Fluorescent Light Controllers

MERCRON’s Fluorescent Controllers exhibit distinct illumination consistency and allows varied output customization, equaling unparalleled flexibility.

Despite their replacement by LEDs in numerous commercial applications, Fluorescents have retained their usefulness in a greater number of Vision’s applications than is commonly credited.

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Facts:

Fluorescents generate a desirable light-field with spectral stability, excellent field depth, and filter-free simplicity.
Fluorescents’ spectral range of lamps: Cool White, Daylight, Black Light, Custom Phosphors, makes them uniquely suited to a wide range of color-specific and UV applications.
Fluorescents offer a plentiful variety of shapes, lengths, widths, shapes, output levels (that, by the way, are safely over-driven by MERCRON), phosphors, & several apertures choices.
Because of this great assortment, they are most versatile as well.
Fluorescents are very efficient, twice as efficient as LEDs, in most cases.
Fluorescent present the most cost-effectiveness to Machine Vision users, 1) allowing usage of a more economical lamp to begin with; 2) extension of lifetime; 3) and low maintenance requirements.
They do not require complex reflectors - especially apertures – filters, or lenses; thus, are easily integrated into Machine Vision systems.

Additionally, when Fluorescent / Apertures are MERCRON-regulated…

+ They are flicker-free, consistent, therefore, dependable and stable, steady as sunshine.

+ They are extra bright, as much as 5x brighter (apertures).
Regular Fluorescents yield 1400 candlepower; apertures yield approximately 6500. The sun produces 14,000 footcandles; the MERCRON-driven generates as many as 20,000.

In short –

MERCRON-regulated Controllers transform Fluorescents from a rugged, industrial lamp into a precision light source, ideal for Imaging; despite the trends, they are classic.

MERCRON-regulated FLUORESCENT Lamps: Before & AFTER

Any light-sources has its pros and cons.

The most appropriate lamp is determined by several factors:

color of target

background color

color sensitivity of both the detector and the camera

color temperature of the lamp itself

Regardless, MERCRON allows the System Designer to capitalize upon its positives, and goes a long way to eliminate its negatives.

Advantages with Fluorescents

A rugged, linear light source
No need for complex reflectors / lenses
Low heat control risks
Provides soft light ideal for imaging
Very efficient: 110 lumens per watt

Concerns with Fluorescents

Preconceived false notion: "Not bright enough"
Steady and rapid lamp decay
Sensitive to operating temperatures
Often requires extra coding

But when regulated at high-frequency by MERCRON…Generate a desirable light-field with:

A diffused source

Spectral stability

Brilliant output

Excellent field-depth

400 mA Series:

When ordering, be sure to specify correct version: 120 VAC or 230 VAC. MERCRON will confirm the prefix of the correct model number.

Note: All lamps in this series are T5’s (⅝”diameters), Standard Output (one exception)

Model	Has Successfully Regulated	Lamp Type	Lamp Length	Wattage: Before	AFTER¹	Light Dimming Ratio
0416 }	2	F4/T5/Std	6”	8	19	3:1
	2	F6/T5/Std	9”	12	30	“
	1	F10/T5/Std	16”	10	20	“
0424 }	4	F4/T5/Std	6”	16	38	3:1
	2	F8/T5/Std	12”	16	44	“
	1	F13/T5/Std	21”	13	32	“
	2	S&Y Ring	n/a	16	20	“
0436 }	4	F6/T5/Std	9”	24	60	3:1
	3	F8/T5/Std	12”	24	66	“
	2	F10/T5/Std	16”	20	40	“
	3	S&Y Ring	n/a	24	30	“
0448 }	4	F8/T5/Std	12”	32	88	3:1 HR/HN Models 7:1
0464 }	4	F6/T5/Std (Preheat)	9”	24	60	3:1 FY Models 7:1
	4	F8/T5/Std	12”	32	88	“
	4	F10/T5/Std	16”	40	80	“
0480 }	3	F18/T8/Std	18”	45	59	3:1

600 mA Series

When ordering, be sure to specify correct version: 120 VAC or 230 VAC MERCRON will confirm the prefix of the correct model number.

Model	Has Successfully Regulated	Lamp Type	Lamp Length	Wattage: Before	AFTER¹	Light Dimming Ratio
0624 }	1	FC6/T9/Std 2	n/a	20	30	3:1
	1	F14/T12/Std	15”	14	22	“
	1	F15/T8/Std	18”	15	30	“
		F15/T12/Std	18”	15	27	“
	1	F20/T12/Std	24”	20	32	“
0648 }	1	FT/18/DL	9”	18	23	3:1
	1	FT/24/DL	9”	24	28	“
	2	FC6/T9/Std	n/a	40	59	“
	1	FC12/T9/Std	n/a	32	45	“
	2	F14/T12/Std	15”	28	44	“
	2	F15/T8/Std	18”	30	59	“
	2	F15/T12/Std	18”	30	55	“
	2	F20/T12/Std	24”	40	63	“
	1	F30/T8/Std	36”	30	51	“
	1	F30/T12/Std	36”	30	42	“
	1	F40/T12/Std	48”	40	56	“
0664 }	1	FT/36/DL	16.6”	36	41	3:1
	1	FT/40/DL	22.6”	40	45	“
	2	FC8/T9/Std	n/a	44	69	“
0696 }	2	FT/18/DL	9”	36	45	3:1 HR/HN Models 7:1 3
	2	FT/24/DL	9”	48	55	“
	3	F15/T8/Std	18”	45	89	“
	4	F15/T8/Std	18”	60	118	“
	4	F15/T12/Std	18”	60	109	“
	1	Osram Dulux	21”	55	60	“
	1	FT/55/DL	21.1”	55	60	“
	1	PPL/80/W4	22.5”	80	90	“
	2	FC12/T9	n/a	64	89	“
	4	F20/T12/Std	24”	80	126	“
	2	F40/T12/Std	48”	80	112	“
	1	FO40/T85	60”	40	63	“
06120 }	2	FT/36/DL	16.6”	72	82	18:1
	2	FT/40/DL	22.6”	80	90	“
	4	F15/T8/Std	18”	60	118	“
	2	F30/T8/Std	36”	60	103	“
	4	F10/T12/Std	36”	90	126	“
06144 }	2	FT/36/DL	16.6”	72	82	9:1
	2	FT/55/DL	21.1”	110	120	“
	2	Osram Dulux	21”	55	60	“
	2	PPL/80/W	22.5”	160	180	“
	4	F30/T12/Std	36”	120	167	“
	3	F40/T12/Std	48”	120	167	“
06192 }	4	F40/T12/Std	48”	160	240	5:1

¹: One of MERCRON’s unique features: its “overdrive” capability by which it not only increases the
light’s output, but extends the lamp’s utility WITHOUT causing the lamps to blacken.
²: FC = Circline / Ring lamp
³: HN / HR = High Ratio Models with extra-wide Variability Range.
⁴: PPL = Phillip’s biaxial / Twin-tubed lamp
⁵: FO = Fluorescent Octron lamp

1000+ mA Series

Note: All lamps in this series are high output / HO lamps.

Model	Has Successfully Regulated	Lamp Type	Lamp Length	Wattage: Before	AFTER¹	Light Dimming Ratio
1024 }	1	F15/T8/HO	18”	30	38	HR Models: 20:1
	1	F24/T12/HO	24”	32	40	“
1048 }	2	F24/T12/HO	24”	64	80	5:1
	1	F48/T8/HO	48”	60	75	“
1072 }	2	F36/T12/HO	36”	88	110	5:1
	1	F72/T12/HO	72”	85	106	“
1096 }	4	F15/T8/HO	18”	90	112	5:1 FNC Models 3.6:1
	2	F24/T8/HO	24”	64	80	“
	4	F24/T12/HO	24”	128	160	“
	2	F36/T12/HO	36”	88	110	“
	2	F48/T12/HO	48”	120	150	“
	1	F72/T12/HO	72”	85	106	“
	1	F96/T12/HO	96”	110	138	“
10120 }	4	F28/T12/HO (Preheat)	28”	152	192	5:1 FNC Models 3.6:1
	2	F60/T12/HO	60”	140	170	“
10144 }	4	F36/T12/HO	36”	176	220	5:1
	2	F72/T12/HO	72”	170	212	“
	4	F48/T12/HO	48”	240	300	5:1
	2	F96/T12/HO	96”	220	270	“

¹: One of MERCRON’s unique features: its “overdrive” capability by which it not only increases the light’s output, but extends the lamp’s utility WITHOUT causing the lamps to blacken.

1600 mA Series

When ordering, be sure to specify correct version: 120 VAC or 230 VAC, MERCRON will confirm the prefix of the correct model number

Model	Has Successfully Regulated	Lamp Type	Lamp Length	Wattage: Before	AFTER¹	Light Dimming Ratio
1696 }	2	F48/T12/VHO	48”	230	245	3:1
	1	F96/T12/VHO	96”	215	229	“
16144 }	4	FA30/T12/VHO²	36”	228	243	6.5:1
	2	F72/T12/VHO	72”	330	352	“
16192 }	4	F48/T12/VHO	48”	460	491	5:1 FCC Models³ 3:1

¹: One of MERCRON’s unique features: its “overdrive” capability by which it not only increases the light’s output, but extends the lamp’s utility WITHOUT causing the lamps to blacken.
²: FA = Fluorescent Aperture, and in this case, with TB1 Phosphor
³: FCC – Modification to newer models having to do with current-limiting circuitry

1800 mA Series

When ordering, be sure to specify correct version: 120 VAC or 230 VAC, MERCRON will confirm the prefix of the correct model number

Model	Has Successfully Regulated	Lamp Type	Lamp Length	Wattage: Before	AFTER¹	Light Dimming Ratio
1872 }	2	FA28/T12/VHO²	28”	136	163	4.5:1
	2	FA30/T12/VHO²	36”	114	137	“
	1	F60/T12/VHO	60”	135	162	“
	1	F72/T12/VHO	72”	165	196	“
1896 }	4	FA20/T12/VHO²	24”	228	274	4:1
	4	F24/T12/VHO	24”	228	274	“
	3	FA28/T12/VHO²	28”	204	245	“
	2	F48/T12/VHO	48”	230	276	“
	1	F96/T12/VHO	96”	215	258	“
18120 }	3	FA30/T12/VHO²	36”	171	205	7:1
	2	F60/T12/VHO	60”	270	324	“

¹: One of MERCRON’s unique features: its “overdrive” capability by which it not only increases the light’s output, but extends the lamp’s utility WITHOUT causing the lamps to blacken.
²: FA = Fluorescent Aperture, and in this case, with TB1 Phosphor.

2000 mA Series

When ordering, be sure to specify correct version: 120 VAC or 230 VAC, MERCRON will confirm the prefix of the correct model number

Model	Has Successfully Regulated	Lamp Type	Lamp Length	Wattage: Before	AFTER¹	Light Dimming Ratio
2024 }	1	FA20/T12/VHO²	24”	57	76	6:1 HR Models³ 20:1
	1	F24/T12/VHO	24”	57	76	“
2048 }	2	FA20/T12/VHO²	24”	114	152	6:1 HR Models³ 20:1
	2	F24/T12/VHO	24”	114	152	“
	1	FA28/T12/VHO²	28”	68	91	“
	1	FA30/T12/VHO²	36”	57	76	“
	1	F48/T12/VHO	48”	115	153	“

¹: One of MERCRON’s unique features: its “overdrive” capability by which it not only increases the light’s output, but extends the lamp’s utility WITHOUT causing the lamps to blacken.
²: FA = Fluorescent Aperture, and in this case, with TB1 Phosphor.
³: HN / HR Models = high ratio with extra wide Variability Range.

2300 mA Series

When ordering, be sure to specify correct version: 120 VAC or 230 VAC, MERCRON will confirm the prefix of the correct model number

Model	Has Successfully Regulated	Lamp Type	Lamp Length	Wattage: Before	AFTER¹	Light Dimming Ratio
2372 }	2	FA20/T12/VHO²	24”	57	76	6:1
	2	F24/T12/VHO	24”	57	76	“
2396 }	2	FA20/T12/VHO²	24”	114	152	6:1 HN/HR Models[2] 21:1
	2	F24/T12/VHO	24”	114	152	“
	1	FA28/T12/VHO²	28”	68	91	“
	1	FA30/T12/VHO²	36”	57	76	“
	1	F48/T12/VHO	48”	115	153	“
23120 }	4	FA28/T12/VHO²	28”	272	417	9:1 HN/HR Models² 44:1
	2	FA30/T12/VHO²	36”	114	175	“
	2	F60/T12/VHO	60”	270	414	“