Northern Light Technologies BOXelite OS

by Northern Light Technologies

Fluorescent box from a Montreal maker, designed with CET's Michael Terman. Rated 10,000 lux at up to 14 in; Yale measured 7,000 lux at about 16 in.

Specs

Rated output10,000 lux at up to 14 in
Lab check7,000 lux at ~16 in (Yale, BOXelite)
Light area15 x 12 in
Color tempNot stated (cool white)
UVNo UV emitted (brand)
FlickerNo flicker, electronic ballast (brand)
LightSource2 x 36 W fluorescent tubes
Power72 W
TubeLifeRated 20,000 h; about 15% dimmer after 2,000 h (manual)
AdjustmentTwo legs with 5 elevation settings, tilting panel, desk base included
Size19 x 12 x 3 in
Weight8 lb
Warranty7 years
Returns60 days, minus $35 shipping and restocking

Specs from the manufacturer and the sources listed below. Last verified Oct 20, 2026.

Good

  • Designed with Michael Terman and sold by CET, which reposts a Forbes review saying it meets clinical standards
  • Yale lists it among smaller boxes that still give a true 10,000 lux treatment
  • Legs give five heights and angle the panel down toward the eyes
  • Seven-year warranty

Not so good

  • Fluorescent tubes lose about 15% of their output after 2,000 hours, per the manual
  • Rated distance differs: 14 in on the product page, 15 to 17 in on the instruction sheet
  • Color temperature is not published
  • Refunds lose $35 for shipping and restocking

The BOXelite has the strongest clinical pedigree of any lamp here. A Forbes review reposted by CET says it was designed in collaboration with Michael Terman, president of the Center for Environmental Therapeutics, and CET sells the OS version in its own shop. In a 2019 comparison of 24 devices by Yale researchers, the BOXelite (device X5) was one of 7 that met all three criteria.

The numbers need a careful read. The product page rates 10,000 lux “at up to 14 inches”, while the instruction sheet tells you to sit 15 to 17 inches from the center of the diffuser to get 10,000 lux. Yale measured 7,000 lux at about 16 inches, which meets its 7,000 lux floor but falls short of the headline figure. If you want the full 10,000, measure at your seat rather than trusting either number.

The 15 x 12 inch panel, about 180 square inches, sits on two legs with five elevation settings, so you can raise it and angle it down as CET recommends. A metal desk base is included for use as a task light.

This is a fluorescent box: two 36 W tubes behind a diffuser, driven by an electronic ballast. The brand says it emits no UV and has no flicker or hum. Northern Light does not publish a color temperature.

The manual says the tubes are rated for 20,000 hours but give about 15% less light after 2,000 hours. At 30 minutes a day that takes years, but heavy use as a task light gets there sooner.

It costs $85 more than the Carex Day-Light Classic Plus, which has a larger panel, LEDs and a Yale measurement of 10,000 lux at 13 inches. The BOXelite’s case rests on its CET backing and a seven-year warranty.

Sources

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