Replacing tube in EL

[Tom Sutton]

Following a recent flick test on our emergency lighting I have noticed that one of the fluorescent strip lights ( designated emergency light rated 3 hour non maintenance) has failed. Can you replace the tube with a standard appropriately rated tube providing the battery supply is ok or is a special rated tube required?

The question above is part of an email I received today which is outside my comfort zone can one of you EL engineers put me right.

[Benzerari]

My only concern about ELs is that, would ELs need really a special engineer (well qualified) to service them?

How much cost a bulb or its battery? Or how much cost the whole EL either maintained or non maintained one? The main issue is to turn them off for half hour or three hours according to the leaflet and that’s it! Isn’t?

[Allen Higginson]

My only concern about ELs is that, would ELs need really a special engineer (well qualified) to service them?

How much cost a bulb or its battery? Or how much cost the whole EL either maintained or not maintained one? The main issue is to turn them off for half hour or three hours according to the leaflet and that’s it! Isn’t?

I know it has changed to one visit per year with a three hour duration test.
Can't see why the customer can't change th 8W tube though themselves.

[kurnal]

TW
Replacement of a tube with one of an identical rating is well within the capabilities of an average maintenance person.  The post does not make it clear whether this is a standard light ftting with conversion unit or a self contained emergency lighting.

What is more important is the use of the words "non Maintenance" and it would be worth checking that your correspondent understands what this is supposed to mean. Monthly check tests and annual full discharge tests should be carried out and it might be worth confirming that the units are correctly wired to operate on local lighting sub circuit failure. So many are wired to a dedicated mcb and only work on total mains failure. 

[Graeme]

Following a recent flick test on our emergency lighting I have noticed that one of the fluorescent strip lights ( designated emergency light rated 3 hour non maintenance) has failed. Can you replace the tube with a standard appropriately rated tube providing the battery supply is ok or is a special rated tube required?

The question above is part of an email I received today which is outside my comfort zone can one of you EL engineers put me right.

It will take a normaL tube and it's just the same as them changing the tube in any other srtip light if they are capable of doing that.

As he has mentioned it is non maintained i would check that he has islolated the correct circuit and if the red led goes out. Best way to test tube if it's part of a normal lighting situation is to turn on all the lights and see if the tube works then. If yes but not when power is removed then it's likely to be the batteries.

[Benzerari]

My only concern about ELs is that, would ELs need really a special engineer (well qualified) to service them?

How much cost a bulb or its battery? Or how much cost the whole EL either maintained or not maintained one? The main issue is to turn them off for half hour or three hours according to the leaflet and that’s it! Isn’t?

I know it has changed to one visit per year with a three hour duration test.
Can't see why the customer can't change th 8W tube though themselves.

With some company I have known, engineers who haven't any certificate related to E.L.s servicing, they have been banned of approching the E.L.s, strange but true 

[Graeme]

That would suit me..  find e/l servicing very boring

[Benzerari]

That would suit me..  find e/l servicing very boring

Indeed, imagine investing for an engineer with all his tools, mobile phone, laptop, a car or van, with insurance and Tax and congestion charge... etc just to get to site and switch EL and leave them ON for half hour or three hours (If yearly visit), then goes home 

[Thomas Brookes]

Not really a problem for someone to change a tube like for like.
Im of the same feeling as Graeme Emergency lighhts bore the crap out of me.

[Allen Higginson]

I'm not permitted by our crowd to do emergency lighting because it is (i) mains & (ii) I'm not a spark.

[Graeme]

not got that excuse

[Galeon]

Following a recent flick test on our emergency lighting I have noticed that one of the fluorescent strip lights ( designated emergency light rated 3 hour non maintenance) has failed. Can you replace the tube with a standard appropriately rated tube providing the battery supply is ok or is a special rated tube required?

The question above is part of an email I received today which is outside my comfort zone can one of you EL engineers put me right.

If his lights are tested yearly , all he has to do is get his boys to leave him the correct lamps as site stock ,and as long as his employers insurance covers him for general repairs I don't see it being to much of an issue .
He would also need to keep a record of replacements.

By the way all tubes tend to blacken at the end , so don't be fooled that the lamp is defective , I have a handy gadget that actual strikes up the tube without the fitting or control gear , you simply extend the ariel on it and point it at the tube about 25mm distance away , obviously without the diffuser .

You can therefore determine if the tube is duff without taking it out.

[Tom Sutton]

Thanks everybody my first opinion was, no problem, anybody can change a light bulb but then I thought it could not be that easy but it was. The additional info was very useful as well.

[GregC]

I used to love EL services, especially annuals, turn them on, walk the site, read a magazine, watch TV etc, walk the site, turn them back on, loads better than bells ringing in your ears.

Be wary of lamos that have darkened ends, what happens is they draw more current when in that state and can cause the light fitting to fail prematurly.

Anyway its not the replacing of the lamp thats the problem, its the disposal they should be concerned about.

[Bill J]

Following a recent flick test on our emergency lighting I have noticed that one of the fluorescent strip lights ( designated emergency light rated 3 hour non maintenance) has failed. Can you replace the tube with a standard appropriately rated tube providing the battery supply is ok or is a special rated tube required?

The question above is part of an email I received today which is outside my comfort zone can one of you EL engineers put me right.

If his lights are tested yearly , all he has to do is get his boys to leave him the correct lamps as site stock ,and as long as his employers insurance covers him for general repairs I don't see it being to much of an issue .
He would also need to keep a record of replacements.

By the way all tubes tend to blacken at the end , so don't be fooled that the lamp is defective , I have a handy gadget that actual strikes up the tube without the fitting or control gear , you simply extend the ariel on it and point it at the tube about 25mm distance away , obviously without the diffuser .

You can therefore determine if the tube is duff without taking it out.

That sounds handy galeon, do you have any more info, manufacturer or model no?

Also some advice would be good please guys, one company I work for have a test team who test EL once a month, and report any faults, but then send in an engineer to do a proper check. The engineer normally visits quarterly for the FA anyway. Is there a "target" time to repair, as we have to charge a customer a fortune for an engineer to change a bulb. (The testers are Not technical in any way).

Your thoughts and comments appreciated