PCB-containing ballasts may be restricted from disposal in a normal landfill. If disposal is restricted, please go to www.lamprecycle.org for a list of national lamp and ballast recyclers. Under federal regulations, leaking PCB-containing ballasts may not be disposed of in a landfill; they must be disposed of or recycled in an approved facility.

A fluorescent lamp ballast is an electrical transformer. Fluorescent lamps require different voltages at different places in the lamp in a standard rapid start system. There are small filaments at the end of the lamp that require low voltage (approx. 4 volts) to aid in starting the lamp, this is called cathode voltage. The lamp also requires a higher voltage (200 volts or higher depending on lamp type) from end to end on the lamp to operate, this is called arc voltage.

A high efficiency lamp utilizing an electric discharge through low pressure mercury vapor to produce ultra-violet (UV) energy. The UV excites phosphor materials applied as a thin layer on the inside of a glass tube which makes up the structure of the lamp. The phosphors transform the UV to visible lights.

Ballasts are used to regulate the current in the lamp. Current needs to be regulated in order to supply the right amount of power needed to make the arc, and thus the light, in a fluorescent lamp. Fortunately, the current is lower than that needed for a typical incandescent. This is the reason why the fluorescent lamps can provide the same light output for less energy than typical incandescents.

Please refer to our state disposal policies page. In most states, fluorescent and compact fluorescent light bulbs used at home can be disposed of in the same way as regular light bulbs. While all fluorescent bulbs contain a trace amount of mercury, the quantity is so minute that household disposal is not regulated by federal standards (established by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency).

GE does make CFL bulbs for use in 3-way lamps. Check the package for this application. If a regular CFL is use in a 3-way switch, it will work on the middle (medium) setting and it should not damage the bulb. The 3-way switch does not alter the performance of the bulb.

Audible noise from a fluorescent light is likely due to a loose or faulty ballast. The ballast is an electrical device inside the lighting fixture that supplies the proper starting and operating power to the lamp. Sometimes, changing a lamp loosens the ballast mounting or other parts of the fixture and the slight vibration from the ballast during normal operation causes a buzzing or hum. The volume of the sound may change - louder or softer - as the fixture warms up.

About 90% of all energy emitted by tungsten filaments (including those in halogen lamps) is infrared, or radiant heat. The way to decrease heat from your fixtures is to use lower wattage lamps, or to use compact fluorescent bulbs. The common types and colors of fluorescent lamps radiate an estimated 30% of their energy in the infrared range -"principally far infrared (wavelengths beyond 5000 nm)".

There is a reset feature that allows the capacitors to discharge. Unplug the ballast for 7 minutes, and then plug it back in. This is a safety feature for the ballast to protect it against a massive voltage spike. Also please check the fuse on that is located on the black plastic casing below the power cord plug-in. You will need a small flathead screwdriver to pop open the door where the fuse is located.

Most standard lamps are designated in the following format F32T8 35K. The F meaning that the lamp is fluorescent, the 32 is the lamp wattage, the T designates the shape of the lamp (T = tubular), the 8 is the diameter of the lamp in 1/8 of an inch. A T8 lamp has an 8/8 diameter or one inch diameter. A T12 lamp has a 12/8 diameter or 1-1/2 inches. The last designation is the color of the light the lamp emits in this case 3500 degrees Kelvin.

Yes! Although current is low, the inverter output can exceed 1000 volts. Proper precautions should be observed when operating these lamps. The lamp/inverter combine to produce some RF emission. It may be necessary to shield the inverter after determining the results of system testing. For questions concerning HCFLs and CCFLs, please contact Rich Webster at (203) 795-1520 x-3163 or rwebster@LCDL.com

Generally, asbestos-containing waste should be taken to a landfill that accepts asbestos waste. The Ohio Environmental Protection Agency maintains this list and it can be found at this link List of Landfills that Accept Asbestos. Before you take asbestos to a landfill you should call that landfill to find out if they can accept asbestos waste.

Trade the old one in when buying a new one or sale or give away to a used appliance shop. The freon must be removed by a certified technician properly licensed, trained and equipped to capture the freon. Possible $25,000 dollar fine for illegally disposing of freon. Used appliance shops can usually help or call 467-4262.

DE lamps can be stubborn to light with electronic ballasts. To insure that we get the most operating current to these lamps we must keep the output cord length to less than 8ft. total. This cord length is from the ballast to the pendant. If you can use even less cord length it is best to cut the excess length off and reconnect using electrical wire nuts or electrical quick disconnects.

A fluorescent lamp?or tube is a gas-discharge lamp that uses electricity to excite mercury vapor in argon or neon gas, resulting in a plasma that produces short-wave ultraviolet light.?This light then causes a phospor coating the inside of the tube to fluoresce, producing visible light. Present-day fluorescent tubes do not operate on regular AC or DC electricity -- they require that a "ballast" control the current flow and provide the startup and operating electrical power to the tubes.

Fluorescent light bulbs need a ballast because they use a gas to create light. Regular light bulbs (also known as incandescent bulbs) create light by heating a filament inside the bulb. The heat makes the filament white-hot, producing the light that you see. In a fluorescent bulb, when the gas is excited by electricity, it emits invisible ultraviolet light that hits the white coating inside the fluorescent bulb. The coating changes the ultraviolet light into light you can see.

If you have questions regarding the disposal of the siding once it is removed, please refer to the Indoor Environments Contacts page for information on how to contact the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection

Mercury remains in the vaporous form through it's stay within the lamp. The pressure within the lamp is kept very low, so when it is turned on mercury remains in the vapor stage.