While I understand that both North America and Japan have developed rapid start ballast systems for F40T12 and F40T10 tubes while keeping preheat ballasts for F40T12 and F40T10 tubes, I have seen that while North America had separate “rapid start” and “preheat only” F40T12 fluorescent tubes in the 1950s, it was later decided to discontinue the “preheat only” F40T12 tubes due to the fact that it was found that the “rapid start” F40T12 tubes could operate on preheat ballasts just fine and the “rapid start” tubes were later redesignated as “preheat-rapid start”. However, I have noticed that Japan still kept producing separate “preheat only” and “rapid start” F40T12 and F40T10 tubes despite North America designating its normal F40T12 tubes produced from the 1960s onward as “preheat-rapid start”. In Japan, the “preheat only” F40T12 tubes were known as “FL40” tubes while the “preheat only” F40T10 tubes were known as the “FL40S” tubes. Additionally, the Japanese rapid start F40T12 tubes were known as the “FLR40/M” tubes while the “rapid start” F40T10 tubes were known as the “FLR40S/M” tubes. To me, it seems like continuing to produce “preheat only” F40T12 and F40T10 tubes in Japan seems like a pointless decision because I have tested some Japanese “rapid start” F40T10 tubes on preheat ballasts and they still seem to work fine. In my test, I ran some Hotalux FLR40SN/M tubes on preheat ballasts and they still worked fine. I wonder why Japan still kept on producing “preheat only” F40T12 and F40T10 tubes despite the popularity of F40T12 and F40T10 rapid start systems.

first up, I highly recommend paragraphing your posts, so they are not one big overwhelming block of words

Japan was not the only country to keep a segregated line of separate Preheat and Rapid-Start tubes, in-fact most countries did, if anything Australia and the USA where unique in having a "Preheat-Rapid-start" tubes like they did, and in most other countries, unless the T12 was explicitly marked "RS" or "Rapid-start" or was of a rating that was inherently rapid start (8ft 85W T12), normally the default for a tube was that it had 9V Quickstart/preheat cathodes, Rapid-start T12's where usually something you had to go out of your way to order/get.

for example see these 2 British made F20T12's for the UK/European market and note how the Rapid-start lamp is explicitly marked such to differentiate it from the default preheat/quickstart lamp







one additional aspect into Japan is the fact pretty much all of their Rapid-start tubes have some additional starting aid, either a ignition stripe in the case of Panasonic tubes, or a fluorine tin-oxide inner-conductive coating which adds cost and complexity to the lamp

so there is good reason to have a separate lamp without those features for circuits that dont demand it, (from what I have seen Rapid-start did not quite take over in totality like it did in the USA.)


there are also deeper technical aspects like the low resistance cathodes of a RS tube might not always preheat properly on certain configurations of switch-start circuits, which could lead to starting difficulties and poor life

I am also aware of Canada having “preheat-rapid start” F40T12 tubes too. Plus, I am also aware of rapid start overtaking most installs in Canada too. I have this feeling that you often imply that Canada seems to use different lighting than the USA does even though I have seen that lighting in Canada is virtually the same as it is in the USA. From there, it seems like you are implying that preheat had still been the norm in Canada.

I am also aware of Canada having “preheat-rapid start” F40T12 tubes too. Plus, I am also aware of rapid start overtaking most installs in Canada too.

outa curiosity if I had said North America instead of USA, how would you have otherwise responded?

Personally, I understand that the USA is a country while Europe is a continent. I just have this feeling that you have assumed that lighting in Canada has been different than what had been used in the USA. I was just sharing what I have been feeling.

I am also aware of Canada having “preheat-rapid start” F40T12 tubes too. Plus, I am also aware of rapid start overtaking most installs in Canada too. I have this feeling that you often imply that Canada seems to use different lighting than the USA does even though I have seen that lighting in Canada is virtually the same as it is in the USA. From there, it seems like you are implying that preheat had still been the norm in Canada.

in this particular case I was just using 'USA' as a short hand for North America. because I could not spell America in such a manner that my spell checker could correct it


what I am rather grumpy about is how you have focused on this inconsequential matter, while completely otherwise ignoring the detailed response I put together for you otherwise, (and completely ignoring my question of how you might of responded if I had more accurately said "North America)

I am deeply sorry about derailing this conversation, but it is interesting to know that there had been a European standard for rapid start fluorescent lamps albeit uncommon. I will try to do what I can to stay on topic. I sometimes struggle with interpreting things from time to time.