Energy conservation is paramount in view of the increasing cost of power generation juxtaposed by the higher transmission and distribution losses in India.
In developing countries the power system is not rigid.There are transient voltages, persistent low voltages below 30% of the rated voltage, distortion of line current etc. Energy
conservation takes a back seat with the argument that it is automatic under low system voltages.There is a tendency to disconnect energy conserving fluorescent lamps and CFLs with GLS lamps because, magnetically operated lighting have a minimum voltage for ignition.
Although high frequency operation provides the advantages of low voltage light up, there are other problems such as reliability and high cost.With the proliferation of electronics based electrical equipment, a new situation has arisen.ln the power system there were lagging power factor devices only, hitherto.
Our measurements have indicated that the line currents of devices such as TVs, Computers, SMPS systems.Telephone exchanges, High frequency Ballasts for fluorescent lamps and compact fluorescent lamps etc, are not only distorted but the fundamental component of current is leading.
Correction of distortion is not only expensive but impractical in many situations.ln the paper we describe a leading power factor, energy conserving RETROFIT lighting system for both fluorescent lamps and compact fluorescent lamps which has features viz., energy conservation, low distortion of line current, low voltage light up etc. Experiments indicate that they compare well with the state of art lighting systems.

View full abstract