Comtest Laboratories testing of VRUs for emerging lighting technology schemes

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Comtest Laboratories offers testing to the requirements of the Victorian VEET and NSW ESS (IPART) emerging lighting technology schemes for VRUs (voltage reduction units).

VRUs are used to reduce voltage to lighting systems, reducing the amount of electrical energy delivered to a lamp once the lighting is turned on. Some reduce the voltage after allowing the lamps to be activated at the nominal voltage.

There are generally two types of units: units that provide a fixed voltage reduction rather like tapping down on a transformer (tapped isolating and autotransformers are common) and units that track or automatically reduce the voltage to maintain it at a preprogrammed level (often with electronic controls and switching).

The approval process of VRUs for government schemes requires details of both the technical and operational characteristics of the VRUs and lighting equipment. To calculate the benefit, the output voltage and other electrical characteristics of each VRU must be specified and appropriate evidence, such as independent testing performed by a NATA lighting laboratory, must be provided. Comtest is NATA accredited for these measurements.