The Lighting Research Center has released the Lighting Answers: Plasma Lighting Systems report. This National Lighting Product Information Program report helps lighting specifiers to understand plasma lighting systems and their performance characteristics, including light output, system efficacy, color characteristics, lumen maintenance, and rated life. This report also provides information about operating orientation, dimming, warm-up, and restrike times, electromagnetic interference and compatibility (EMI/EMC), and ultraviolet (UV) radiation.
NLPIP did not make measurements of lifetime, lumen maintenance, effects of elevated temperatures or UV radiation for this report. NLPIP also did not test control methods other than analog dimming.
The key findings include:
- Purchasing plasma lighting systems can be difficult.
- The tested plasma lighting systems have system efficacies comparable to conventional sources used for high-bay and outdoor lighting applications.
- The tested plasma lighting systems have color rendering characteristics comparable to conventional sources although they have a greenish-white tint.
- The tested plasma lighting systems could be dimmed but dimming impacts color and system efficacy.
