Energy Conservation Program: Test Procedures for Fluorescent Lamp Ballasts

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) issues a final rule amending the existing test procedures for fluorescent lamp ballasts at Appendix Q and establishing a new test procedure at Appendix Q1. The amendments to appendix Q update a reference to an industry test procedure. The new test procedure at Appendix Q1 changes the efficiency metric to ballast luminous efficiency (BLE), which is measured directly using electrical measurements instead of the photometric measurements employed in the test procedure at Appendix Q. The calculation of BLE includes a correction factor to account for the reduced lighting efficacy of low frequency lamp operation. The test procedure specifies use of a fluorescent lamp load during testing, allowing ballasts to operate closer to their optimal design points and providing a better descriptor of real ballast performance compared to resistor loads. If DOE determines that amendments to the fluorescent lamp ballast energy conservation standards are required, they will be issued or published by June 30, 2011, and use of the test procedures at Appendix Q1 will be required on the compliance date of the amendments. Until that time, manufacturers must use the procedures at Appendix Q to certify compliance.