Osram Dulux Electronic 15W
In 1985 Osram set a new trend in compact fluorescent lamps with the launch of Dulux EL, the first mass-produced CFL having an electronic ballast. Although there had been earlier electronically-ballasted products, such as the Philips-Westinghouse SL Electronic of 1982, and Osram Circolux EL of 1985, neither were especially popular due to their large dimensions. Osram's Dulux EL was the first to capitalise on the potential of electronic ballasts to reduce lamp size, and improve compatibility with incandescent luminaires. Other notable advantages were reduced weight, longer life, faster ignition, a stable flicker-free light and improved efficacy.

Osram became highly active in the promotion of electronic control gear during the mid-1980s. It was determined to push that technology into compact fluorescent lamps at a time when almost all of the market relied on magnetically ballasted retrofit lamps of Philips, Thorn, Sylvania, Toshiba and Panasonic. Philips was vehemently opposed to the concept, and lobbied powerfully that electronic ballasts had no place in the CFL business due to the then much higher costs. This may have been because Philips enjoyed a near-monopoly at the time, of making private-label versions of its SL* lamp for competitors such as Osram. It made numerous attempts to persuade Osram's management to abandon its electronic strategy, but without success.

When the new lamp was finally marketed in 1985, customer response was overwhelmingly positive. Consumers willingly paid the higher price to gain the electronic advantages, and the Dulux EL quickly became so popular that its competitors were forced to follow suit. Philips did not catch up until the 1988 launch of its PLC*Electronic version.
Manufacturer: Osram GmbH
Lamp Power: 15 Watts
Lamp Voltage: 220-235 Volts
Lamp Current: 0.100 Amps Power Factor: 0.5
Cap Type: E27/27 Nickel plated brass
Bulb Type: T-12.5 T-4 in eighths/inch
Bulb Finish: Y2O3:Eu3+, CeMgAl11O19:Tb3+ Soda-lime glass
Electrodes: Triple Coil Tungsten Triple carbonate emitter
Atmosphere: Argon + Hg
Luminous Flux: 900 lm @ 100h 830 lm (lighting design)
Luminous Efficacy: 60.0 lm/W @ 100h
Colour Temperature & CRI: CCT: 2700K CRI: Ra 82
Chromaticity Co-ordinates: CCx: 0.463 CCy: 0.420
Lifetime: Approx. 6000 hours to L85F50
Warm-up & Re-strike Time: 1 minute Instant
Burning Position: Universal
Overall Length: 175mm 7 inches
Base diameter: 58mm 2¼ inches
Mass: 130 grams
Factory: Augsburg Germany
Date of Manufacture: 1987 October Date Code: rH4
Original Value: GB £12.75 (1992)
References: 1) Wotan Lamp Catalogue, 1988 UK
2) Wotan Dulux EL Brochure, 1986 UK
3) Osram Dulux Technical Manual, c.1985 USA