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Technical Details – Components for Fluorescent Lamps
Connection terminals
In the interest of ensuring firm contacts and long component service life, Vossloh-Schwabe uses only
top-quality materials for plastic or metal parts during the production of connection terminals. These quality
features apply to both Vossloh-Schwabe's luminaire connection terminals as well as to the terminals fitted
to ballasts and lampholders.
Notes on connection terminals on electronic ballasts
Vossloh-Schwabe electronic ballasts are fitted with installation-friendly push-in connectors. In addition,
many models for linear fluorescent lamps are also available with IDC terminals (for solid conductors
0.5 mm²) and supplementary push-in terminals (for solid conductors 0.5–1 mm²), stripped length 8–9 mm.
IDC terminals permit automated luminaire wiring and testing using the ALF system and are thus particularly
efficient.
Notes on connection terminals on electromagnetic ballasts
Standard issue Vossloh-Schwabe electromagnetic ballasts are fitted with installation-friendly IDC/push-in
terminals (combination terminals) or push-in terminals. The terminals are designed for use with solid conductors
with cross-sections of 0.5–1 mm² (combination terminals) or up to 1.5 mm² (push-in terminals) and
are approved for current loads of up to 6 A (combination terminal) and 16 A (push-in terminal). The lead
stripping length totals 7–9 mm for push-in terminals; leads do not need to be stripped for IDC terminals.
On request, many ballasts can also be provided with screw terminals (current load up to 16 A) for
conductor cross-sections of 0.5 to 2.5 mm².
Notes on connection terminals on lampholders
Vossloh-Schwabe usually equips lampholders for T and TC lamps as well as starter lampholders with
installation-friendly push-in terminals for solid conductors of 0.5–1 mm². Most lampholders are fitted with
twin push-in terminals and thus permit through-wiring. The required lead stripping length amounts to
8–9 mm for all types.
IDC terminals
In order to fully exploit the vast potential for rationalisation offered by automated wiring and testing with
the ALF system, a totally new component family was developed that is equipped with the VDE-tested IDC
terminal technology. This technology has already been used very successfully on a large scale in other
branches of industry. This connection technology dispenses with the stripping of conductors that is required
for the push-in, screw or crimping methods. The tried-and-tested IDC terminal technology has created the
foundation for efficient automation as it ensures both high connection quality and rapid contacting. Components
equipped in this fashion make it possible to through-wire several terminals with a single conductor.
This constitutes a further economic advantage as it significantly reduces the required conductor lengths.
Furthermore, this design principle makes it possible to use adapters to simply and reliably make electrical
contact from above for a VDE-compatible final luminaire inspection.
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