jtek

Hi guys, Here's the difference between the colors. Cool Daylight Color 865 - Home or public area used. Coolwhite Color 840 - Commonly commercial office and school use. Warmwhite Color 830 - Commercial used warmwhite. Good for those who want mild warm lighting. Warmwhite Color 827 - The warmest fluorescent available and widely used in hotels. Hope its helpful.

Hi, any comment on Max?

Hi allykat, there are also energy saving compact fluorescent dining table lights available in the market and a lot of designs. Basically, the reason for using Halogen lamp is because of the nice cosy warm color and it sparkling light it can give. But halogen lamp usually last only 2000 burning hours whereas a compact fluorescent can last u about 8000 burning hours. As in why is a energy saving compact fluorescent lamps being called a energy saving lamp is because with the small wattage (usually around 13W-18W) it produce the same brightness as an incandescent lamp of 100W. Plus it give out lesser heat during operation. The energy saving is usually compared to incandescent or halogen. Therefore halogen is not brighter than fluorescent, in fact fluorescent is the most efficient lamp available on earth as at now. So depend on whether do you need the beatiful spark and color or you would rather have less heat and save the earth (by saving energy).

There are also 2 type of warmwhite, Color 830 & Color 827. Most office uses 830 for warmer color and hotels love the 827 cos its the nearest possible fluorescent color to incandescent lamp which make the place very warm and cosy.

Hi Bro, for cove lighting, you can only use linear fluorescent lamps which the standard lamps available are T5 & T8. Regardless how small wattage you use, its the same. Cos in the end you will still need to put the same total length up in the cove. For example, a 12m cove will need about 12pcs of 4ft T5 lamps which is 28W. But if u use a 2ft T5 lamp which is 14W, you will need to use 24pcs. So in the end, its the same consumption. T8 Lamps - Can be used with magnetic or electronic ballast: 2Ft Lamp (589.8mm) = 18W 3Ft Lamp (894.6mm) = 30W 4Ft Lamp (1199.4mm) = 36W 5Ft Lamp (1500mm) = 58W T5 Lamps and only be used with electronic ballast: 2Ft Lamp (549mm) = 14W 3Ft Lamp (849mm) = 21W 4Ft Lamp (1149mm) = 28W 5Ft Lamp (1449mm) = 35W So its the cove length tat matters.

Hi bro, actually it sounds to me that you had an over designed lighting points. As most of us and our contractor/ID do not know how bright is enough for each's own eyes so they will put as many light points as possible. Also the ID need to flow the lamps along the cove which is why they will put more for bigger cove. One way to solve ur issue is to change all the ballast to electronic dimmable type and then change the cove lighting circuit's switch to a dimming type. With this, u can dim the light to your own comfort brightness.

Hi bro, for your info. T8 or T5 both are Fluorescent Technology therefore both last as long. But bcos T5 can only run on electonic ballast, the lamp life is slighty longer. But if both T8 & T5 runs on electronic ballast, they should last equally long.

ATCO really cost a bit higher than local or in-house bcos of their brand and product stability. This company was originated from Aus but bought over by an major brand. I would say ATCO has got the longest history in magnetic ballast in our local market to the extend that some shops would call magnetic ballast as ATCO ballast. As of for country of origin, ATCO had got a plant in JB recent years but still their are getting magnetic ballast from Aus factory. But there might still be possible that some of them sold here are JB made. Which country of origin is not really matters, its the company that manufactured the product reputation more important. ATCO, OSRAM, PHILIPS are MNC in the lighting with huge R&D teams to develop product for the next gernation. They are in the market for many years some even longer than our grand-parents. Just like when u r buying cars, Toyota Altis are make in Thailand but still the sales of Altis are still high. WHY? Cos Toyota is a reliable brand with good technology. Altis are made by Toyota Company and not "Thailand Company". Just sharing what i know... hope you guys dun mind...

Hi bro, yes u r rite that T5 work only with Electronic ballast but u got to be careful as a lot of our local lighting shops are supplying in-house brand T5 cove lighting fixture which comes with only an "inverter" to convert the incoming to strike the T5 lamps. This way of powering the lamps, the lamps life will be shorten by a lot. I know Osram & Philips's T5 fixtures uses really electronic ballast circuit in their fixture only. Cheers..... Cove lighting are the ways it is mound and not a type of lighting fixtures. Of cos you can choose how you wanna construct your cove or pelmet in your home then plut the lamps insode to brighten your home. Bascially the lighting inside are standard which you either use T8 or T5 lamps running along the whole cove.

Hi bro, if u light fixture already installed up then may take more effort to change but still possible. If your is a PLC, then you will also need to change lamp holder for changing to Electronic Ballast. But a good electronic ballast really helps u to save a lot of energy (about 10-20%) and the light will be much stable as compared with magnetic ballast which will flicker more. To understand this, i passed by a shop at 137 Jalan Besar and they got this Philips display on the comparision between electronic ballast and magnetic ballast turn on side by side. If u free, go down take look and get a answer with your own eyes.

Hi bro, for your infomation, Philips are from Holland with some of their factory based in China. Elbiru are local brands which Osram or Philips can affort to buy-up 100 of the Elbiru's factory.

Usually for ballast most lighting shop will be giving safety tested ones cos its a local requirement for conventional ballast to be tested by PSB. But as for lamps, only the big brands like Philips, Osram etc went for PSB test even though its not required for some lamps. Therefore is the shop gave you in-house brand, most likely that brand's QC is not really well done. I think you can demand for a change of lamps as most PLC (I assume yours is PLC) can last 8000 burning hours. If its big brand like Philips or Osram, you can also go to the head office to change with proof of purchase from the lighting shops.

Hi there, it all depend on what type of control u r looking at? Just a remote to turn off/on plus dimming? Or the whole house wired up and be programmed for different scene?