Do Fluorescent Lights Need To Be "Burned In" When First Started?

[billt]

I just installed 2 Fluorescent lights in my backyard pool area. An electrical engineer neighbor back in Chicago once told me, that whenever you start up a new Fluorescent ballast and lamp for the first time, it's best to allow it to, "burn in" for at least 5 to 10 hours after switching it on. This will assure the longest possible life for both the ballast and the lamp. The colder it is outside, the longer you should leave the light on. He said switching Fluorescent lights on and off over short periods of time greatly reduce their life, and cause premature failures, because it never allows the ballast or the lamp to reach operating temperature. Especially if they are new. Any truth to this?

[Solus]

found this.  Calls for 100 hour burn in at full power.

https://www.osram.com/media/resource/hires/335135/manufacturers-declaration--burning-in-of-fluorescent-lamps.pdf

[billt]

That makes sense. I know when I was working, the plant had lights on 24/7, and they never replaced a bulb or a ballast for well over a year of continuous usage.

[alfsauve]

Many modern ballasts aren't actually "ballasts" at all.  They are solid state devices and adapt to a variety of voltages (120, 208, 240, 277) as opposed to the "old school" transformer type.

I doubt if they care about the burn in. 

Besides who's using fluorescents any more?   LEDs LEDs.

HD finally has reasonably (well let's say more reasonably) priced 2'x2' panels now at $99/ea.  They can be used in a drop ceiling or flush mounted.  Dimmable down to 10%.  Voltage adaptable 120-277.  4,000+ lumens.

[Big Frank]

I wish I knew this when I replaced a fluorescent tube at my mom's house but she wouldn't leave it on for 100 hours anyway. I knew that turning them off and on a lot was bad for them but that was all I knew about it.

[Sponsor]

[alfsauve]

General rule of thumb when I rep'd theatrical lights was:

Theater lights, incandescents, were only meant for a daily duty  3 hours.   Lamp life was rated base on no more than that.

Fluorescents were meant for MINIMUM of 3 hours duty cycle.  Lamp life would be shortened if you burn them for less at a time.

[PegLeg45]

That makes sense. I know when I was working, the plant had lights on 24/7, and they never replaced a bulb or a ballast for well over a year of continuous usage.

We had one department (machine shop, with the most obstacles in the entire plant) that only ran two shifts and the manager insisted on the lights being off at the end of every workday. My graveyard guys replaced more bulbs and ballasts in that one department per year than the rest of the facility combined. I was glad when we finally went to a different lighting system.

[billt]

Besides who's using fluorescents any more? LEDs LEDs.

The problem with most of the high output LED's today is inconsistent quality. Many are Chinese, and some of them just don't last.  And when they go in many of these high output, outdoor fixtures, there is no way to replace them. You have to toss the whole fixture.

I agree that LED technology will eventually catch and pass fluorescents. But for now they're not worth the risk. Yeah, if they go under warranty they will replace them. But you still are faced with the hassle of changing out the entire fixture, which is a PITA.

These are the fixtures I put in, (2), one on top of the other, along with the 2 extra bulbs I purchased. They are also of Chinese manufacture. However the fluorescent technology used has been around for decades, and is well proven.

http://www.homedepot.com/p/Lithonia-Lighting-Wall-Mount-Triple-Tube-Outdoor-Bronze-Fluorescent-Fixture-OFL2-65F-120-LP-BZ/202192980

http://www.homedepot.com/p/Lithonia-Lighting-65W-Equivalent-T4-Triple-Tube-Compact-Fluorescent-Light-Bulb-CF65TB65/202193045

They replaced a similar cheaper one I had for over 15 years. It was still working, but the bulb was getting really dark near the end. Because I wanted more light, I just replaced it with 2 much brighter new ones. These light up the whole back yard.