Fluorescent Lamps
Fluorescent lamps are light fixtures that use fluorescent tubes. Supplying an electric current to a fluorescent tube excites the mercury atoms in the tube, generating UV rays. The inside of the fluorescent tube is coated in fluorescent paint. The UV rays are converted to visible light by striking this paint, which is how the tube emits light. There are various methods used to light fluorescent lamps, such as the glow starter method and the rapid start method. The former method uses a fluorescent lamp starter called a glow switch starter, while the latter doesn't require a fluorescent lamp starter. The rapid start method lights faster than the glow starter method. The glow starter method is often used by straight-tube fluorescent lamps, and the rapid start method by ring-shaped fluorescent lamps. Fluorescent lamps are available in a wide range of color temperatures, such as daylight, horizon daylight, cool white and warm white. Different products have different lighting methods, tube lengths, tube diameters and color temperatures, so should be selected to meet the needs of the installation location.