Annexure 2

Test Results of 40 W Tubelights

4 feet, cool day light
40 W a t t s
C o o l D a y L i g h t s
uBrands/Standards IS: 2418-1977 Rank Overall M.R.P.* score Price (in Rs.) vInitial lumen NLT 2254 lumens (out of 15 samples)
Average CONFORMING WIPRO SURYA - HBT NEW CEMA SUPER ECE AMARJYOTI GE - STANDARD NEW PHILIPS CHAMPION AR NEW CROMPTON OSRAM BAJAJ ANCHOR CLASSIC BENGAL LAMPS (CM/L - 8527181) NON-CONFORMINGy POWERLITES(CM/L - 8348989)
(Fake)

IS LUMEN wLumen after 2000 hrs

[NLT 85% of initial lumen] (%) (out of 10 samples)

Efficacy (Lumen/Wattage)

Non- IS xCost of Energy consumption

per year (lower the better) (in Rs.)

(Wtd. score)

Average

(Wtd. score)

Average

(Wtd. score)

Average

(Wtd. score)

1 2 3 4 5 5 6 7 8 9 9

93 89 85 84

45.00 42.00 45.00 42.00 45.00 47.00 45.00 44.00 45.00 45.00 42.00

2414 2422 2397 2353 2366 2367 2334 2281 2292 2286 2315

28.6 30.0 25.5 17.7 20.0 20.2 14.3 4.8 6.8 5.7 10.9

91.47 88.13 89.75 93.22 91.92 90.14 89.12 94.27 91.69 91.73 87.15

10.5 5.1 7.7 13.3 11.2 8.3 6.7 15.0 10.8 10.9 3.5

59.09 60.04 57.55 57.67 57.04 59.49 58.20 56.63 58.00 56.22 59.42

34.4 35.0 33.5 33.6 33.3 34.7 33.9 33.0 33.8 32.8 34.6

238.56 235.59 243.24 238.27 242.24 232.37 234.18 235.23 230.80 237.45 227.53

19.1 19.3 18.7 19.1 18.8 19.6 19.4 19.3 19.7 19.2 20.0

} }

83 83 74 72 71 69 69

100

40.00 42.00

2183 2157

30

15

35

20

BENGAL LAMPS (Fake) (CM/L - 8348989) WEIGHTAGE (%)

u We tested the tubelights against IS 2418-1977 (Part-1) with 4 amendments; IS 2418-1977 (Part-2) with 2 amendments; IS 2418-1977 (Part-3) with 1 amendment; and IS 2418-1977 (Part4). v Initial lumen of individual lamp should not be less than 2254 for 40W as per IS. w Lumen maintenance(%) of individual lamp (i.e. after 2000 hrs) should not be less than 85
% of initial lumen measured for 40W as per IS. x Cost of energy consumption/year is calculated by taking average power consumption of 15 samples rating test quantity (RTQ) [initial wattage measured with reference chokes (ballasts)], use of tubelight for 4 hr/day up to one year and energy cost of Rs. 4/KWh. The calculations are based on an average household energy consumption for 1 tubelight. In the We have the individual readings of all samples of each brand on record. The average have been mentioned only for readers' convenience. The readings may be available on request. INSIGHT-The Consumer Magazine MAY-JUNE 2005

case of office, shops, etc. where usage is more than 4 hr/day and more in numbers, the energy Key : NLT = Not less than consumption will be higher. y Both the non-conforming brands, Powerlites (CM/L 8348989) and Bengal Lamps (CM/L 8348989) were discontinued from further testing after they failed to qualify for the initial For rating and ranking we assigned 30 per cent to lumen test. The IS requires 15 samples to be tested and allows a maximum of 4 failures in one average initial lumen, 15 per cent to average lumen batch. (after 2000 hrs.), 35 per cent to average efficacy and Notes 20 per cent to cost of energy consumption. The Apart from life, lumen and wattage, the tubelights were also tested for requirements of other parameter scores were not included as all the mechanical and physical characteristics, lamp voltage, starting and burning test, aging, brands complied. The overall score was therefore torsion, insulation resistance, test for rated colour temperature, starting at low temperature and lamp dimension. All the brands conformed to the parameters. The based on these four weighted scores.

Rating & Ranking

brands also complied with the marking requirements as per the IS. * Price at the time of purchase

Annexure 4

Best Buys
Since there was not much difference found in the prices of the brands, we have based our Best Buys on the overall performance scores.

Wipro scored the highest with 93 and is recommended as our

Best Buy.

SURYA HBT
Surya HBT is the second highest scorer with 89 and also recommended as our

Best Buy.

NEW CEMA SUPER

New Cema Super is the third highest scorer with 85 and recommended as our Best Buy.

11

INSIGHT-The Consumer Magazine MAY-JUNE 2005

Brands Tested:

Annexure 1 & 3

Philips Champion AR, Crompton, Bajaj, Surya, Powerlites, Bengal Lamps(CM/L 8527181), Wipro, Cema Super, GE Standard, Osram, Bengal Lamps (CM/L 8348989), ECE Amarjyoti and Anchor Classic. Standards Tubelights are covered neither under the Quality Control Order (QCO) nor the mandatory certification of the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS). However, all the brands that we tested carried the BIS mark. Therefore, they must comply with all the IS parameters. We tested the brands against the following standards: IS 2418-1977 (Part-1) with 4 amendments; IS 2418-1977 (Part-2) with 2 amendments; IS 2418-1977 (Part-3) with 1 amendment; and IS 2418-1977 (Part-4).

CLAIMS Vs FACTS
Brand : Wipro Claim : Applying Thought Manufacturers Response : Applying thought is an integral part of Wipros composite brand identity. This statement flows from our values... encapsulated in Wipros promise to the customer ... we promise to serve our Customer with Integrity,... by Applying Thought, day after day. Facts : Our results showed Wipro to be the best among all the brands tested. We therefore accept their substantiation of the claim. Brand : Bajaj Lamps Claim : Slash your electricity bills Manufacturers Response : Not received Facts : Rated wattage marked : 40W Measured initial wattage : 39.52W (average) The difference found in our results was around 0.77 paise/day, which on average wattage of 15 samples is a marginal saving. Cost of energy bills/year with use of 40W tubelight is Rs.233.6/year and that with 39.52W is Rs.230.80/year (use of one tubelight for 4 hours/day at energy cost of Rs.4/kWh.) Our results do not support the manufacturers claim. Brand : Philips Champion AR Claim : Brighter Light * Manufacturers Response : Not received Facts : Standards specify the initial lumen to be 2254 (min.). In Philips (40 W) it ranged from 2258 to 2398. The average initial lumen of 15 samples were 2367. Although the initial lumens were more than the Standard they were low compared to lumen output of other brands tested. H o w e v e r, r e s u l t s s u p p o r t t h e manufacturers claim. Brand : Anchor Classic Claim : * Extra Bright * * Lumen marked on carton (Packet) = 2450 Manufacturers Response : This is only the advertisement... made by our Head Office in Mumbai... marketing department is using the literature. Facts : Standards specify the initial lumen to be 2254 (min.). In Anchor Classic (40W) it ranged from 1550 to 2407. The average initial lumen of 15 samples was 2286. Although the initial lumens were more than the Standard they were low compared to lumen output of other brands tested. H o w e v e r, r e s u l t s s u p p o r t t h e manufacturers claim. Brand : Powerlites CM/L-8348989 (Fake) Claim : High efficiency Manufacturers Response : Not received Facts : The manufacturer did not provide the value of efficiency for comparison. Since Powerlites could not conform to the test for initial lumen, it was dropped from all the other tests. Our results do not support the manufacturer s claim of High Efficiency. Brands : Anchor Classic, Surya HBT Claims : Aqua base technology, HBTHydro-based technology Manufacturers' Response : Anchor Classic : In tubelight manufacturing process, fluorescent powder coating on shells is of various types. In our process, coating of the shells is followed by waterbased technology. Surya HBT : Not received Facts : Generally in most brands of tubelights hydro-based technology is used for powder coating inside the tube. This is also known as water-based technology or aqua-based technology. It is a common technology adopted by many manufacturers and hence cannot be called a claim. Brands : Surya HBT, Powerlites Claims : Lights up at low voltage Manufacturers' Response : Not received Facts : The manufacturer did not specify at what low voltage the tubelight lights up. All the brands of tubelights (40W) were tested for starting at a low voltage of 180 V. All conformed to the requirement. Brand : Bengal Lamps CM/L-8348989 (Fake) Claim : Lumen marked on carton (Packet) = 2450 Manufacturers Response : Not received Facts : Standards specify the initial lumen to be 2254(min.). The average lumen of 15 samples was Brand : GE Standard Claim : Ribbon glass technology Manufacturers Response : We use plain cut tubes and glass shells, which we manufacture in our own factory. Glass shells are produced by ribbon technology and the same glass is used for producing PCTs, so as to obtain uniform wall thickness and defect-free glass, which leads to uniform white light. Facts : Manufacturers adopt this technology. It has the advantage of uniform light and therefore the claim is substantiated. Brand : Bengal Lamps (CM/L-8527181) Claim : Ujale Ka Dushra Naam * Manufacturers Response : Our product is excellent in quality and has very good life and is able to render bright light, which is synonymous to daylight when the lamp is lit in a dark room. Facts : Standards specify the initial lumen to be 2254(min.). In Bengal Lamps (40W) it ranged from 2273 to 2430. Although it was low compared to lumen output of most other brands tested by us, the average initial lumen of 15 samples was 2315. The results support the claim.
* Since all the 13 brands selected fell into the `cool daylight' category which as per Standards are required to have 6500K colour temperature, and all the brands conformed, the claims made by these brands have been considered in the content of lumen output.

2157 and it ranged from 2099 to 2205. Bengal Lamps (CM/L-8348989) did not comply with the minimum initial lumen requirements. The claim is not substantiated. Brand : Powerlites CM/L-8348989 (Fake) Claim : Lumen marked on carton (Packet) = 2450 Manufacturers Response : Not received Facts : Standards specify the initial lumen to be 2254(min.). In Powerlites (40W) it ranged from 2133 to 2222. The average lumen of 15 samples was 2183. Powerlites (40W) (CM/L-8348989) did not comply with the minimum initial lumen requirements. Labelling claim is not substantiated.

INSIGHT-The Consumer Magazine MAY-JUNE 2005