本标准描述了在交流（ac）电路上运行时，在标准条件下获得荧光灯电气特性的均匀和可再现测量时应遵循的程序和注意事项。这些方法既适用于具有热阴极的灯（开关启动（预热启动）、快速启动（连续加热阴极）或瞬时启动），也适用于冷阴极类型的灯。通常测量的电气特性包括灯电流、灯电压和灯功率。对于快速启动灯，功率测量值可能包括电弧瓦数1和阴极瓦数。灯的总功率是电弧瓦和阴极瓦的总和。 本标准中所述方法适用于在公共电源线频率（50和60 Hz）下运行的荧光灯。在高频下操作灯可能需要其他方法，这些方法正在考虑中。

This standard describes the procedures to be followed and the precautions to be observed in obtaining uniform and reproducible measurements of the electrical characteristics of fluorescent lamps under standard conditions when operated on alternating current (ac) circuits. These methods are applicable both to lamps having hot cathodes -- either switch-start (preheat-start), rapid-start (continuously heated cathodes), or instant-start -- and to lamps of the cold-cathode variety.The electrical characteristics usually measured are lamp current, lamp voltage, and lamp power. In the case of rapid-start lamps, the power measurements may include both the arc watts1 and the cathode watts. Total lamp power is the sum of arc watts and cathode watts. The methods noted in this standard apply to fluorescent lamps operated at common power-line frequencies (50 and 60 Hz). Other methods may be needed for operation of lamps at high frequencies, and these are under consideration.