In our daily life we come across a substantial amount of statements and rumours which instill different perspectives to any given subject. This affects engineering in general. One such highlight is the performance of PL and LED lamps in Malta.

A study is being carried out at the University of Malta in aim of assessing the performance of lighting systems in different scenarios. Due to the higher levels of salinity and humidity in Malta, the performance of such units may vary from those specified by the manufacturer. Therefore, certification is required to guarantee the performance of such automation. It is known that the lifetime of any electrical appliance is affected by external factors such as humidity, temperature, salinity levels, ultra violet, infra-red, noise and power factor.

Manufacturers specify the lifetime of a lighting bulb in terms of hours but no correlation is made with the number of switching and ambient conditions. Presently in Malta, numerous retailers are selling luminaries of inferior quality with fake certification. Their performance can be tested by applying a spike test. This was previously carried at the University of Malta by applying a high voltage for a split of a second to the luminary. 

PL and LED lamps are relatively expensive, thus the mist of uncertainty about their lifetime makes a demanding implementation. The detailed investigation and certification for the performance of such bulbs enhances their applications. The viability of any product is strongly determined by its useful lifetime. It is of utmost importance to separate the wheat from the chaff at this point in time.

 It was discovered that the most substantial contribution of the wear and tear of a fluorescent lamp, is the switching frequency. In simpler words: the lifetime of a fluorescent luminary decreases with the number of switching. As a results, the electronic circuitry for the magnetic ballast (inside the luminary) failed. Ideally such a lighting solution should be used for broad intervals with the least possible interruptions. Besides, motion sensor modules should never be integrated with fluorescent lighting since the former increase the switching. Such modules could be integrated with LED lighting since their life time is not correlated to switching.