CONTROL SYSTEM FOR ELECTRICAL LIGHTING

摘要

A control system for lighting a bank of fluorescent lamps, includes input terminals (10, 11) for mains voltage and output terminals (20, 21) to which the bank of lamps is connected. A transformer (T1) provides a reduced voltage (216V) as compared with the mains supply voltage (240V). The transformer (T2) provides a supplementary voltage (24V). Upon start up of the circuit, a control circuit (CC) operates contact (A1) to energise the transformer (T2) so that terminals (20, 21) receive both the reduced voltage from (T1) and the supplementary voltage from (T2) (i.e. 240V) which is sufficient to strike the fluorescent lamps. The control circuit (CC), after a predetermined delay e.g. 15 seconds, switches (A1) to disconnect the supplementary voltage from (T2). The lamps then continue to operate on the reduced voltage (216V) thereby reducing the power consumed by the lamps.