Replace & Install Energy Saving Lights
Energy saving lights (ESLs) are in greater demand because of their significant energy savings over incandescent and other regular light bulbs. You can get ESLs for both screw-in and pin fixtures. Since ESLs have an extremely long life as compared to other bulbs, you don't need to change energy saving lights very often. When ESLs do burn out, changing ESLs out is simple and takes just a few seconds. As ESLs contain mercury, handle ESLs gently so they do not break and release the mercury in the bulb.
1. Make sure that the power is switched off. Before replacing a energy saving light, you should make sure the fixture is not powered on. Do not simply use the wall switch to remove power to the fixture. You can use the fuse box to shut off power to the lamp's circuit. Use a voltage tester to verify that there is no power in the fixture.
2. Allow the ESL to cool before handling. Since ESLs use significantly less wattage to produce the same amount of light, they do not get as hot as incandescent bulbs. Nevertheless, they can occasionally burn out, rapidly generating more heat than usual.
3. Hold the energy saving light the right way like the following ticked pic. Grip the bulb gently by the ballast, not the glass part of the bulb. The ballast is the large, plastic section at the base of the bulb that houses the electronics. If you try to pull the bulb out by the glass, you risk shattering it.
4. Pull straight up gently but firmly until the bulb pops out. The pins will sometimes feel a bit stuck as you pull, so keep gentle upward pressure on the ballast while slowly wiggling it back and forth a bit to release the pins. Don't wiggle it so much that you risk snapping the pins; a very small side-to-side movement should be enough to release the ESL.
5. Insert the new bulb. Grasp the ballast firmly, line up the metal pins with the sockets on the lamp fixture, and push the ESL into place, applying gentle pressure until the pins are fully inserted.
Energy saving lights used to be criticized for the flickering, bluish light they gave off . But now we can get energy saving lights that almost match incandescent bulbs for warm light and color.
For really small fixtures, you will want mini energy saving lamps, which can be easy to find in the site.
Now you can even get compact flourescent bulbs that will work in 3-way fixtures.
Word of caution: never put a energy saving light in a circuit with a dimmer unless the bulb is specifically designed to be dimmable.
Standards Of Energy Saving Lights
Protection classes
Protection
Protection against ignition
Installation in bathrooms
Rated illuminances for commercial premises
Installation instructions
Proved security
Electrontechnical requirements, protection class
Compliance with safety regulations and other standards
Luminaires should not only look good and provide good light, they must also be safe. Safety is guaranteed by compliance with a variety of regulations and standards. Luminaires should meet all relevant national and international regulations.
Protection against electrical shock
Each luminaire is insulated so that any exposed metal parts do not carry electrical current. Parts that carry current during normal operation must be protected against contact either by insulation or a suitable cover. Additional measures are taken to prevent exposed metal parts carrying current even if an insulation fault occurs. The table on the right contains the three protection classes used in Germany.
Unless otherwise indicated on the rating plate, luminaires comply with protection class I.
| Protection classes | |||
| Protection class | Symbol | Description | Notes |
| I |
 |
Luminaires with a terminal for a protective conductor to which all metal parts that could carry current in the event of a fault must be connected. | Connection to a protective earth conductor absolutely essential. The symbol is displayed on the terminal. |
| II |
 |
In luminaires with this symbol there must be no exposed metal parts that could carry current in the event of a fault (total insulation or double insulation). | The luminaire does not have to have a protective conductor terminal and does not have to be connected to a protective earth conductor. |
| III |
 |
Luminaires to be operated with safety extra-low voltage (SELV), i.e. voltages under 50 V generated with a safety transformer to VDE 0551 or supplied by batteries (standard or rechargeable). | |
Protection against dust, solid materials and water
Luminaires must belong to a particular protection class against moisture and dust to which they are exposed. The lowest protection class is "covered"; in other words, the luminaires have no protection against moisture or dust but are covered in such a way that it is impossible to touch electric parts without using a tool.
Luminaires without any indication of a protection class are classified IP 20. The following table gives an overwiew of the protection classes, their definitions and their symbols:
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Protection against ignition/fire
When operated, luminaires generate heat. The following symbols are used for luminaires that can be mounted on flammable materials:
|
||||||||||
Installation regulations for luminaires in domestic bathrooms to VDE 0100, Part 701
|
As far as protection against water is concerned, the luminaires must comply with the types of protection indicated here. Shock-hazard protection and protection against solid parts have to be least IP 2X. Zone 0 Luminaires with IP X7 (e.g. IP 67) and rated voltage up to 12 V. The luminaires must be suitable for wet rooms. Zone 1 Luminaires with IP X4, (e.g. IP 44) and rated voltage up to 25 V. IP X5 (e.g. IP 45) is required in showers with high water pressure (e.g. ones with massage shower heads). Zone 2 In Germany, luminaires must comply with IP X0 (e.g. IP 20),all other European countries require IP X1 (e.g. IP 21). All other electrical equipment in this zone must comply with IP X1. |
Rated illuminances for commercial premises
Recommended values according to DIN 5035 Part 2
|
Density of light |
Purpose of the room or type of activity |
| 1000 Lux |
|
| 750 Lux |
|
| 500 Lux |
|
| 300 Lux |
|
| 200 Lux |
|
| 100 Lux |
|
Installation instructions
CE labelling
With the CE labelling the conformity of a product is certified with the prevailing EC guidelines, like the the low-voltage guideline 73/23/EWG or the EMV guideline 89/336/EWG.
The marks licence forms the basis for the declaration of conformity by the manufacturer.
Of course, all our luminaires meet the requirements of the relevant EC guidelines and therefore carry the CE label.
Proved security
 |
The meaning of the VDE-mark |
Energy saving lights with VDE approval mark are:
- electrically safe
- mechanically safe
- thermally safe
- standard compliant
- supervised by VDE during production
VDE (Association of German Electrotechnical Engineers) is carrier of the independant German test and certification institute. The VDE approval mark may only be used if a product has been approved after intensive tests according to actual international and/or German standards.
Approval marks comparable to VDE of other certification authorities are for example DEMKO in Denmark, FI for FIMKO in Finland, IMQ in Italy, N for NEMKO in Norway, S for SEMKO in Sweden and SEV in Switzerland.
All of them are independent approbation organisations.
These organisations test the safety of luminaires according to the European luminaire standard EN 60 598 under consideration of national deviations. In addition, they are also responsible for testing the electromagnetic compatibility of luminaires according to European standards.
 |
The meaning of the ENEC-mark |
Similar to VDE, ENEC is a common European safety mark, which is recognized by all European approbation authorieties.
ENEC stands for European Norms Electrical Certification. The number following the sign indicates the country of certification, i.e. 10 = VDE or 13 = SEV.
 |
The meaning of the CE-mark |
The CE-mark is a certificate for authorities, for example when products crossing the border.
With the CE certificate a manufacturer declares the conformity of his products with European guidelines without tests from an independent organisation.
Two guidelines apply to luminaires:
The low voltage guideline and the EMV guideline for electromagnetic compatibility.
This guideline contains only general requirements, no details like the European standards.
Approval marks from various countries:
| Mark | Abbreviation | Meaning |
 |
DEMKO | danish mark |
|
|
ENEC | european mark ( 10 for Germany, 11 for Austria) |
 |
FIMKO | finish mark |
 |
IMQ | italian mark |
 |
NEMKO | norwegian mark |
 |
SEMKO | swedish mark |
 |
SEV | swiss mark |
|
|
VDE | german mark |
|
|
Communauté Européenne | Mark of the european community |
 |
GOST | russian mark |
 |
C TICK | australian mark, EMC-mark |
| other marks | ||
 |
CCC | chinese mark |
