Hi, I'm expert lighting man. As you know what I have learned and tested some lighting material for over the years. As well as my professional handed all my lamps testify. I will teaches you how to survives your lamp life or equipped with lamp. You must do exercises with this caring with your purchased following magnetic ballast case(s) or a self-magnetic ballasted screw-in pieces. All expenses, I rather paid to do my work for you (Huh???). Just thinking about it...

WARNING!: All plug-in style, 2-pins, any wattage compact fluorescent lamps. When lamp come to ended of life, it will continueously flickering in causes heating up ballast (resulted in shorten ballasts life). Please, RELAMP as soon as possible or before too late... Somewhat likely starting fire, blow-out ballast and lamp at same time (some in cases). Otherwise, saves your ballast life as well maintainence in lighting fixture. If you have a magnetic self-ballasted screw-in with replaceable plug-in lamp, DO NOT uses in totally enclosed fixture, resulted in plastic molded turns yellowish to brownish (model in white or ivory color body), some possible going to melting and overheating ballast/ or lamp, both at the same time as well. Make sure you MUST read the follow instruction comes with every compact fluorescent retro kit or universal kit before installed in your fixture. Some self-magnetic ballasted screw-in pieces rating an avg. life up to 40,000 hours at room temperature (77 F degrees) and relamp as soon as possible as well handled up to 4 replaceable lamp lives). Some of it can be uses outdoor (only available in 5,7, or 9 watt lamp should handle in cold temperature stated in minimize starting-up (0 thus 25 F), please notice that should not be turned-off during winter time, in results may be difficultly warming-up time in somewhat lamp will becomes shorten life, if do best result to keeping-on by 24/7 then when ended of the seasonal, do switching manually [I know that not good idea to wasting electricity, do your own ideally way] :-). Also others stated, DO NOT uses in dimming circuit or photo-cell circuit and electronic timer (may be damages in some cases which occurs). In which also best results use in burn base down for extented period time ballast life (possibility).

EXTRA CAUTION! using 13 watt 2-pins doubled or single twin tubes lamp, this bulb is a little hotter than low wattage 2-pins lamps. It can be used wall scrones light fixture and also downlighting or a recessed ceiling light fixture. Of course, 13 watt adapter system or retro kit (also called universal kit), these unit can reliable minimuim starting-up temperature at 32 F degrees (not quite uses outdoor lighting, due to poor light output when cold temperature and several flickering background [should be leave on during entire winter season without having defective lamp performs] ), best result keep adapter screw base downward for longer life self-ballasted and handled up to 4 replaceable lamp lives. Wall scornes lighting fixture where doubled or single twin tube, 2-pins lamp socket should be operates faced downward (horizonally position is okay as well) just because if you using upward in which result get burned or worned out due lamp fallen. Same way when you using downlighted or recessed ceiling lighting fixture but not recommended totally enclosed (air-tighten) could damaged them, too.

Consumer needs beware! using 18 watt and 26 watt 2-pins compact fluorescent lamp, this consists super hot cathode bulb went problem where you installed properly and matches with ballast as well. I seen many times that going happen or waiting to something happen. Well, you'll sees what going on to this lamp. If you have a recessed lighing or down lighting that comes with 2-pins lamp, should NEVER use lenses for totally enclosed (airtight) which result get burned the base lamp and likely glued lamp socket (some consumer has reportly recented) also lamp life went sought but flawless working, and others... Those who has lamp faced vertically position without lenses, this can happen not quite oftens which lamp could fallen itself (Otherwise you should have to replace lamp socket for more secures). Same thing with electronics compact fluorescent 4-pins lamp as well (I'll suggests that later on). Notice that any enclosed recessed lighting fixture (For most compact fluorescent lamp model), lamp lumens (light output) will declinces during life when continues to operating and will reduces 90% light output after the first 100 hours of burned-in. Although, lamp life could reduces 20% of rated when you using enclosed typical. Additionally, you should NEVER installs between lamp holder and ballast, or stay closes togethered. Result is ballast become shorten life. Both 18 and 26 watt, doubled twin tubes (also available tripled twin tubes), 2-pins CFL's lamp operate at above 50 F degrees in normal condition (can not uses outdoor in result de-performance lamp) wherelse in electromagnetic ballast as well.

RELAMP SAFETY!!! For those using most of compact fluorescent 2 to 4-pins lamp. It is most important you should be wearing safety glasses and soft cloth gloves or rubber (leather is also) gloves (where that doesn't cut yourself by broken glasses). Always in safety requirements is important that you MUST turned off power before any further. If you don't turned off power, which result get electrical shock and personal injury. Basically, I pulled gentlely old lamp out (necessary grabbed glass part which due to breakage lamp) and then installed a new one by press firmly into lamp socket (avoided breakage, lamp will be failed if appearance cracks on bulb wall). I also wrote in column " Compact Fluorescent Lamp Fallen?!!" safety tips (Due to discontinue articles).

In magnetic pre-heated ballast cases, be avoided excessive heating up to 165 F degrees which result shorten life but getting very warm enough should be abnormally otherwise reduced 50% of their life. Most pre-heated circuit magnetic ballasts can reliable minimium starting-up temperature rated at above 50 F degrees. Make sure compact fluorescent 2 pins lamp, don't let your fluorescent lamp ended life by blinking for long period time which ballast life will decreases. Also there is some available 2-pins lamp consist an electronics internal starter which states in ended lamp life will be shut down and stay cooled ballast. Please notice that I listed lamp and ballast temperature rated in suitable fixture (whole came from any manufacturers labeled on the product). Although, it looks different temperature rated but which is one important to you? And why are you may be confusing by understanding? But why?!! Are they important to you? I'll explains that later. 

Speaking of lamp starter, some cases of manufacture suggested that you should replacing fluorescent lamp and starter at same time and may be ballast as well. To protect ballast life by using one of those fluorescent manual reset cut-out lamp starter if your system is starter requirements, you may use them as well. I wrote in column called " What Kind Fluorescent Lamp Starter You Should Using?" go look for it (Due to under construction).

Well forks! There's you go, I just handed to you... Do you think is this really helpful information to protect your favorite rareness bulbs and ballasts?!!! But, I got more coming up in shortly... Enjoy it for light up for life!!! Good luck, J.L. Rice