Prediction of fluorescent lamp lifetimes with accelerated testing

Abstract

This paper proposes a method for predicting fluorescent lamp lifetimes based on a minimum number of accelerated life tests. This prediction allows the life of the lamp in continuous operation to be estimated without having to know the nominal lifetime. This paper evaluates the possibility of making this prediction based on two accelerated tests, and finds that this is not generally to be recommended. It also evaluates the advisability of making the prediction based on three accelerated tests and fitting the results by a non-analytical iterative method. We conclude that under certain conditions, this method makes reasonable life predictions for fluorescent lamps associated with specific ballasts.