Osram China 18w/535 (Generic Junk?)

I have never seen one of these generic-type Chinese lamps with an Osram logo! I wonder if this will have better cathodes than the typical generics that seem to have a very small amount of emitter and thus don't last long?

Date code 5b8 = November 2005 or 2015

Osram China 18w/535 (Generic Junk?)


I have never seen one of these generic-type Chinese lamps with an Osram logo! I wonder if this will have better cathodes than the typical generics that seem to have a very small amount of emitter and thus don't last long?

Date code 5b8 = November 2005 or 2015

20180212_004134_HDR.jpg 20180319_232207.jpg 20180405_210452.jpg 20180407_003450-1.jpg 20180418_210919-1.jpg
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Album name:fluorescent / Fluorescent Tubes
Manufacturer:Osram
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Date added:05 Apr, 2018
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Comment 1 to 12 of 12
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Slyspark   [06 Apr, 2018 at 12:01 AM]
Get used to it, Osram are closing their German lamp plant AND their glass tube plant (which supplies everyone else) Sad
Danny   [06 Apr, 2018 at 12:03 AM]
Shite. These are made in China at Crompton edison etc factory. I love 99% of tubes but I absolutely hate these with a passion
fluorescent   [06 Apr, 2018 at 12:11 AM]
So it's just the usual Chinese rubbish then, not made to a better specification for Osram? Also I suspect this is from 2015 even though it's halophosphate? Must have been imported directly from China or something (due to halo. tubes being banned here)
Danny   [06 Apr, 2018 at 12:14 AM]
Not sure If they’re msde to osrams spec. Something james hooker may know though? I know philips make osrams sox lamps to their spec so maybe... but going on the fact there is 2 types of osram that the chinks churn out, these and osrams with the stepped caps (smartlux pros) like the German ones id go as far to say these will be probably just standard Crompton. I have some of these Crompton style ones myself from around 2007
Slyspark   [06 Apr, 2018 at 12:14 AM]
Yup, usual crap.
Danny   [06 Apr, 2018 at 12:17 AM]
I’m going to push my luck and say 2005 as I have some exact ones I bought in 2007 and it has been a while since I’ve seen any of these about
fluorescent   [06 Apr, 2018 at 12:21 AM]
I've seen the 'Smartlux Pro' before and read that they were basically a Chinese made Lumilux equivalent and thus should have a similar life expectancy... I got quite a few of these along with some Fusion 4ft and 5ft 835 amongst some other random lamps. I only got them as they came with some GB made Osram and GE 8 footers!

...Could very well be 2005, I wasn't sure these style of tubes went back that far though. I guess Lee would know.
Danny   [06 Apr, 2018 at 12:22 AM]
Them smart lux are the osrams that I think will be made to German osram spec not these. The smartluxes I quite like tbh!
Ash   [07 Apr, 2018 at 08:09 AM]
"Get used to it, Osram are closing their German lamp plant AND their glass tube plant (which supplies everyone else)"

Source ? Date ?



"Not sure If they’re msde to osrams spec. Something james hooker may know though?"

Many years ago, when Halophosphate ("Basic") lamps were made in Germany, they were rated 13000h and lasted 3 times that, while Lumilux were rated 20000h

Nowadays, the "Basic" from China are rated 13000h and last exactly 13000h

Also the "Basic" 36W have up to 9mg Mercury where the Lumilux is 2.5 or so. (as they dont have to pass any "low mercury" standard, they put a lot there with less precise control)

So... Osram spec they are, but knowingly a lower spec

Also, the Osram China tubes i know are the oens made in Osram's "f" factory. They used to have Germany-like endcaps and now have Philips-like, one big isolator insert. I have come to have very low expectations from the Chinese tubes with the 2 small isolator circles around the pins



"Them smart lux are the osrams that I think will be made to German osram spec not these."

Smartlux are cheaper Lumilux. Officially according to Osram, they differ from the Lumilux in worse Lm deprecation through the lamp life
Beta 5   [24 Mar, 2024 at 06:46 PM]
I came across a few of these new in their sleeves a while back, will have to see if they are still about. They look like the sort of tube that would be for OEM use supplied with a fitting (usually a fitting of similar quality to the tube...)
Danny   [25 Mar, 2024 at 12:37 PM]
I have a box of these tubes.
Beta 5   [25 Mar, 2024 at 04:38 PM]
How old are yours Dan?

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