On what basis EcoMaxx devices are working?

According to DIN IEC 60038 the power supply voltage in Germany provided by the power supply companies must be 230 V ± 10 %. Therewith the power supply voltage is between 207 V and 253 V. All loads - as well lamps - must be able to work at this voltage level.

EcoMaxx Energy Saving Systems are using this tolerance band. They lower the power supply voltage for lighting systems with a transformer into this allowable range. We are able to lower the power supply voltage on request furthermore.

How does the energy saving work ? 

Lowering the  mains voltage U [V] trough a transformer, the electricity I [A] is reduced in the same ratio. The power output  computes itself as a product from voltage and electricity. If the voltage is reduced by 10 percent in a specific case you could achieve a  reduced consumption of 19%. With loads that have a inductive/ capacitate nature (lamps with inductive ballast) the achieved energy saving is even more.

For pure ohmic loads:

Without reduction

P = 1,0 x U x 1,0 x I = 1,0 x U x I = 100 percent consumption

With 10% reduction

P = 0,9 x U x 0,9 x I = 0,81 x U x I = 81 percent consumption

How does this have an effect on the light output?

Lowering the voltage and electricity without a loss of light output is not possible. The light output reduces far less, the energy saving one might suppose to be - according to the sort of illuminant e.g. 3% at  10% energy saving or 5% at 20% energy saving. A reduction of the lighting output in this magnitude is not perceptible for the human eye. If you need exact data for your lamp typ, please contact us.

By the way: The light output integral of a lighting, optimised with EcoMaxx, i.e. the sum of emitted light, is equal with the light output integral of the same, not optimised, lighting. Or put more simply: Both illuminants emit the same quantity of light during theirs lifetimes - but with EcoMaxx you save significantly costs.

Why the light output reduces only slightly?

Each lamps consists of a ballast and an illuminant. Much of the energy is not transformed into light, it is wasted in the ballast in the form of heat. Through a voltage and electricity reduction the dissipation loss in the ballast lowers disproportionately to the light output. Furthermore the efficiency increases with decreasing voltage at all low-loss fluorescent lamps. Adding all facts results in the situation described above: at a considerable conservation of energy the light output reduces slightly.   

Will the lifetime be extended using EcoMaxx equipment?

Yes! The losses are reduced due to the voltage and electricity reduction.
Given that the loss of power changes into heat energy, using the EcoMaxx lowers the temperature in the ballast box. The lower thermic load of the components leads to a higher lifetime of the lamps. EcoMaxx energy saving systems also save the cathodes inside the  illuminants. Less cathode material is being hurl out of the cathode during ignition, and being mature at the anode as a result of the reduced voltage. The familiar black coloration at the fluorescent lamps appears significantly later.

Experience shows a lifetime extension about 30 percent and more.

For which lamp types EcoMaxx equipment is suitable?

EcoMaxx energy saving systems are designed for and successful in use with low-loss fluorescent lamps, high-pressure mercury-arc/sodium-arc lamps, low pressure sodium-arc lamps and linear (fluorescent) luminaries in the street area. The use of lamp types with electronic ballast and EcoMaxx is possible. But with this application you could reach no energy savings.