized by an arched shape, which allows it to be placed in small lamps. They are almost always used at home, being an optimal replacement for conventional incandescent lamps. They are often included in the package of non-standard lighting fixtures. Such a light bulb contains inert gases (argon and neon, known to many), as well as mercury vapor. The outer casing is finished with phosphor. Due to the collision of electrons with mercury components, externally imperceptible UV radiation is released, which turns into scattered light (this is facilitated by the phosphor coating). Compact lamps consist of three parts: a base for connecting to the electrical network, an electronic control device for igniting and maintaining the light bulb. It makes the transition from a 220 W power supply to what is required for stable operation lamps without blinking. The third component of the device are flasks, which are outer shell lamps. Due to the differences in these elements, the type of CFL is also determined: for example, by the color of the radiation, the features of the base (there are 2D categories, often installed in shower stalls, E27 - for a regular cartridge, E14 - for a smaller cartridge, E40 - for a large cartridge).
Linear fluorescent lamps (LFL) They can be circular, straight, or a specific U-variation. Straight-line devices have the shape of long glass tubes, at the ends of which there are glass legs, where, in turn, electrodes are fixed. There is a phosphor coating on the inner surface of the lamp, and the tube cavity itself is filled with inert gases and mercury. The safety of people from the harmful evaporation of mercury is guaranteed by hermetically sealing the lamp. Linear lamps differ in terms of the diameter and length of the tube, and the width of the base element. As a rule, the larger the dimensions of the LL, the greater the electricity consumption. Often, such luminaires are used in manufacturing plants and enterprises, in offices and places of public importance. Compact fluorescent lamps have become most popular among consumers, and their linear alternative is slowly going out of production.

Proven benefits of energy efficient lamps

Summarizing all of the above, I would like to emphasize that the use of energy-saving lighting devices in everyday life or at work has many advantages, among which the following are especially noticeable:

According to manufacturers of lighting devices, the use of energy-saving lamps can reduce electricity costs by up to 80%. The luminous flux of these devices is much higher than that of conventional incandescent lamps.
Energy efficient lamps have long term service. This is more than 10 times longer than ordinary light bulbs last. So long time work is also a big plus for placing energy-saving lamps in places where frequent changes of light bulbs are very difficult (on high ceilings, between flights of stairs, etc.).
Produce less heat compared to conventional lamps. Due to this, it is advisable to install small CFLs with a high power rating, especially in complex designs: sconces, chandeliers and twisted forms of lamps. Economical lamps will not melt the wires and plastic elements of the socket, which sometimes happens when using ordinary lamps.
The light from energy-saving lamps is much healthier for vision because it is distributed evenly. A uniform glow is obtained due to the design of the lamp: the area of their body is larger than that of the spiral of conventional light bulbs.
A choice of different color temperatures is possible. Lamps give 2700K White color, 6400K - cold white, 4200K - daylight. The specified data is measured on the Kelvin scale.

When choosing an energy-saving light bulb, you need to not only look at all the indicators and price, but also pay attention to the manufacturer, how reliably the base is made and the quality of the glass in the product. Only if you are satisfied with the whole set of factors, the product is worth buying. Otherwise, you may well be uncomfortable with such lighting; the lamp may quickly fail and cause short circuit throughout the entire apartment or may not be as economical as you would like.

For more information about choosing energy-saving lamps, watch the video:

In this article: the history of the creation of the compact fluorescent lamp; its structure and principle of operation; the spectrum of an energy-saving lamp depends on the composition of the phosphor; pros and cons of energy-saving fluorescent lamps; how to choose an energy-saving lamp.

The ban on the sale and production in Russia of the usual incandescent lamps has given rise to a number of persistent rumors around energy-saving lamps. For the average consumer, like you and me, the main task of lighting devices was and remains the quality of lighting itself. And, of course, you don’t want to incur extra costs for purchasing these “newfangled” lamps, because they cost much more than “Ilyich’s lamps.” Let's look at the characteristics of energy-saving lamps in this article.

History of creation

Officially, the first luminescent or, as it is also called, fluorescent lamp was created at the beginning of the last century by American engineer-inventor Peter Cooper Hewitt, who received a patent for it on September 17, 1901. Although some researchers dispute his primacy in the invention, calling the “father” of the fluorescent lamp the little-known German physicist Martin Arons, who experimented with mercury lamps at the end of the 19th century.

The fluorescent lamp invented and patented by Hewitt contained mercury, the vapor of which was heated by an electric current passed through it. The Hewitt lamp was spherical and slightly curved; it gave more light than the Lodygin-Edison lamps, but this light was bluish-green, unpleasant to the eye. For this reason, the first mercury lamps were used only by photographers and they were not widely used.

Peter Cooper Hewitt. 1861-1921

Fluorescent lamp in its almost modern form was created by a group of German inventors led by Edmund Germer, who patented their invention on December 10, 1926. It was Germer who came up with the idea of applying a fluorescent coating to the glass surface of the lamp from the inside, which converted the ultraviolet glow of a mercury lamp into white light that did not hurt the eyes. Albert Hull, an engineer at General Electric, had developed a fluorescent lamp with a similar coating by early 1927, but the company was forced to purchase the patent from Edmund Germer, who had filed it earlier.

Since the acquisition of Germer's patent, General Electric engineers have actively begun to improve fluorescent lamps, trying to bring them to serial production. To reduce the size of the bulb, round and U-shaped lamps were created, demonstrated at the GE stand at the 1939 New York World's Fair; lamps with a compact spiral bulb were developed by General Electric engineer Edward Hammer in 1976. However, spiral-shaped fluorescent lamps were never put into production in the 80s, because company executives considered the costs of building new factories excessive. In 1995, General Electric took advantage of its slowness Chinese manufacturers, launching the production of energy-saving lamps with spiral bulbs.

Edward Hammer with his invention - a lamp with a compact spiral bulb

The screw-in lamp with magnetic ballast (SL) was created by Philips in 1980 - it was the first fluorescent lamp of its kind to compete with incandescent lamps. An energy-saving lamp with an electronic ballast (CFL) was first demonstrated by the German concern Osram in 1985.

The main structural elements of a fluorescent lamp are the bulb, electronic ballast and base. The socket with a thread for screwing into the lamp socket and with contacts for powering it is practically no different from the socket of a conventional incandescent lamp.

The curved bulb of a fluorescent lamp is covered with layers of phosphor, filled with an inert gas and, in small quantities, mercury vapor - their ionization causes the lamp to glow when the power is connected. The mercury content in fluorescent lamps ranges from 1 to 70 mg. Inside the flask are tungsten electrodes coated with a mixture of oxides of barium, calcium, zinc and strontium. The phosphor applied to the inner surface of the glass bulb in compact fluorescent lamps contains alkaline earth metals and is therefore 40% more expensive than the phosphors used in oblong fluorescent lamps for ceiling luminaires. Alkaline earth metals in the phosphor composition compact lamps ensure operation at high radiation intensity, thanks to them it became possible to reduce the diameter of the lamp bulb. The bizarrely curved shape of the bulb in fluorescent lamps makes it possible to reduce its length by dividing it into several short sections that communicate with each other.

The lamps themselves, coated with phosphor and containing mercury vapor, will not work when the power is connected - a ballast starter is required, built into the lamp between the base and the bulb. By drawing a high frequency current of approximately 50 kHz, the electronic ballast (CFL) eliminates the flickering effect of energy-saving lamps while increasing light output. The electronic ballast increases the high-frequency current for itself - it contains an inverter in its circuit. The ballast’s tasks also include heating the electrodes and maintaining the power of the fluorescent lamp at the nominal level, regardless of voltage drops in the network. The service life of an energy-saving lamp depends on how well the electronic ballast is made.

How does a fluorescent lamp work? The supply of power causes a discharge between the electrodes, the current passes through a mixture of inert gas and mercury vapor, fast electrons collide with slow mercury atoms - the lamp lights up. However, 98% of the light radiation produced by an energy-saving lamp is ultraviolet, invisible to human vision. And the visible light coming from it is provided by phosphor layers that glow under the influence of ultraviolet radiation. The color of the light produced by fluorescent lamps depends on the chemical composition of the phosphor applied to the inside of the glass bulb.

Dependence of the visible spectrum of a fluorescent lamp on the phosphor

The light generated by cheap energy-saving lamps is most often unpleasant to the eye - its spectrum is dominated by blue and yellow colors, as a result, the color of objects in the illuminated room is unnatural. The reasons lie in the type of phosphor containing inexpensive calcium halophosphate. Such lamps, having a high luminous efficiency, are intended for lighting non-residential premises (warehouses, etc.) - they externally produce white light, but its reflection from objects reveals an incomplete spectrum (the absence of red and green colors).

Energy-saving lamps for home lighting have a higher price because... The phosphor in them creates 3-5 color stripes (for example, red, green and blue) from the spectrum visible to the human eye and imitates the effect of natural light, but reduces light output.

It’s worth mentioning right away that the positive characteristics given below depend on the manufacturer of the lamp - his desire to save on raw materials and components seriously reduces the quality and service life of fluorescent lamps.

pros energy saving lamps:

significantly lower, compared to incandescent lamps, energy consumption with greater light output. If a 100 W incandescent lamp has a light output of 100-150 lumens, then the light output of a 20 W fluorescent lamp will be 1,100-2,000 lumens - the difference is obvious. The low power consumption of energy-saving lamps, among other things, significantly reduces the load on electrical wiring;
significant service life, 8-10 times longer than the service life of incandescent lamps. When operating on average 2.5-3 hours a day, a fluorescent lamp will illuminate the room for 8,000-11,000 hours and will last for several years (depending on the model and manufacturer), approximately 6-8 times longer than a regular “Ilyich lamp”;
during the entire period of operation, the intensity of illumination with compact fluorescent lamps does not change;
The highest temperature of an operating energy-saving lamp will not exceed 60 °C. 95% of the energy in incandescent lamps goes to heating, i.e. with a power of 100 W, the incandescent lamp will heat up to 95 °C;
Lamps of several light shades of illumination are produced, the main ones are warm daylight (similar to the color of lighting from incandescent lamps), daylight and cold daylight;
in produced luminous flux There is absolutely no flickering (stroboscopic effect), lighting stability is ensured by the electronic ballast of the lamp;
factory warranty from the manufacturer for each energy-saving lamp. There have never been any guarantees for Ilyich lamps.

Minuses energy saving lamps:

high price. If incandescent lamps cost 10-25 rubles, then fluorescent lamps will cost 80-400 rubles. Chinese and domestic energy-saving lamps are cheaper, European ones are more expensive;
the protrusion on the base where the lamp ballast is located sometimes makes it difficult to install it. A lamp with electronic ballast does not look good when installed in a chandelier, because... the base is too noticeable;
These lamps require from 30 seconds to two minutes to warm up to full brightness;
The service life of compact fluorescent lamps depends on the frequency of turning the power on and off - the more often this happens, the faster the lamp will fail. Between shutdown and restart it is necessary to pause for at least 5 minutes;
Such lamps cannot be used by people with skin diseases and epilepsy, because The lighting intensity of energy-saving lamps is higher than usual and can lead to negative consequences;
Do not break the glass bulb of the lamp, because mercury vapor will enter the premises and they will have to be ventilated for several hours at any time of the year, and residents will need to leave the premises of the house (apartment) for the entire period of ventilation - this is important. If several lamps are broken at once, you will need to call specialists from the Ministry of Emergency Situations to carry out demercurization. Do not break fluorescent lamps;
It is not at all clear how to dispose of failed fluorescent lamps - it is prohibited to throw them away for scrap, and most specialized collection points settlements not available.

How to choose an energy-saving lamp

First of all, make sure the integrity of the lamp offered by the seller, reliable connection bulbs with a base - lamps from small Chinese manufacturers, assembled by hand, usually suffer from weak connections.

The power of a new lamp is determined by the power of incandescent lamps previously used in a given room, with a reduction of 4-5 times. Those. if you used “Ilyich lamps” of 100 W, you will need a fluorescent lamp of 20-25 W (it is better to take one with a small power reserve).

The illumination intensity of this lamp is determined in temperature on the Kelvin scale indicated on its packaging: from 2,700 to 4,000 oK - warm light (analogous to light from incandescent lamps), such lamps are suitable for lighting the bedroom and kitchen; from 4,000 to 5,000 oK - warm white light, suitable for living rooms and halls; from 6,000 to 6,500 oK - cool white light, used for study rooms and offices. Lamps of the latter type are not worth purchasing for home lighting - the light is too saturated and difficult to tolerate.

Lamp size. The base of fluorescent lamps, as noted above, is longer than the base of incandescent lamps - for home lighting, the optimal base would be the E27 standard (length - 105 mm, diameter - 60 mm), the dimensions of which are similar to sockets for “Ilyich lamps”.

Warranty and operational service life. They are indicated by manufacturers on the packaging: optimal service life in the range of 6,000-12,000 hours; warranty - from a year and above. Please note that not all brands of fluorescent lamps will have the stated deadlines valid - Chinese manufacturers may indicate high deadlines, but in fact the lamps will fail much earlier.

Manufacturers and brands. On Russian market energy-saving lamps of European brands are presented - German "Osram" and "Wolta", Dutch "Philips", Danish "Comtech", Polish "Ikea", American "General Electric"; Russian - “Ecola”, “Cosmos”, “Aladin”, “Lisma”, “Uniel”; Chinese - “Camelion”, “Navigator”, etc. Of course, the products of the largest European manufacturers are distinguished by high quality and performance characteristics, but it is worth noting that domestically produced compact fluorescent lamps also have good quality at a lower cost.

In custody

As can be seen from this article, fluorescent lamps really save energy and serve properly, provided that the requirements for their operation are met. High cost and some mercury vapor content, of course, remain a problem for consumers, but manufacturers are trying to solve them - for example, in modern models In energy-saving lamps, mercury is bound by calcium amalgam and will not evaporate, as manufacturers claim, if the lamp is damaged.

Another way to save energy and ensure that mercury vapor does not penetrate into living spaces is to use LED lamps, but this is a topic for a separate article.

Rustam Abdyuzhanov, rmnt.ru

Speaking on the topic of lighting devices for household use, it should be noted that today the most popular are compact fluorescent lamps, or, as they are also called, energy-saving lamps. At one time, such devices practically made a breakthrough in their field, which is understandable. After all, compared to their predecessors - conventional fluorescent lamps - they do not require any additional equipment.

In order to replace incandescent lamps (ILs) in an apartment with CFLs (compact fluorescent lamps), no effort is required; you just need to unscrew the LL and screw in an energy-saving one in its place.

Of course, the cost of compact fluorescent lamps is somewhat higher, but the savings on electricity will also be significant. After all, the power of CFLs is 5 times lower than that of incandescent lamps without any loss of luminous flux.

But how does it work? Powersave lamp? Let's try to figure this out now.

What does a CFL consist of?

Modern energy-saving lamps consist of three main parts:

flask - glass tube;
a housing in which the electronic ballast is located;
base

But the main details of an energy-saving lamp are only what is visible from the outside.

Inside the flask, sealed on both sides, there are electrodes to which electricity is directly supplied. The inside of the flask itself is coated with a special substance called phosphor. The cavity inside the glass tube is filled with an inert gas mixed with mercury vapor.

As for the electronic ballast, everything is much more sophisticated. Electronic ballasts are a complex device that performs, in essence, the same role that the choke and starter performed in old fluorescent lamps, i.e., it controls the ignition and maintenance of the glow in the bulb.

The sockets of energy-saving lamps can be different. The most common, of course, is E27. It is identical to the base of a conventional incandescent lamp. In general, the marking “E” means that it is threaded, and the number following it is its diameter in millimeters. Also, compact energy-saving lamps can have E14 (14 mm) and E40 (40 mm) sockets.

Another marking - G - indicates that the base is two-pin, and the number that follows the letter designation indicates the size between the pins.

Operating principle of an energy-saving lamp

As has probably already become clear, the design and principle of operation of a CFL and a conventional fluorescent lamp are almost identical. The only exception is that an energy-saving lighting device already has a ballast built-in and is called a ballast or electronic ballast.

If we talk about specifics, the operating principle of CFLs is as follows: electricity, entering the electrodes, creates a breakdown, as a result of which a mixture of mercury vapor and inert gas (argon or xenon) ignites. The result is an ultraviolet glow that humans cannot see. With the help of a phosphor, this glow is transformed into visible light. Harmful ultraviolet radiation is blocked by the same phosphor and does not cause harm to humans.

Indeed, the essence of the work of LDS and CFL is the same. As for the electronic ballast, the difference is visible even to a person ignorant of electrical engineering.

A working compact fluorescent lamp is completely inaudible, the humming noise produced by the choke of the old ones has disappeared fluorescent lamps. And it lights up much faster, having a delay of about half a second.

Well, if what an energy-saving lamp consists of and how it works is more or less clear, then its advantages and disadvantages should be considered in more detail.

Advantages and disadvantages

Of course, if a compact fluorescent lamp did not have the advantages, no one would switch to such lighting, but we will still try to understand them. Among the advantages, of course, the first thing that is noticed is its compactness and low power consumption not only in comparison with the “Ilyich light bulb”, but even with an ordinary fluorescent tube. Quiet operation and quick start, which have already been mentioned. And the most important thing is, of course, a long service life. That's probably all.

Among the minuses are the “sores” left over from its predecessor. An energy-saving lamp starts up poorly and loses luminous flux in the cold, and after minus 30 it stops working altogether.

The presence of mercury in the tube is also not a good thing, and disposal is not a cheap process.

And that's what's important. Such lighting devices do not tolerate short-term “on-off” cycles very well. The fact is that after applying power to an energy-saving lamp, it is necessary that it burns for at least 3-4 minutes. The same goes for turning off. Otherwise, its service life will be sharply reduced and, as a result, no savings will be achieved, since the CFL may fail without working even half of the time declared by the manufacturer.

Well, basically, of course, such a lamp has a right to exist, because main task it does it – energy savings are obvious. In addition, it is easy to use and does not require any additional equipment during installation, which means that such lighting devices will continue to shine in houses and apartments for a long time.

Compact fluorescent lamps are a type of fluorescent lamps that are familiar to us. Most of the energy-saving lamps presented in our stores are designed to replace outdated incandescent lamps without changing the lamp itself. Lamps of this type quickly entered our lives at the turn of the 19th and 21st centuries, and apparently in the near future we will simply call them “lamp” and not “energy-saving lamp”.

Despite its simplicity, the operation of the lamp is still a mystery to many. Let's try to understand the structure of a modern compact fluorescent lamp and the principle of its operation.

Installation of energy-saving lamps (CFLs).

Energy saving lamp Elektrostandard “Compact screw (FS) shortened” 24 W E27 2700K.

	Base. Provides electrical contact lamps with power supply. Several types of bases are common in Russia: E14, E27, GU10, G5.3, G4.
	Lamp body. The housing houses a ballast, a fuse and connecting wires. Markings are applied to the surface of the case indicating the supply voltage, power, and color temperature.
	Fuse. Used to protect components electronic board from fire in case of power surges.
	Electronic board. On small board A ballast (ballast) is mounted hidden inside the lamp body. It ensures start-up and flicker-free glow of the lamp. PRA modern lamps equipped with a noise filter that prevents interference in the power supply network.
	Lamp body. The lamp body is made of non-flammable plastic. A fluorescent lamp bulb is attached to the upper part of the housing.
	Flask (tube). The bulb of an energy-saving lamp is a tube sealed on both sides. There are electrodes at opposite ends of the flask. The tube is filled with mercury and argon vapor. The inner surface of the flask is covered with a layer of phosphor. When voltage is applied to the electrodes, a heating current begins to flow through them, which heats the electrodes and the process of thermoelectrode emission begins. When the electrodes reach a certain temperature, they begin to emit a stream of electrons. Electrons colliding with mercury atoms produce ultraviolet radiation. In turn, ultraviolet radiation hitting the phosphor is converted into visible light. Depending on the type of phosphor, the lamp can have different light temperatures: from 2700 to 6500K.

LED bulbs. Device and principle of operation.

The small size of LEDs allows you to design a wide variety of lamp shapes. Today, LED-based lamps are ready to replace all types of lamps. LED lamps are used in both household lamps and industrial lighting.

A common form of LED design.

LED lamps are quite simple in design, but the operation of the main element - the light-emitting diode (LED - Light-emitting diode) is a complex physical process.

Light-emitting diode - semiconductor device with p-n junction or metal-semiconductor contact. When passing direct current Through the pn junction, minority charge carriers (electrons or holes) are injected into the base region of the diode structure.

The process of spontaneous recombination of injected minority charge carriers, occurring both in the base region and in the very p-n junction, is accompanied by their transition from a high energy level to a lower one. As a result of this process, excess energy is released in the form of light quantum emission.

The release of energy by an electron occurs in many types. radio-electronic devices, but we can see light only if the device is assembled from certain materials. Spectral characteristics emitted light depend to a large extent on the chemical composition of the semiconductors used in it.

LED lamp disassembled.

	Diffuser mount. LED lamp diffusers have different designs. The figure shows one of the common diffuser designs.
	Scattering element. The LED produces a fairly narrow beam of light. The diffuser is designed to increase the angle of light dispersion.
	Lamp body. The body is made of metal. The body of powerful lamps has cooling fins that prevent the LEDs inside the lamp from overheating.
	Board with LEDs. Depending on the type of lamp, from one to dozens of LEDs can be installed on the board.
	Electronic board. Miniature printed circuit board contains a voltage stabilizer and diode bridge. Provides rectification, smoothing and stabilization of the voltage necessary to power the LEDs.
	Base. Modern LED bulbs are issued in various buildings and with all popular types of bases: E14, E27, GU10, G5.3, G4.

Types of bases for energy-saving lamps.

Elektrostandard compact fluorescent and LED lamps are produced with all types of bases common in Russia:

Color temperature of Elektrostandard lamps.

In lighting design it is often necessary to use lamps of different light temperatures. Classic interiors require warm yellow light, similar to the light from an incandescent lamp or a candle, while modern hi-tech design often uses cold light. Elektrostandard lamps are available in three common color temperatures:

2700K – yellow light, corresponds to an incandescent lamp;

4200K – such lamps produce warm (light yellow) light;

6500K – the glow of such lamps is cooler, corresponding to daylight.