Satco Products Incandescent Lamps - Manual (Page 4)

Key
Characteristics
Rated Voltage:
The lamp’s filament is designed to
operate within a specific volt-
age range in order for it to
deliver its intended light output.
Lamps that are burned at volt-
ages higher than their rating will
result in higher wattage, efficacy
(lumens per watt) and lumens.
Lamps operated below their
rated voltage will significantly
increase their life while reduc-
ing their wattage, efficacy and
lumen output.
Lumen Maintenance:
As the filament of an incandes-
cent lamp burns, the tungsten is
slowly evaporating and deposit-
ing itself on the interior wall of
the bulb. This creates the black
coating seen after a bulb has
been in use for a while.
Additionally, as the filament
evaporates, the lumen output
decreases until it reaches the end
of its life when the wire breaks. It is
recommended that a “group
replacement” or relamping is
conducted once a number of
lamps have failed or a notice-
able decrease in light output has
taken place.
Burning Position:
For the most part, incandescent
lamps can be burned in any
position. However, take note and
observe a lamp manufacturer’s
recommendations for use.
Light Output vs. Life
The life of an incandescent lamp
and its lumen output are both
determined by the filament design.
These characteristics represent a
give-and-take relationship—one must
be sacrificed to improve the other.
There are many choices available to
the consumer, each one marketed
for a particular application, purpose
or feature.
It is important to determine your
customer’s priorities and needs
when recommending a light source
purchase. Is the lamp going to be
placed in a hard-to-reach area,
making long life more important than
light output? Or will it be a workhorse,
illuminating important tasks and
needing maximum lumens?
The Federal Trade Commission
instituted new packaging labeling
requirements in 1992 to explain the
function of a lamp better to the
purchaser. So if you know your way
around this labeling, you can suggest
optimum choices for your customer,
or explain the features to customers
to allow them to make their own
educated decisions.
These examples of actual labels illustrate the differences between two stan-
dard household “A” lamps. One is marketed for longer life, while the other is
marketed for greater lumen output. Note the life/light tradeoffs.
High Lumen Output Longer Lamp Life