The 'Light Pack' range of fluorescent luminaires is the Fitzgerald equivalent of the Thorn 'Popular Pack'.

The two-foot fitting was packed tightly into its box.

The T12-size lamp seemed well proportioned to the fitting.

While the lamp may have been produced at the GE factory in Hungary, the fitting itself was produced on British shores - a rarity these days! Sadly, owing to the T12 size of fluorescent lamp being perceived as outdated and inefficient by some, this exact style of fitting is no longer in production; a replacement, employing a thinner T8 18 Watt lamp, is the successor.

Two circular plastic clips secure the over-lamp reflector while the fitting is in use. With the finger grip positioned perpendicular to the direction of the lamp, the reflector is secured.

Although the label on the reflector states that a T12 lamp must be used, a T8 would fit, but to use an 18 Watt lamp in place of the 20 Watt lamp would be nothing short of sacrilege!

Removing the reflector reveals the Light Pack's internal wiring - a Vossloh-Schwabe ballast (badged as a Fitzgerald) runs the lamp. The reason behind the product code now becomes clear - the "LPF" means "low Power Factor", and this is what running the fitting will produce, as there is no provision for a capacitor (used to improve the PF) within the casing. Exact operating figures are provided below.

A slightly "arty" photograph of the lamp operating completes this gallery.

Testing the lantern with my energy monitoring device revealed the following results:

Test Voltage (V)	Current being drawn at full power (A)	Measured wattage (W)	Apparent Power (VA)	Frequency (Hz)	Power Factor	True Power (W)	Difference (W)	Percentage Difference
237.5	0.34	30	81	50	0.37	29.88	9.88	49.39%

The video below demonstrates the slight difference in the lamp starting characteristics when the LPF 20 is fitted with an EFS 600 Pulsestarter for single circuits, compared to an EFS 120 clone for series circuits:

Nativity Scene Lantern | Thorn Opalite