Measurement 30 (2001) 257–267 www.elsevier.com / locate / measurement Arbitrary waveform generator for harmonic distortion tests on compact fluorescent lamps F.V. Topalis*, I.F. Gonos, G.A. Vokas National Technical University of Athens, Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, 9, Iroon Politechniou St., Zografou, 157 80 Athens, Greece Received 9 September 2000; received in revised form 21 February 2001; accepted 22 February 2001 Abstract This paper presents an experimental method to perform tests on compact fluorescent lamps operated with distorted voltage waveform conditions. The voltages used for the tests are obtained from an arbitrary waveform generator. It consists of a computer, a multifunction card and the software package. The characteristics of the voltage are entered from the computer that loads the required waveform into the card. The output of the card is driven to a voltage amplifier to supply the lamps. Samples of the voltage across the load and of the circulating current are recorded and transferred to the computer for harmonic analysis. The user supervises the tests through several virtual instruments that have been developed especially for this application. The system facilitates the performance evaluation of various appliances for distorted supply voltages. The cost of the system is very low compared with a conventional system consisting of an arbitrary waveform generator, a digital oscilloscope, a spectrum analyzer or / and a computer for harmonic analysis and a true rms multifunction meter. The experimental results show that the distribution of the harmonics of some lamp types does not alter linearly under distorted supply voltages.  2001 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved. Keywords: Arbitrary waveform generator; Power system harmonics; Compact fluorescent lamps; Power quality 1. Introduction CFLs operate at a low power factor consuming less active power, providing comparable luminous As part of energy conservation strategy, many output to the incandescent lamps [1]. However, the electric power utilities are promoting modern tech- ballasts of compact fluorescent lamps can be an nologies that consume less energy while providing important source of higher-order harmonic compo- better quality. In this category belongs the compact nents of current. These lamps induce distorted cur- fluorescent lamp (CFLs). This electrical equipment is rent waveform, which influence the quality of the of great importance in lighting since it can provide supplied power as well as the electrical appliances significant energy saving and last longer than incan- [2,3]. descent lamps. The current of the CFLs has not a purely sinusoi- dal waveform and it is characterised by rapid am- plitude changes, a fact that among others creates *Corresponding author. distortion in the voltage waveform. The effect of E-mail addresses: topalis@softlab.ntua.gr (F.V. Topalis), CFLs on the distribution system has been investi- igonos@softlab.ntua.gr (I.F. Gonos), gvokas@elanet.compulink.gr (G.A. Vokas). gated and found out that a low percentage of CFLs 0263-2241 / 01 / $ – see front matter  2001 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved. PII: S0263-2241(01)00017-3