Advantages and disadvantages of fluorescent tubes

There are many different types of light bulbs on the market, but the one I am going to talk about and explain today is the fluorescent tube type.

These bulbs are gas discharge lamps that use electricity to excite mercury vapor; they require a ballast to keep the flow of energy working properly throughout the bulb. These bulbs tend to be more expensive than regular bulbs, but then they make up for it with lower energy costs. They tend to last longer than other types of equivalent bulbs, fluorescent tubes are usually larger than others but they work very well.

Fluorescent tubes emit much less heat than other types of lights, which means that in hot weather or hot weather it won’t get as hot just by turning on the light.

Another advantage of fluorescent tubes is that they have a much longer lifespan than many other light bulbs, this lifespan can last up to 20 times longer than the standard equivalent, which will definitely help with running costs and replacement costs as well. of the light bulbs. they do not need to be replaced as often as other bulbs.

Although fluorescent tubes can have a very good lifespan, there is a downside: if you frequently turn your lights on and off, the bulb’s lifespan will be drastically reduced, which can end up costing you more money in the long run. Therefore, it is recommended that if you use fluorescent tubes, you use them in places where, once you turn on the light, you expect to have it on for more than an hour at a time.

Another disadvantage of fluorescent tubes is that they can be a health and safety risk. If they break, they can release small amounts of mercury, which can be very dangerous. Therefore, if the tube breaks, it is recommended to remove the glass. it is cleaned with damp paper towels and then disposed of in sealed plastic bags to prevent anything from becoming contaminated with the mercury.

Fluorescent tubes work best when in rooms at room temperature and if exposed to higher or lower temperatures this efficiency is severely affected, which can mean that in cool enough places the bulbs may not turn on at absolute.

Another problem with these tubes is that they are subject to flickering, which can become very annoying or dangerous for people who are sensitive to flickering, for example people with epilepsy. The flickering occurs if the fluorescent tubes use mains frequency magnetic ballasts that not only give off normal constant heat, but flicker very quickly to maintain their illumination. So if there are breaks in the ballast, flickering can occur.