The biggest problem in connection with plastic housing luminaires is increased temperature inside luminaire housing. The problem arose with the use of electronic ballasts that completely replaced classical starters for fluorescent lamps. Namely, in 2000 Europe has decided to ban the use of larger amounts of lead in electrical connections. Due to the new European regulation temperature overload of electronic ballasts became the leading cause of premature malfunction. And so most manufacturers despite the risk of premature malfunction still provide completely sealed luminaires IP65 that don’t allow hot air to be drawn off.

 

Measurements showed that temperature inside plastic housings ranges from 68 to 71 °C at ambient temperature between 22 and 26 °C, which means that the electronics is subjected to the highest permissible operating temperature tc. Of course, temperature in the luminaire rises proportionally to the rise of ambient temperature, and high temperatures are quite common in production and storage facilities. The new electronics integrated in Reflecta Oval luminaire has higher temperature threshold tc of 75 °C. Also important is, that according to manufacturer’s specification 50,000 hours of operation are guaranteed even at maximum load, i.e. at temperature of 75 °C. One of our most demanding tests was carried out in Papirnica Radeče paper mill, where we were allowed to install luminaires in extreme environment of the paper machine. Temperature in this test environment ranges from 85 to 105 °C, air humidity is 60–80%. After 4 months of operation the luminaires still operate without failures, plastic housings are not deformed, transparency of the light components remains unchanged.

 

The second most common cause for luminaire malfunction is malfunction of electronics due to voltage surges, peak voltage. This problem is indeed rare in residential environment, but in production processes electronics is frequently subjected to voltage fluctuation and surges. Most lighting equipment suppliers provide industrial luminaires that are actually intended for home use. Because of the build-in electronics these luminaires do not meet the requirements of application in environment with frequent voltage fluctuation. Such „industrial“ electronics rarely withstands peak voltage of over 260 V, and if it does, than only for very short time intervals.

 

New special electronics integrated in Reflecta Oval luminaire significantly exceeds these values, as its 320 V overvoltage protection makes it electronics of high-quality class. This electronics can withstand such loads even for up to 60 minutes, thereby setting new parameters in the area of industrial electronics. A 3-year complete guarantee additionally reinforces trust in this electronics.

 

The third problem in connection with plastic luminaires in industrial environment is resistance of plastic housing. Reflecta Oval luminaires are made of special polycarbonate that is resistant to majority of aggressive substances. The material is specially adapted to high temperatures in industrial environments. Reflecta Oval withstands temperatures between –100 °C and +130 °C without deforming and it has substantially higher mechanical strength than other luminaires. The light component provides maximum level of transparency, thereby enabling the luminare to reach enviable luminous efficiency of 88.13%.

 

Most luminaires are designed so as to be rigidly fixed to support structures and this limits maintenance work to place of installation.

 

That is why we have developed special system of installation and connection for Reflecta Oval that enables fast fitting and removal. Thus during repair luminaires can be moved to repair workshop. This lowers the possibility of damage to plastic housing that frequently occurs in case of other luminaires.

 

Reflecta Oval luminaires have a far better luminous efficiency in relation to energy consumption than other luminaires. With special design of reflective surfaces they provide 30–50% more light output. Power factor of electronics is 0.95–0.98, energy class A1. Above-average efficiency is enabled by special reflective surfaces, made of top quality reflective material. Special feature of reflective material is its high efficiency of 95–98% resulting from low diffusion of reflected rays, which enables precise directing of light without significant losses. The material practically does not alter with ageing, which is, due to expensive procedure of aluminium and silver application, a rare characteristic of reflective materials. Most manufacturers use cheaper and therefore less durable materials, with their reflective characteristics diminishing quite fast.

 

Another special feature of our luminaires are T5 Constant lamps. According to lamp manufacturers’ data constant luminous flux of a lamp is guaranteed only in temperature range between 20 and 25 °C. Such temperature range does not exist in industry, or at least it is extremely rare. Normally ambient temperature is much higher. In such conditions other lamps emit 15–25% less light. The special T5 Constant lamp nevertheless still emits more than 90 % of light in the temperature range between 5 and 70 °C. Unlike in the case of classical lamps the luminous flux and the colour of the light don't change over time and don't depend on ambient temperature. Service life of new „Long-life“ T5 Constant lamps is 25,000 hours of operation; on average this means a life span of 5 years.