Viva-Lite™ - Questions & Answers.

FAQ’s are the so-called, frequently asked questions, i.e. frequent questions and answers.

Please go through the following questions and answers. Should you have further questions we are happy to be at your service personally via Email or through telephone.

Overview:

• What is the difference between incandescent and fluorescent lamps?
• What is meant by light yield?
• What does luminous flux mean?
• What is a power supply unit?
• How much UV should a lamp have?
• Why do some lamps get hot immediately?
• What is full spectrum light?
• How can I save energy with the lighting?

• Viva – LiteTM is available in what sort of lamp holders?
• What do I do, when a lamp goes bust?
• Do the lamps contain UV-Light?
• Can I mix the different Viva – LiteTM Lamp types
• When is lighting with Viva – LiteTM not recommended?
• Can your Lamps be dimmed?
• Is Viva – LiteTM suitable for light therapy?

• Why is light and above all healthy light so important?
• But why is UV-light not harmful?
• Fluorescent tubes give me headaches, why?
• How can its avoid (winter) depressions?

• Difference between incandescent lamps with daylight or natural spectrum?
• Can one dim full spectrum light – economy lamps?
• What is the difference between the so-called “Daylight” and full spectrum light?
• Can I use a 23 W economy lamp in a 60W socket?
• How much lux do its reach for example with 2 fluorescent tubes?
• Do I need a EVG for tubes or can I install it myself?

- General -

What is the difference between incandescent lamps and fluorescent lamps?
In case of incandescent lamps it deals with the so-called temperature radiator. The coil made of tungsten is made to glow and thus to illuminate with electric current. Incandescent lamps cause mainly warmer light fluorescent lamps are the so-called discharge lamps. A hardly visible UV – radiation is made thru an electric discharge between both the poles of the glass-tube. The light occurs due to the fact, that the fluorescent substance on the inner side of the glass is stimulated by the UV to illuminate. For start and operation all fluorescent lamps need operating devices.
Fluorescent lamps are very economical, but create a more colder light.

What does one understand by light-yield?
The light yield of a lamp for per watt of electrical yield, given in Lm/W (Lum per Watt).

What does Luminous Flux mean?
Luminous flux means the illumination yield of a illumination source and is started in 1m(Lum). The luminous flux distribution shows how a lamp distributes the light in a room, for e.g. evenly, directly, indirectly.

What is an electronic ballast?
Discharge lamps (for e.g. Fluorescent tubes) have to be operated for current limitation with electronic ballast which offer the following advantages, in case of higher illumination yield same power, flicker free luminous flux, constant light and colour temperature in cases of fluctuations. Moreover they increase, the life of a lamp.

How much UV should a lamp have?
Just enough to have the health advantage of the UV-spectrum (Vitamin-D-Production etc). Too much UV is harmful. In case of Viva – Lite the UV-Spectrum dose is biologically just right, exact Data cannot be given due to reasons of patent.

Why do some lamps get hot immediately?
In case of incandescent lamps only about 5% of the energy is converted into light. The rest is “lost” as heat, which heats the lamp immediately.

What is a full spectrum light?
Light with (almost the full or identical spectrum of the sun. naturally the sun is unique. Therefore the term “full spectrum light” has to be also seen relatively. To formulate it pragmatically full spectrum light contains all visual (colour) parts of sunlight as also a biological correct dose of corresponding UV-A, UV-B and ideally also the infrared parts of sunlight.

How can I save energy with the illuminations?
Easier than you can possibly think:

• Lights off, when not required.
• Lesser Watt means lesser energy consumption. Inspite of this it is preferable to use a single powerful lamp than many weaker lamps.
• Workplaces should always be furnished with a daylight orientation
• Use indirect illumination sparsely
• Use energy saving lamps. However spot on, spot off is not their thing. They reach their full brightness only after a couple of minutes and are meant therefore more for steady light.
• Normal incandescent lamps should be used in rooms less used.

Unfortunately this is also true : Ceiling flood lights with dimmer only feign economy with 150 to 300 Watts you consume however more than 10 times of current than the brightest energy saving lamp. Also halogen lamps have a disadvantage. They function only with a hungry transformer.

- Viva-Lite™ specifically -

In which models is Viva-Lite™ available?
Look at the page “Models and Types”, there you will find the compete Viva – LiteTM collection. New models are added continually.

What do I do , when a lamp goes off ?
Should a lamp go off, then you can replace it without any problems with a new one. For this you only have to know the correct model and wattage order a new lamp and nothing more stands in the path of a healthy illumination.

Tip: Take case while removing a broken lamp, that it is not damaged anywhere.
Switch of the current. Used lamps go into the special garbage!

Do the lamps have UV – Light?
Other than the Viva – Lite incandescent lamps with natural spectrum all Viva – Lite types contain a biological dose of UV-Light. This is but in no way enough to for e.g., to tan oneself or to get a sun-tan. The UV-dose is very small and harmless health wise.

Can the different Viva – LiteTM lamp types be mixed?
Theoretically one can mix all Viva – Lite lamps with one – another, i.e., lite them in a room at the same time. If you are not too sure or would like professional advice, speak to a light consultant. He would be of helpful to you and knows a couple of rules and tricks, which would all turn into a wonderful light.

When is illumination with Viva – Lite™ not advisable ?
Viva-Lite can be practically installed anytime and anywhere for illumination.

Can your lights be dimmed?
Basically all incandescent lamps are suitable for dimming.
Often however the spiral lamp (or as it is correctly called : compact fluorescent tube) is confuses with the incandescent lamp. The spiral lamps which fit into the normal E 27-incandescent lamp sockets have a electronic power supply unit (EVG) in the socket, which cannot be dimmed. This fitting can thus not be dimmed. But incandescent and halogen lamps can be dimmed without any problem.
By the way: Fluorescent tubes can also be dimmed, if there is a EVG integrated in the fitting itself, which is mostly not very cheap.

Is Viva-Lite™ suitable for a Light therapy?
Light influences our hormones and therefore also unsure Psyche. Especially in the dark times of the year many people suffer particularly due to winter depressions and tiredness. Today these symptoms are treated manifoldly with Light applications, during which full spectrum tubes are used.
We are of the opinion, that it makes sense to avoid these “Light deficiency symptoms” like winter depressions and feeling low and to illuminate the rooms with full spectrum tubes as a preventive. Thus we can also develop happy spring feeling in winter.

- Light andHealth -

Why is light and above all healthy light so important?
Man and all other life has developed under the light of the Sun. Since the invention of the incandescent bulb at the end of the 19th century , we in the industrialized countries spend most of the time under artificial light. We are thus most of the time cut away from day light ; which keeps us healthy, active and capable of performance and increase us our creative potential. The best alternative for natural light is offered by lamps similar to day light like for example the once from Viva – Lite which create a natural light atmosphere.

But isn’t UV – Light harmful?
Yes… and No…. First one should differentiate between UV – A, -B, and –C light . UV – C anyhow is kept off by nature normally upto 99% by Earths atmosphere – probably it is therefore not really healthy for us human being also. It finds a major application but for example in a operation theatre, since there one cleans regularly with UV-C, to kill spores, bacteria etc.,

UV-A & UV-B on other hand accompany us through the sun-rays since millions of years we have developed in us a natural balance with them and the nature. They are also required for many metabolic processes and hormone production, like for eg., formation of Vitamin-D. Here the question about “too little” and “too much” arises. That too much of UV-light can be very harmful (above all since the hole in the Ozone-layer) is already known. Skin cancer for eg., comes to one’s mind here. That however UV-Light can even repair already damaged cells is not known. This was proved in 1990 on animal cells and in 2000 confirmed also for human cells.

The question is not whether it is harmful or not, but starting from which amount. The people in the south have always done it right not for nothing do they enjoy their “Siesta”, whilst the typical holiday maker basks in the sun at a unfavorable time of the day.

A note at the end : your Sun – cream protects you limitedly from UV-A and UV-B radiation – not from UV-C(!).

Fluorescent tubes cause me a headache, Why?
A good question. That can have many reasons. For one fluorescent tubes are often operated still with so called conventional power supply devices (instead of EVGs = electronic power supply units / electronic ballasts), Which
a.) cause a stronger electromagnetic load and
b.) allow the flickering of the tubes in 50 Hz – rhythm, which can also react negatively on your health.

Both have been already researched through scientific studies and could (doesn’t have to be !) trigger off your Migraine.

How can I avoid ( winter) depressions?
1. One has to differentiate between depressions in general and the so-called seasonal depressions ( SAD or Winter depressions ) : the latter one’s appear only in the darker Autumn-/ Winter months and here light has proved to be the therapy of first choice. That doesn’t mean, that light would not work also in case of heavier depressions or depressions caused by other reasons. It is often used supportively with the earlier known therapies.

2. There is a classical light -therapy (bright-light) , in which case ray-treatment is with bright white light and colored light equipment, whereby the specifically required colors are effective. (Mostly red, orange or yellow).

3. In case of the Bright-light therapy there are several offers of corresponding equipment in the market. The prices vary greatly so be sure to checkout good quality and reasonable price.

4a. Bright-Light Light-Therapie: For successful treatment a light strength of 2,500 Lux ( measured on the eye) is necessary. The period of the therapy depends therefore on the Lux number – in case of 10,000 Lux of 30 minutes of daily ray-treatment, whilst in contrast in case of 2,500 Lux upto 2 hours could be necessary.
4b. IN case of the therapy with colors a such high Lux amount is not required. A consultation or study of these FAQs before the purchase of such a device is recommended.

5. In principle every equipment makes almost 10,000 Lux or more (!) – It is simply dependent upon the fact as to how far away you are sitting from the equipment for example ! From a 1 cm distance a incandescent lamp makes also more than 10,000 Lux ! Therefore plan during the purchase of a device also as to how and where your are going to install it and in how far away your are going to be from it. Which should be practical and comfortable to use!

6. Basically there are the following types:
Table devices (if required with wall-fittings)
Equipment with stand for floor, ceiling – or wall-fitting (ray treatment mostly for large areas for eg for clinics)
Light helmets for the mobile therapy.
Small mobile LED – radiation equipment for eg. for the hand-bag.

7. Amongst the equipment, which match these criteria till now, you can choose the one which comes closest to your Design - and price ideas.

- Technical and other Questions -

What is a difference between incandescent lamps with daylight -/ or natural spectrum?
Daylight – incandescent bulbs are like normal incandescent bulbs, only that they make a somewhat brighter light. Incandescent lamps with natural spectrum or coated with neodymium ( a rare earth element) and make a warm, comfortable light and last moreover also longer.
Moreover they reduce the artificial yellow part of the light, so that for eg., reading, but also contrast – and shadow formation, colour and so on become substantially better.

Can one dim full spectrum light – economy lamps?
No unfortunately not yet. We are working however on a dimmable variation. There is however a pluggable variation of the spiral bulb, there however one has to fix a dimmable EVG in the fitting itself. The question is also, whether it makes sense at all, to dim brightfull – spectrum or daylight. Thereby it does not concern the corresponding Electro smog. For dimming a comfortable warm tone light is essential better suited.

What is the difference between the so called “daylight” and full spectrum light?
Daylight tubes are fluorescent lamps which imitate the photocolor of daylight full spectrum tubes contain moreover the corresponding UV-parts of the natural daylight and have mostly a harmonized color spectrum.
But note : Not every so-called “full spectrum tube” contains actually all parts of the natural daylight (incl. UV-A and UV-B). You can check this yourself easily, for eg. with a UV- measurement strip /- indicator, which you can get in almost every chemist round the corner.

Pay preferably a little more and pay attention to quality!
Else every price is much too expensive!

Can I use a 23 W economy lamp in a 60 W socket?
When a sockets are laid for eg. for 60 W incandescent lamps, then it has sound reasons. However this is related mostly (atleast in eg. ) to incandescent lamps, which are known to become very hot. In case of economy lamps which should therefore not represent any problems.
Conversion table economy / Spiral lamps vs Incandescent lamps :
7W economy lamp = about 25W incandescent lamp
11W economy lamp = about 40W incandescent lamp
15W economy lamp = about 60W incandescent lamp
20W economy lamp = about 75W incandescent lamp
23W economy lamp = about 100W incandescent lamp

How much Lux do I reach with for eg. 2 fluorescent tubes)?
So, the thing with Lux is a tricky issue…. It is simply dependent upon distance your are from this fitting! For a distance 1 Cm a fluorescent tube makes perhaps 1,00,000 Lux for a 2 Cm distance possibly only 300 (example - values). Besides it depends as to how many windows etc., are there in the room. There are not for know reason different lighting planning and calculation programs to calculate the concerned optimal “Lux “ value for the corresponding application of the fitting. The law makers have laid down certain regulations, as per which one has to plan.

Do I need an Electronic ballast (EVG) for full spectrum–fluorescent lamps and can I fix it myself ?
Yes, if you are enough versed technically. Basically but a change by the electrician is recommended. Two Tips :
A EVG (electronic power supply unit) isn’t imperatively necessary to operate full spectrum tubes, even if this is to be recommended very much! Often a complete fitting or light bar incl. EVG and tubes (!) is cheaper than a comparable addition. It is worth wile here to look at a comparative offer. When you buy new fittings, please take care to see that these have a built – in EVG , which saves money, helps the environment, reduces the Electro smog and makes the optical impression of the light much more even and calmer ( smoother).

Do you have any further questions? Do not hesitate and write to us, we will answer to this immediately:

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