lighting question for someone who knows electricity
 

I'm not sure if I should post this here or in the lighting, filtration...forum, anyways here is my question: I have a european t5 light fixture which runs on 230v and 50 hz.
I want to run it here in Canada. I have a 220v line ready to go but here we run on 60 hz.
I am wondering if the different frequency will affect how the gasses burn in the t5 bulbs. Might there be a shift in spectrum or intensity from the norm due to the slight difference in voltage or frequency?
thanks

Hmm, Great question for PaulErik here on RC.
I do know that the ballasts can be run on 208-230V 60Hz just fine. we do this all the time at work (art museum showing pieces from around the world). AFAIK, no detectable color shift in the lamps.

Thanks for the reply, H20ENG.
Yes, I have come to that conclusion as well from others who say as you, that the ballast lights up the bulbs, no problem. But I am wondering if there will be any color shifts, because theoretically, that difference in frequency will alter how often the gasses get hit with electrical impulses... (I think.., I really don't know how it works, but I have talked to a few people who don't exactly know how it works either, but know more than me!)

AFAIK the color does not change. Once the gasses are ionized inside the lamp, changing the frequency slightly should not affect it.
In the case of the newer lamps, the output frequency is electronically controlled anyway. Not so in the old magnetic ballasts though.

O.k. so the short answer is that I shouldn't worry about it. That's good to know.
But just out of curiosity then, how does dimming work? Isn't it done by changing the frequency?

Flourescent dimming is done at the ballast, and uses its own special wall or computer control. The only flourescents on dimmers that I have worked with have been Lutron (and they are damned expensive!!).

I believe they cut the current, but keep the filaments hot so the arc stays on, even when turned down low. Not sure about the frequency or voltage. They definitely stay the same color (to my eye anyway), but simply dim down like halogens.

[url]http://www.lutron.com/CMS400/WorkArea/downloadasset.aspx?id=10055[/url]