Q&A

Lighting loads tend to be switched on for a large proportion of the time, so savings on lighting equipment are very valuable. Incandescent lighting is particularly susceptible to losses at high voltages, and by bringing the voltage to the correct level savings can be delivered with no discernible drop in light levels. The lifetime of bulbs can also be extended markedly: “A 230V bulb used at 240V will achieve only 55% of its rated life.” (IEE Electricians Guide)

The efficiency of any type of lighting will be improved by bringing it to the correct voltage, including systems with resistive or reactive ballasts. Fluorescent lighting is much more efficient that incandescent lighting, but nevertheless will run even more efficiently when supplied with the correct voltage. Optimisation with a powerPerfector will never take the voltage to a level where the light fails to strike, as the voltage will not drop below the UK statutory minimum.

Some types of lighting control system for high-frequency lighting carry out voltage optimisation electronically anyway, so the savings on these will be lower than simple lighting systems. Optimising with a powerPerfector would reduce the need for such controllers, as lighting load would be considerably more efficient. Lighting controllers and HF ballasts are also responsible for generating high levels of harmonic distortion. As the powerPerfector helps to filter this, the efficiency of a site with lighting controllers can be improved still further.