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The first 2D lamp from Thorn Lighting was a relatively large 16-watt product, intended to replace 75 to 100W GLS incandescent lamps. In addition to just the lamp tube itself, it was marketed in British stores with a detatcheable ballast unit having a bayonet cap on one side, and a socket for the 2D lamp on the other side. It was designed to allow the 2D lamp to be retrofitted into domestic luminaires.
The market acceptance of the lamp was less than enthusiasitc for this and all other compact fluorescent lamps of the era, in particular the large physical size was seen as a problem. Thorn therefore decided to develop a smaller version specifically for use in domestic table lamps to replace the smaller 60-watt incandescent bulbs.
The result was the so-called "Low Energy" lamp illustrated here, which was marketed primarily in the Mazda brand name - Thorn's subsidiary division which handled lamp sales into the domestic sector. Sales commenced in 1990.
It featured a considerably smaller adaptor containing a magnetic ballast and electronic starter, with a detatchable ultra-compact 2D lamp of 10 watts rating. It was the worlds first compact fluorescent lamp having the same overall length as a regular GLS bulb and combined with a shape that radiates light in a similar pattern to a GLS lamp, it won popular approval. A second version, the Low Energy Electronic was unveiled in 1991 and featured a ballast unit of considerably reduced dimensions and mass. It also enabled tube life to be increased, and the total power consumption fell from 14W to 13W on account of the reduced ballast losses. |