Oil price goes high up in the sky :-( The bad impact is on the price of electricity. What is your move to tackle this if you want to decrease or at least to prevent the charges from rocketing. One way is to find an alternative energy source such as solar or wind energy. But for average people, we still use the electricity from state-owned company because alternative energy charges us higher cost of investment though in the long run the cost-benefit of it is much lower...

If you are still utilizing electricity from a supplying company, a simple way to save it is that you may replace your normal ballast of fluorescent lamp (which is a bulky and heavy one) with an electronic ballast. For a 40W fluorescent lamp (CFL), the normal ballast itself will consume approximately 40W so that the total power used in this case is about 2 times of the power of fluorescent lamp alone. 50% of the power is wasted as heat in the ballast! What a waste! Therefore if you are using electronic ballast, you will save about 50% of energy. You will also save the earth in the end.

Recently I have tested 2 brand of electronic ballasts which I purchase from a local store. Actually the storekeeper gave me 3 alternatives of brands with their selling price in Indonesian Rupiah as follows:

1. Philips around Rp 60,000
2. Elite (made in China) approx Rp 15,000
3. Oulex (the printed mark says made in Germany but I think it is made in China also) approx Rp 20,000

I do not select Philips because it is more expensive than the others but I indeed know that the quality should be much better. I may try it later.

The result is as follows:

1. The quality of Elite is lower than Oulex. Its retainer / supporting rings which screwed to the ceiling for clamping and holding the lamp tube, are made from plastic. Whereas the rings from Oulex are made from metal. The casing of Elite is also made from cheap plastic.
   
2. The brightness of the lamp if you use Oulex is much better than Elite. I guess the capacity of Oulex is greater than Elite due to the bigger size of unit. Elite unit seems to be made without proper design consideration. Just make for sell.
   
3. I haven't got any time to open or investigate the circuitry but I got a good impression on Oulex. The product looks more professional and has good & durable casing. My suggestion: leave Elite and purchase Oulex if you find it in the market

These product may only be available in Indonesia only....

OK guys, let's save the electricity!

See the other topics in my other blog at http://rdy888.blogspot.com