TRANSPORTATION LIGHTING 13-17

Table 13-1 Comparison of Several Railroad Passenger Car

Lighting Systems.
Power Supply-
Line Volts
Nominal Wattage of Lamps
Lamp Designation
Watts input per lamp including
control unit losses
Lamp output (lumens, 3,500
white)*
Approx. motor-alternator effi-
ciency (per cent)
Approx. lamp regulator effi-
ciency (per cent)
Battery output (watts per
lamp)
Lumens per battery watt
Efficiency relative to 40-watt,
a-c fluorescent
Number of lamps required to
furnish equal footcandles rela-
tive to 40-watt, a-c fluores-
cent
Rated life (hours)
*
Number of lamp replacements
relative to 40-watt, a-c fluores-
cent
FLUORESCENT
DC
15 in.
T-12
23.4
475
80
29.25
16.2
63
4.4
1,500
7.3
A-C
18 in.
T-12
19.5
615
60
32.5
18.9
73.5
3.4
2,500
3.4
24 in.
T-12
24.5
900
60
40.8
22
85.5
2.3
2,500
2.3
36 in.
T-8
36.25
1,450
60
60.4
24
93.5
1.45
2,500
1.45
48 in.
T-12
49
2,100
60
81.67
25.7
100
1.0
2,500
1.0
INCANDESCENT
DC
A-23
100
1,800
80
125
14.4
56
1.17
1,000
2.9
50 25
A-21 A-19
50 25
820 345
80 80
62.5
13.1
31.25
11.03
51 43
2.56
1,000
6.09
1,000
6.4 15.2
A-17
15
175
80
18.75
9.35
36.4
12
1,000
30.0
Changes in the lumen output and life of the lamps will cause other items to change.
Variations in voltage affect the light output of fluorescent lamps only one-
third as much as that of incandescent filament lamps.
Though the larger luminous cross section of fluorescent lamps makes it
more difficult to control the distribution of their output, their large area
and relatively low brightness minimize the need for control.
System efficiencies. Table 13-1 shows that because of the low efficiency
of d-c operated, 14-watt fluorescent lamp systems, their efficiency relative
to that of a-c operated, 40-watt fluorescent lamp systems is 63 per cent.
The 1,500-hour life of the d-c operated, 14-watt lamp added to the greater
number required means that about 7.3 d-c operated, 14-watt lamp replace-
ments can be expected for every a-c operated, 40-watt lamp replaced. In
addition, the larger number of connectors and receptacles increases the
cost of installation and maintenance. It will be noted that as fluorescent
lamp length and incandescent lamp wattage are increased, the relative
system efficiency increases. Since the comparisons depend on the lumen
output and life of each type of lamp, when changes are made in these
characteristics the balance may shift in favor of one type or another.
Installation plans and luminaire characteristics. Lighting systems used
in railway cars are of the direct, indirect, or semi-indirect type.