Does turning a florescent tube 90 degrees(so it clicks off) save power?

Question

Does turning a florescent tube 90 degrees(so it clicks off) save power? Even if the ballast is still on?

They did this at work but all the lights in the office are on the same switch, so are the ballasts/transformers in the lights still using power?

Also, some of the lights they did this too still flicker a tiny bit which leads me to believe they are not saving any power.

Ideas?

Answer 1

when you knock it out and break it, everyone will get mercury poisoning

Answer 2

It depends on how many lights we are talking about, but yes this would save some power.  The ballasts are still energized and using up power.  It would be more cost effective and safer to put the lights on separate switches so some of them can be switched off.  This would save all of the power that those ballasts are using.

Answer 3

Tubes are locked in place by turning 90 degrees - so you're half way to them falling out. Some types do.

They will waste more money in a lawsuit from a fube falling on someone than they save by doing this. Best to remove them completely, but then inadequate lighting is a health and safety issue, and if the room was designed that way, then your local HSE should know about it.



I suggest they change the tubes themselves to high efficiency ones, and use an approved contractor to remove the old ones, as it is illegal to just dump them now.

Even changing the fittings may result in better efficiency.

I was at a company that were soooo quick to ask us to make economies - then they replaced the small kettles with one big boiler that was on all the time - turning the cafe into a sauna ! - And installed PC's in every office - Just daft !

Answer 4

I work in a government office, they did this to about 50% of the bulbs in all buildings across the province.  The cost saving was huge, so I would assume its not using any power or at least less.  We were all sent the stats on the money/pollution saved and it was unreal.