Fluorescent Lamps, Ballasts, and Fixtures

Page 1 of 53

Sam's F-Lamp FAQ

Fluorescent Lamps, Ballasts, and Fixtures
Principles of Operation, Circuits, Troubleshooting, Repair
Version 2.36 (29-Jan-14)
Copyright 1994-2014
Samuel M. Goldwasser
--- All Rights Reserved --For contact info, please see the Sci.Electronics.Repair FAQ Email Links Page.
Reproduction of this document in whole or in part is permitted if both of the following
conditions are satisfied:
1. This notice is included in its entirety at the beginning.
2. There is no charge except to cover the costs of copying.

Table of Contents
l

Preface
Author & Copyright
DISCLAIMER
Acknowledgements

Introduction
Fluorescent Lamp Basics
Fluorescent Lamp Labeling

Safely Working with Fluorescent Lamps and Fixtures

Fluorescent Fixtures and Ballasts

Fluorescent Fixtures
Fluorescent Lamp Ballasts
Types of Iron Ballasts
Electronic Ballasts
Comments on CFL Ballasts
Notes on Ballast Compatibility

Fluorescent fixture wiring diagrams

Wiring for Preheat Fluorescent Fixtures
Fluorescent Starter Operation

http://www.repairfaq.org/sam/flamp.htm

7/2/2014

Fluorescent Lamps, Ballasts, and Fixtures

Page 2 of 53

Wiring for Rapid Start and Trigger Start Fixtures

Wiring Diagram for Single Tube Rapid or Trigger Start Ballast
Wiring Diagram for Two Tube Rapid Start Ballast
Schematic of Typical Rapid/Trigger Start Single Lamp Ballast
Schematic for Rapid Start Ballast with Isolated Secondary
Schematic of Rapid Start Dual Lamp Ballast
Measurements of Dual Tube Rapid Start Ballasts
Fluorescent Lamps in Series?
Fluorescent Lamps in Parallel?
Wiring Fluorescent Lamps to Remote Ballasts
Wiring diagram of Low Power 220 VAC Fluorescent Lamp
Alternatives to Commercial Iron Ballasts?

Specialty Fluorescent Lamp Types

All Sorts of Less Conventional Lamps
Blacklight Fluorescent Lamps
Compact Fluorescent Lamps
n Repairing CFLs
n More on CFL Failure
Cold Weather Fluorescent Lamps
Fluorescent Lamps which Operate from Low Voltage DC

Troubleshooting of Fluorescent Lamps and Fixtures

Problems with Fluorescent Lamps and Fixtures
Causes of Short Lamp Life
Comments on Black Bands and Other Fluorescent Failure Issues
Why is a Grounded Fixture Needed for Reliable Starting?
Why Do Fluorescent Lamps Buzz and What to Do About It?
Why Fluorescent Lamps are Sometimes Dimmer than Expected
Rings or Swirls of Light in Fluorescent Lamps
Comments on Instant Start/Rapid Start Compatibility
Premature Cathode Failure in Dimmed Fluorescent Lamps
Replace Preheat Ballasts with Rapid or Trigger Start Type?
Newly Installed Fluorescent Lamp Flashes Every Few Seconds When OffRadio Frequency
Interference from Fluorescent Fixtures

Items of Interest
All Those Different Wattage 4-Foot and F40 and "Shop Light" Lamps?
What's with All Those Different Shades of White?
Why Small Fluorescent lamps Cost More than 4-Foot Ones
Energy Consumption and Wear-And-Tear due to Starting
What Happens when Fluorescent Lamps Wear Out
Blackening at Ends of Fluorescent Tubes
Hot Cathode Versus Cold Cathode Operation
Failure Mechanisms of Cold Cathode Fluorescent Lamps
Comments on Small Inverter Powered Fluorescent Lamps
Fluorescent Lamp Voltage and Frequency Considerations
Operating a Fluorescent Lamp on DC
Ballasts and PCBs (The Hazmat Type)
Driving Cold Cathode Fluorescent Lamps
What is the E-Lamp?

http://www.repairfaq.org/sam/flamp.htm

7/2/2014

Fluorescent Lamps, Ballasts, and Fixtures

Page 3 of 53

Notes on Dimming of Fluorescent Lamps

Back to Sam's F-Lamp FAQ Table of Contents.

Preface
Author and Copyright
Author: Samuel M. Goldwasser
For contact info, please see the Sci.Electronics.Repair FAQ Email Links Page.
Copyright 1994-2014
All Rights Reserved
Reproduction of this document in whole or in part is permitted if both of the following conditions are
satisfied:
1.This notice is included in its entirety at the beginning.
2.There is no charge except to cover the costs of copying.

DISCLAIMER
We will not be responsible for damage to equipment, your ego, county wide power outages,
spontaneously generated mini (or larger) black holes, planetary disruptions, or personal injury or worse
that may result from the use of this material.

Acknowledgements
Thanks to Don Klipstein ([email protected]) for his comments and additions to this document. His
Web site (Don Klipstein's Lighting Web Site) is a valuable resource for information relating to lighting
technology in general and also includes additional articles dealing with fluorescent and other discharge
lamps.

Back to Flamp FAQ Table of Contents.

Introduction
Fluorescent Lamp Basics
The fluorescent lamp was the first major advance to be a commercial success in small scale lighting since
the tungsten incandescent bulb. Its greatly increased efficiency resulted in cool (temperature wise)
brightly lit workplaces (offices and factories) as well as home kitchens and baths. The development of the
mercury vapor high intensity discharge (HID) lamp actually predates the fluorescent (the latter being
introduced commercially in 1938, four years after the HID). However, HID type lamps have only

http://www.repairfaq.org/sam/flamp.htm

7/2/2014

Fluorescent Lamps, Ballasts, and Fixtures

Page 4 of 53

relatively recently become popular in small sizes for task lighting in the home and office; yard and
security area lighting; and light source applications in overhead, computer, and video projectors.
Fluorescent lamps are a type of gas discharge tube similar to neon signs and mercury or sodium vapor
street or yard lights. A pair of electrodes, one at each end - are sealed along with a drop of mercury and
some inert gases (usually argon) at very low pressure inside a glass tube. The inside of the tube is coated
with a phosphor which produces visible light when excited with ultra-violet (UV) radiation. The
electrodes are in the form of filaments which for preheat and rapid or warm start fixtures are heated
during the starting process to decrease the voltage requirements and remain hot during normal operation
as a result of the gas discharge (bombardment by positive ions).
When the lamp is off, the mercury/gas mixture is non-conductive. When power is first applied, a high
voltage (several hundred volts) is needed to initiate the discharge. However, once this takes place, a much
lower voltage - usually under 100 V for tubes under 30 watts, 100 to 175 volts for 30 watts or more - is
needed to maintain it.
The electric current passing through the low pressure gases emits quite a bit of UV (but not much visible
light). The gas discharge's radiation is almost entirely mercury radiation, although the gas mixture is
mostly inert gas and generally around something like 1 percent mercury vapor. The internal phosphor
coating very efficiently converts most of the UV to visible light. The mix of the phosphor(s) is used to
tailor the light spectrum to the intended application. Thus, there are cool white, warm white, colored, and
black light fluorescent (long wave UV) lamps. There are also lamps intended for medical or industrial
uses with a special envelope such as quartz that passes short wave UV radiation. Some have an uncoated
envelope, and emit short-wave UV mercury radiation. Others have phosphors that convert shortwave UV
to medium wave UV.
(Caution: Some specialty UV lamps emit shortwave or medium wave UV which is harmful and should
not be used without appropriate protection or in an enclosure which prevents the escape of harmful UV
radiation.)
Fluorescent lamps are about 2 to 4 times as efficient as incandescent lamps at producing light at the
wavelengths that are useful to humans. Thus, they run cooler for the same effective light output. The
bulbs themselves also last a lot longer - 10,000 to 20,000 hours versus 750 to 1,000 hours for a typical
incandescent. However, for certain types of ballasts, this is only achieved if the fluorescent lamp is left on
for long periods of time without frequent on-off cycles.
Over the years, fluorescent lamps in approximately the shape of incandescent lamps with built-in ballasts
have been evolving. These "compact fluorescent lamps" or CFLs have all of the advantages of ordinary
fluorescent lamps but fit into most table lamps and incandescent fixtures. Phosphors have been improved
to the point where the color is very similar to that of incandescent lamps. While the initial cost is high
(list prices of $5 to $20, but often available for less), this is easily recovered several times over in the
energy savings over the long life of the lamp due to the much higher efficiency (typically 4X) since most
of the lifecycle cost of an incandescent is in the electricity used (typically $10 for power versus $0.50 for
the lamp) and not the lamp itself.

Fluorescent Lamp Labeling

The actual fluorescent tubes are identified by several letters and numbers and will look something like
'F40CW-T12' or 'FC12-T10'.
So, the typical labeling is of the form FSWWCCC-TDD (variations on this format are possible):

http://www.repairfaq.org/sam/flamp.htm

7/2/2014

Fluorescent Lamps, Ballasts, and Fixtures

l
l
l
l
l
l

Page 5 of 53

F - Fluorescent lamp. G means Germicidal shortwave UV lamp.

S - Style - no letter indicates normal straight tube; C for Circline.
WW - Nominal power in Watts. 4, 5, 8, 12, 15, 20, 30, 40, etc.
CCC - Color. W=White, CW=Cool white, WW=Warm white, BL/BLB=Black light, etc.
T - Tubular bulb.
DD - Diameter of tube in of eighths of an inch. T8 is 1", T12 is 1.5", etc.

For the most common T12 (1.5 inch) tube, the wattage (except for newer energy saving types) is usually
5/6 of the length in inches. Thus, an F40-T12 tube is 48 inches long.

Back to Flamp FAQ Table of Contents.

Safely Working with Fluorescent Lamps and Fixtures

There aren't many dangers associated with typical fluorescent lamps and fixtures:
l

Electric shock. There is usually little need to probe a live fixture. Most problems can be identified
by inspection or with an ohmmeter or continuity tester when unplugged.

Fluorescent lamps and fixtures using iron ballasts are basically pretty inert when unplugged.
Even if there are small capacitors inside the ballast(s) or for RFI prevention, these are not
likely to bite. However, you do have to remember to unplug the fixture before touching
anything!

However, those using electronic ballasts can have some nasty charged capacitors so avoid
going inside the ballast module and it won't hurt to check between its outputs with a
voltmeter before touching anything. Troubleshooting the electronic ballast module is similar
to that of a switchmode power supply. See the document: Notes on the Troubleshooting and
Repair of Small Switchmode Power Supplies

Nasty chemicals: While the phosphors on the inside of fluorescent tubes are not particularly
poisonous, there is a small amount of metallic mercury and contact with this substance should be
avoided. If a tube breaks, clean up the mess and dispose of it properly and promptly. Of course,
don't go out of your way to get cut on the broken glass!

And take care around sharp sheet metal!

Back to Sam's F-Lamp FAQ Table of Contents.

Fluorescent Fixtures and Ballasts

Fluorescent Fixtures
The typical fixture consists of:
l

Lamp holder - the most common is designed for the straight bipin base bulb. The 12, 15, 24, and 48

http://www.repairfaq.org/sam/flamp.htm

7/2/2014

Fluorescent Lamps, Ballasts, and Fixtures

Page 6 of 53

inch straight fixtures are common in household and office use. The 4 foot (48") type is probably the
most widely used size. U shaped, circular (Circline(tm).) and other specialty tubes are also
available.
l

Ballast(s) - these are available for either 1 or 2 lamps. Fixtures with 4 lamps usually have two
ballasts. See the sections below on ballasts. The ballast performs two functions: current limiting
and providing the starting kick to ionize the gas in the fluorescent tube(s).

Switch - on/off control unless connected directly to building wiring in which case there will be a
switch or relay elsewhere. The power switch may have a momentary 'start' position if there is no
starter and the ballast does not provide this function.

Starter (preheat fixtures only) - device to initiate the electrode preheating and high voltage "kick"
needed for starting. In other fixture types, the ballast handles this function.

Fluorescent Lamp Ballasts

For a detailed explanation, check your library. Here is a brief summary.
1. Provide the starting kick.
2. Limit the current to the proper value for the tube you are using.
In the old days fluorescent fixtures had a starter or a power switch with a 'start' position which is in
essence a manual starter. Some cheap ones still do use this technology.
The starter is a time delay switch which when first powered, allows the filaments at each end of the tube
to warm up and then interrupts this part of the circuit. The inductive kick as a result of interrupting the
current through the inductive ballast provides enough voltage to ionize the gas mixture in the tube and
then the current through the tube keeps the filaments hot - usually. You will notice that a few iterations
are sometimes needed to get the tube to light. The starter may keep cycling indefinitely if either it or one
of the tubes is faulty. While the lamp is on, a preheat ballast is just an inductor which at 60 Hz (or 50 Hz)
has the appropriate impedance to limit the current to the tube(s) to the proper value.
Ballasts must generally be fairly closely matched to the lamp in terms tube wattage, length, and diameter.
There are two general types of ballast: Iron ballasts consist of a core, windings, and maybe a few other
passive components like capacitors. Electronic ballasts are basically switching power supplies.

Types of Iron Ballasts

Preheat ballasts require starters or manual starting switches. Instant start, trigger start, rapid start, etc.
ballasts include loosely coupled high voltage windings and other stuff which does away with the starter:
1. The ballast for a preheat fixture (combined with a starter or power switch with a 'start' position) is
basically a series inductor. Interrupting current through the inductor provides the starting voltage.
2. The ballast for a rapid start fixture has in addition small windings for heating the filaments
reducing the required starting voltage to 250 to 400 V. There are probably the most common types
in use today. Trigger start fixtures are similar to rapid start fixtures.

http://www.repairfaq.org/sam/flamp.htm

7/2/2014

Fluorescent Lamps, Ballasts, and Fixtures

Page 7 of 53

3. The ballast for an instant start fixture has a loosely coupled high voltage transformer winding
providing about 500 to 600 V for starting in addition to the series inductor. The electrodes of
"instant start" bulbs are designed for starting without preheating. In fact, they are shorted out
internally and are thus incompatible with preheat and rapid start ballasts (and they have only a
single pin at each end!). The electrodes still emit electrons due to thermal emission but since they
are shorted out cannot be pre-heated. That is why they require a higher starting voltage from the
ballast. They they light instantly, but this slightly reduces lamp life.
Starting voltage is either provided by the inductive kick upon interruption of the current bypassed through
the starter for (1) or a high voltage winding in (2) and (3).
In all cases, the current limiting is provided primarily by the impedance of the series inductance at 60 Hz
(or 50 Hz depending on where you live).
(From: Vic Roberts ([email protected]).)
The most basic ballast is nothing more than a current limiting device, such as an inductor, resistor or
capacitor. For 50 and 60 Hz applications, the most common current limiting device is an inductor.
A simple current limiter works best when the line voltage is at least 2 times the lamp voltage. So, a
simple inductor can be used in Europe, where the line voltage is 220 to 240 VAC, to operate a 4 foot
lamp, which operates at 85 to 100 volts, depending upon design.
In the US and other places that use 120 VAC lines the ballast is a combination autotransformer (to raise
the voltage) and inductor (the current limiter).
In addition, a Rapid Start ballast has additional windings to supply about 3.6 VAC to heat the filaments.
(From: Asimov ([email protected]).)
A ballast is a simple transformer with a very high impedance secondary winding which makes its current
self-limiting. It also has windings for each lamp filaments. At startup the filaments get most of the power
and heat up to facilitate ionization.
Meanwhile the secondary builds up a very high EMF which finally fully ionizes the plasma between both
filaments. At this point the effective resistance of the conducting plasma is quite low and the current flow
is limited by the secondary's impedance. This also partially saturates the core and as consequence reduces
power to the filaments.
The usual failure in ballasts is that the secondary's insulation deteriorates and it starts leaking to ground.
Often because the proper wiring polarity was not observed. The secondary can thus no longer generate
the high EMF required to start the plasma conducting.
The KISS test method is to use a known good lamp. If it lights, the ballast is good too. The ballast can
also be tested with the power off by checking for continuity in the filament windings and a very high
resistance to ground for each filament. Don't try this with power on!
(From: Craig J. Larson ([email protected]).)
Call Magnetek, a ballast manufacturer on 1-800-BALLAST. Ask for a copy of their Troubleshooting &
Maintenance Guide for Linear Fluorescent Lighting Systems. Its a nice little guide book for teaching you

http://www.repairfaq.org/sam/flamp.htm

7/2/2014

Fluorescent Lamps, Ballasts, and Fixtures

Page 8 of 53

the basics.

Electronic Ballasts
These devices are basically switching power supplies that eliminate the large, heavy, 'iron' ballast and
replace it with an integrated high frequency inverter/switcher. Current limiting is then done by a very
small inductor, which has sufficient impedance at the high frequency. Properly designed electronic
ballasts should be very reliable. Whether they actual are reliable in practice depends on their location
with respect to the heat produced by the lamps as well as many other factors. Since these ballasts include
rectification, filtering, and operate the tubes at a high frequency, they also usually eliminate or greatly
reduce the 100/120 Hz flicker associated with iron ballasted systems. However, this is not always the
case and depending on design (mainly how much filtering there is on the rectified line voltage), varying
amounts of 100/120 can still be present.
I have heard, however, of problems with these relating to radio frequency interference from the ballasts
and tubes. Other complaints have resulted due to erratic behavior of electronic equipment using infra red
remote controls.
There is a small amount of IR emission from the fluorescent tubes themselves and this ends up being
pulsed at the inverter frequencies which are sometimes similar to those used by IR hand held remote
controls.
Some electronic ballasts draw odd current waveforms with high peak currents. This is due to the fact that
these ballasts (low-power-factor type) have a full-wave-bridge rectifier and a filter capacitor. Current can
only be drawn during the brief times that the instantaneous line voltage exceeds the filter capacitor
voltage.
Because of the high peak currents drawn by some electronic ballasts, it is often important to size wiring
properly for these high peak currents. For wiring heating and fuse/circuit considerations, one should
allow for a current of 4 to 6 times the ratio of lamp watts to line volts. For wiring voltage drop
considerations (drop in voltage the ballast's filter capacitor gets charged to), the effective current is even
higher, sometimes as high as 15 to 20 times the ratio of the lamp watts to RMS line volts.
For less than 50 watts, the current drawn by low-power-factor electronic ballasts is usually not a problem.
For multiple ballasts or total wattages over 50 watts, it may be important to consider the effective current
drawn by low-power-factor electronic ballasts.
If you want to get an idea of some typical modern electronic ballast designs, see the International
Rectifier web site. Search for 'electronic ballasts' or download the following reference design notes:
l
l

Linear Ballast
Compact Ballast

Two typical commercial electronic ballasts compact fluorescent lamps are shown in:
l
l
l

CFL Electronic Ballast 1 (Techna-Bright EDXR-38-16) (16 W spiral in reflector).

CFL Electronic Ballast 2 (General Electric FLE26HT3/2/SW) (26 W spiral).
CFL Electronic Ballast 3 (Conserv-Energy BPCE13T/8) (13 W spiral).

For CFL ballasts running on 230 VAC, see Pavouk.org - Compact Fluorescent Lamps. There are
schematics for at least 11 different model CFLs! As can be seen, the circuits are essentially identical

http://www.repairfaq.org/sam/flamp.htm

7/2/2014

Fluorescent Lamps, Ballasts, and Fixtures

Page 9 of 53

except for component values.

Additional CFL ballast schematics may be found in the document: Various Schematics and Diagrams.
For additional info on CFLs as well as a variety of simple inverters to operate fluorescent lamps on low
voltage DC, see the collection in the document: Various Schematics and Diagrams.

Comments on CFL Ballasts

(From: Tony ([email protected]).)
I work in a R&D lab for a VERY large corporation. We design CFLs (Compact Fluorescent Lamps).
Today, 90 percent of CFLs are electronic ballasted lamps and they come in two basic varieties: (1) High
power factors (somewhere between 0.9 and very close to 1) and (2) Low power factor (usually less than
0.6).
The high power factor lamps require more components (or from the corporations point of view, cost) so
there are more low power factor lamps on the market than high power factor. From what I understand,
using either will not make a difference in what your electric meter reads and bills you for.
Our typical electronic ballast has two MOSFETs that switch at anywhere from 75 kHz to 105 kHz. And
actually we have one product that runs at 2.5 MHz. In the power input section we use a full wave bridge
followed by a electrolytic capacitor with a value of anywhere from 10 uF to 47 uF depending on the
design of the lamp. There are also a few other components here that reduce EMI (Electro Magnetic
Interference) that could be conducted back into the AC line. All of the input components, collectively,
will have a part in the input characteristics of the lamp.
One more note that you may find interesting relates to the starting time of CFLs. The CFLs that do not
start instantly (pre-heat types) will have a longer life than the "instant start" type. The pre-heat systems
heat the cathodes for 150 milliseconds to 1 second (or more) before the lamp is allowed to light. This
increases the cathode life which is one of the main factors in lamp life.

N otes on Ballast Compatibility

Can a 30 W lamp be run on a 27 W ballast? What about a 22 W ballast?
The answer is an absolutely possibly qualified maybe. :)
Any fluorescent lamp is expected to run at some specific current to produce its rated light output and life.
(There is also the issue of preheat, instant, and rapid start types but that's for another discussion!) At the
rated current, there will be a certain voltage across the lamp. The voltage drop is related to tube diameter,
length, filament type, and gas fill. It goes up with length but is not directly proportional to length. Being
gas discharge devices, the impedance of a fluorescent lamp is negative - its voltage actually goes down
with increasing current, thus the need for a ballast to limit the current. Some iron ballasts are rated to
handle more than one size lamp maintaining a nearly constant current over a range of lamp voltages - 12,
15, and 20 W, for example. What this means is that the voltage drop across all these lamps is similar
enough that the current will be nearly the same and/or the ballast has a magnetic shunt to provide a quasiconstant current characteristic over a range of voltages.

http://www.repairfaq.org/sam/flamp.htm

7/2/2014

Fluorescent Lamps, Ballasts, and Fixtures

Page 10 of 53

The typical ballast will list compatible lamp types and wattages on its label. Wattage, starting type, and
lamp diameter are all critical. With all the variations in lamps, there's no hard and fast rule that will
determine whether a non-listed combination will work or even be safe. A higher wattage lamp may run
and even be easier on the ballast since with its higher voltage drop, it will draw less current. Of course,
there will also be less than rated light output. However, if the incompatibility is great enough, it may
flicker, cycle on and off, or not start at all. A lower wattage lamp may burn out quickly and/or cause
either type of ballast to overheat and fail.
Where the rated lamp current is known or where the same lamp could be run on a compatible ballast, it
might be possible to measure the current with the ballast combination being tested to determine if it is
acceptable. However, this is clearly above and beyond what is normally required when changing a light
bulb. :)

Back to Sam's F-Lamp FAQ Table of Contents.

Fluorescent Fixture Wiring Diagrams

The following wiring diagrams are typical of fluorescent fixtures using iron ballasts. These do NOT
generally apply directly to fixtures using electronic ballasts.

Wiring for Preheat Fluorescent Fixtures

The following is the circuit diagram for a typical preheat lamp - one that uses a starter or starting switch.
Power Switch
+-----------+
Line 1 (H) o------/ ---------| Ballast |-----------+
+-----------+
|
|
.--------------------------.
|
Line 2 (N) o---------|Fluorescent
-|----+
| )
Tube
( |
+---|- (bipin or circline)
-|----+
|
'--------------------------'
|
|
|
|
+-------------+
|
|
|
Starter
|
|
+----------| or starting |----------+
|
switch
|
+-------------+

The type of switch that both turns the lamp on and off and also starts it by pressing a single button, there
will be two pairs of contacts. One pair will show continuity every other time the button is pressed
(ON/OFF). The other will show continuity only while the button is pressed (START). And, the two pairs
of shouldn't be connected to each other at any time.
Where a three position switch (OFF-ON-START) is used to control the fixture (e.g., those circular
magnifier lamps), there will be two pairs of contacts: One pair (Power) is connected in the ON and
START positions, and the other (Start) is connected only in the START position. They are also isolated
from each-other.

http://www.repairfaq.org/sam/flamp.htm

7/2/2014

Fluorescent Lamps, Ballasts, and Fixtures

Page 11 of 53

Power Switch
+-----------+
Line 1 (H) o------/ ---------| Ballast |-----------+
Closed for ON
+-----------+
|
and START
|
|
.--------------------------.
|
Line 2 (N) o---------|Fluorescent
-|----+
| )
Tube
( |
+---|- (bipin or circline)
-|----+
|
'--------------------------'
|
|
|
+--------------o/ o-----------------+
Starting contacts (Closed for START only)

A multimeter can be used to determine the wiring for your switch.

Here is a variation that some preheat ballasts use. This type was found on a F13-T5 lamp fixture. Similar
types are used for 30 and 40 watt preheat lamps. This 3-lead preheat ballast is a voltage-boosting "high
leakage reactance autotransformer" used if the voltage across the tube is much over approx. 60 percent of
the line voltage. For technical details on why a fluorescent lamp will not work with ordinary ballasts if
the tube voltage is only slightly less than the line voltage, look at Don Klipstein's Discharge Lamp
Mechanics document.
Power Switch
+-------------+
Line 1 (H) o------/ --------|A Ballast
|
+----------|B
C|----------+
|
+-------------+
|
|
|
|
.--------------------------.
|
Line 2 (N) o-----+---|Fluorescent
-|----+
| )
Tube
( |
+---|- (bipin or circline)
-|----+
|
'--------------------------'
|
|
|
|
+-------------+
|
|
|
Starter
|
|
+----------| or starting |----------+
|
switch
|
+-------------+

Fluorescent Starter Operation

Starters may be either automatic or manual:
l

Automatic - The common type are called a 'glow tube starter' (or just starter) and contains a small
gas (neon, etc.) filled tube and an optional RFI suppression capacitor in a cylindrical aluminum can
with a 2 pin base. While all starters are physically interchangeable, the wattage rating of the starter
should be matched to the wattage rating of the fluorescent tubes for reliable operation and long life.
The glow tube incorporates a switch which is normally open. When power is applied a glow
discharge takes place which heats a bimetal contact. A second or so later, the contacts close
providing current to the fluorescent filaments. Since the glow is extinguished, there is no longer
any heating of the bimetal and the contacts open. The inductive kick generated at the instant of
opening triggers the main discharge in the fluorescent tube. If the contacts open at a bad time -

http://www.repairfaq.org/sam/flamp.htm

7/2/2014

Fluorescent Lamps, Ballasts, and Fixtures

Page 12 of 53

current near zero, there isn't enough inductive kick and the process repeats.
Higher-tech replacements called 'pulse starters' may be available for the simple glow tube type
starter. These devices are pin compatible devices and contain a bit of electronics that detect the
appropriate time to interrupt the filament circuit to generate the optimal inductive kick from the
ballast. So, starting should be more reliable with few/no blink cycles even with hard-to-start lamps.
They will also leave used-up tubes off, without letting them blink annoyingly.
(From: James Sweet.)
"One example is the Arlen EFS-120 "Pulsestarter". It is a British-made solid state
retrofit for the once-ubiquitous glowbottle starter used with preheat fluorescent tubes.
This particular model is designed for small 4-22W tubes on a 120V line or two tubes
in series (each with their own starter) on a 240V line. The diodes are house numbered
but I suspect they are something similar to the 1N4007, with the exception of ZD1
which is a 100V zener diode in the same package. Resistors are all standard 1/4W
parts and the two capacitors are tiny electrolytics. SCR1 is a purpose made thyristor by
ST Microelectronics specifically for fluorescent lamp ignition, I don't know if others
will work as well but it is not hard to find. The thermal fuse is a small rectangular
component that looks like a capacitor. It is rated 125 Celsius and 1A and is
sandwiched between the folded over SCR and the diodes."
A defective or incorrect starter is a common cause of erratic starting and possibly random restarts
during operation.
l

Where a manual starting switch is used instead of an automatic starter, there will be three switch
positions - OFF, ON, START:

OFF: Both switches are open.

ON: Power switch is closed.
START (momentary): Power switch remains closed and starting switch is closed.

When released from the start position, the breaking of the filament circuit results in an inductive
kick as with the automatic starter which initiates the gas discharge.

Wiring for Rapid Start and Trigger Start Fixtures

Rapid start and trigger start fixtures do not have a separate starter or starting switch but use auxiliary
windings on the ballast for this function.
The rapid start is now most common though you may find some labeled trigger start as well.
Trigger start ballasts seem to be used for 1 or 2 small (12-20 W) tubes. Basic operation is very similar to
that of rapid start ballasts and the wiring is identical. "Trigger start" seems to refer to "rapid starting" of
tubes that were designed for preheat starting.
The ballast includes separate windings for the filaments and a high voltage starting winding that is on a
branch magnetic circuit that is loosely coupled to the main core and thus limits the current once the arc is
struck.
A reflector grounded to the ballast (and power wiring) is often required for starting. The capacitance of

http://www.repairfaq.org/sam/flamp.htm

7/2/2014

Fluorescent Lamps, Ballasts, and Fixtures

Page 13 of 53

the reflector aids in initial ionization of the gases. Lack of this connection may result in erratic starting or
the need to touch or run your hand along the tube to start.
A complete wiring diagram is usually provided on the ballast's case.
Power is often enabled via a socket operated safety interlock (x-x) to minimize shock hazard. However, I
have seen normal (straight) fixtures which lack this type of socket even where ballast labeling requires it.
Circline fixtures do not need an interlock since the connectors are fully enclosed - it is not likely that
there could be accidental contact with a pin while changing bulbs.
"Instant start" lamps with a single pin at each end would use similar wiring but without any provision for
heating of the filament. The ballast simply provides a high enough voltage to initiate and maintain the
discharge until the normal process has a chance to heat the filaments at each end of the lamp (which have
their ends shorted together internally). For more info, see the sections: Types of Iron Ballasts and
Comments on Instant Start/Rapid Start Compatibility.

Wiring Diagram for Single Tube Rapid or Trigger Start Ballast

Below is the wiring diagram for a single lamp rapid or trigger start ballast including an interlock at one
end of the socket (3 wires there). The color coding is fairly standard. The same ballast could be used for
an F20-T12, F15-T12, F15-T8, or F14-T12 lamp. A similar ballast for a Circline fixture could be used
with an FC16-T10 or lamp FC12-T10 (no interlock).
Power Switch
+---------------------------+
Line 1 (H) o----/ ----------|Black
Rapid/Trigger
|
+------|White
Start
Red|------+
| +---|Blue
Ballast
Red|---+ |
| |
+-------------+-------------+
| |
| |
|
| |
| |
Grounded | Reflector
| |
| |
----------+---------| |
| |
.-------------------------.
| |
| +----|Fluorescent
-|----+ |
+------x| )
Tube
( |
|
Line 2 (N) o----------------x|- (bipin or circline) -|-------+
'-------------------------'

Or a ballast with two blue wires and no interlock in the socket:

Power Switch
+---------------------------+
Line 1 (H) o----/ ----------|Black
Rapid/Trigger
|
Line 2 (N) o----------------|White
Start
|
+------|Blue
Ballast
Red|------+
| +---|Blue
Red|---+ |
| |
+-------------+-------------+
| |
| |
|
| |
| |
Grounded | Reflector
| |
| |
----------+---------| |
| |
.-------------------------.
| |
| +----|Fluorescent
-|----+ |
|
| )
Tube
( |
|
+-------|- (bipin or circline) -|-------+
'-------------------------'

Wiring Diagram for Two Tube Rapid Start Ballast

http://www.repairfaq.org/sam/flamp.htm

7/2/2014

Fluorescent Lamps, Ballasts, and Fixtures

Page 14 of 53

The following wiring diagram is for one pair (from a 4 tube fixture) of a typical rapid start 48 inch
fixture. These ballasts specify the bulb type to be F40-T12 RS. There is no safety interlock on this fixture.
(A similar scheme could also be used on a dual tube Circline fixture though slightly different ratings may
be needed for each tube since they would be of different sizes.)
Power Switch
+--------------------------+
Line 1 (H) o----/ ----------|Black
Dual Tube
Red|-----------+
Line 2 (N) o----------------|White
Rapid
Red|--------+ |
+-----|Yellow
Start
Blue|-----+ | |
| +--|Yellow
Ballast
Blue|--+ | | |
| | +-------------+------------+ | | | |
| |
|
| | | |
| |
Grounded | Reflector
| | | |
| |
----------+---------| | | |
| |
.----------------------.
| | | |
| +----|Fluorescent
-|----+ | | |
| |
| )
Tube 1
( |
| | |
+-------|bipin
-|-------+ | |
| |
'----------------------'
| |
| |
.----------------------.
| |
| +----|Fluorescent
-|----------+ |
|
| )
Tube 2
( |
|
+-------|bipin
-|-------------+
'----------------------'

Schematic of Typical Rapid/ Trigger Start Single Lamp Ballast

This ballast is marked "Trigger Start Ballast for ONE F20WT12, F15WT12, F15WT8, or F14WT12
Preheat Start Lamp. Mount tube within 1/2" of grounded metal reflector". (Note that while labelled
"Trigger Start", it does heat the filaments so I assume it is similar or identical to a rapid start ballast.)
Voltages were measured with no bulb installed with safety interlock bypassed.
Internal wiring has been inferred from resistance and voltage measurements.
The lossy autotransformer boosts line voltage to the value needed for reliable starting with the filaments
heated. It is assumed that part of the magnetic circuit is loosely coupled so that putting the lamp between
Red/Red and Blue/White results in safe current limited operation once the arc has struck.
A complete fixture wiring diagram like those shown in the section: Wiring for Rapid Start and Trigger
Start Fixtures will probably be provided on the label.
Numbers in () are measured DC resistances.
Red o--------------------------+
8.5 V
(5) )||
Red o----------------------+---+ ||
|
||
+
||
)||==||
82.5 V
(37) )|| ||
)||==||
+
||

http://www.repairfaq.org/sam/flamp.htm

Filament 1

Stepup winding/choke is
loosely coupled to main
magnetic circuit

7/2/2014

Fluorescent Lamps, Ballasts, and Fixtures

Page 15 of 53

|
||
+--> Black (H) o----------------------+---+ ||
|
)|| Primary of starting
106.5 V
(31) )|| autotransformer
115 V
)||
Blue o--------------------------+ ||
|
8.5 V
(3) )|| Filament 2
+--> White (N) o-----------o/o------------+ |
Interlock
|
Green (G) o-----------------------------+

Schematic for Rapid Start Ballast with Isolated Secondary

As noted, rapid start fixtures do not have a separate starter or starting switch but use auxiliary windings
on the ballast for this function. Here is the schematic for a typical 1-tube rapid start fixture including the
internal wiring of the ballast.
This ballast includes separate windings for the filaments and a high voltage winding that is on a branch
magnetic circuit that is loosely coupled and thus limits the current once the arc is struck. It is not known
if this design is common. The isolated secondary and separate high voltage winding would make it more
expensive to manufacture.
A complete fixture wiring diagram like those shown in the section: Wiring for Rapid Start and Trigger
Start Fixtures will probably be provided on the label.
+-------+
Power Switch ||======||(
|
Line 1 (H) o---/ ----+ ||
||(
+----+---------o
to both pins
)||
||( ( filament winding
on one end
)||
||(
+--------------o
)||
||(
HV winding
Grounded reflector
)||
|| +-----^^^^^^^-------------------------+
)||
||(
_|_
)||
||(
+--------------o
)||
||( ( filament winding
to both pins
Line 2 (N) o---------+ ||
||(
+----+---------o
on other end
||======||(
|
+-------+
Loose magnetic coupling in the ballast core results
in leakage inductance for current limiting.

Schematic of Rapid Start Dual Lamp Ballast

This ballast is marked "Rapid Start Ballast for TWO F40WT12 Lamps. Mount tubes within 1/2" of
grounded metal reflector". This circuit was derived from the measurements listed in the section:
Measurements of a Dual Tube Rapid Start Ballast.
The autotransformer boosts line voltage to the value needed for reliable starting with the filaments heated.
The series capacitor of approximately 4 uF is used instead of leakage inductance to limit current to the
tubes. Leakage inductance from loose magnetic coupling is used to smooth the waveform of current

http://www.repairfaq.org/sam/flamp.htm

7/2/2014

Fluorescent Lamps, Ballasts, and Fixtures

Page 16 of 53

flowing through the tubes. The .03 uF capacitor provides a return path during starting to the yellow
filament winding but is not really used during normal operation.
Numbers in () are approximate measured DC resistances.
Red 1 o--------------------------+
8.5 V
(.5) )||
Red 2 o----------------------+---+ ||
_|_
||
4 uF --||
|
||
+---+ ||
)||
)||
)||
)||
)||
+---------+---+ ||
|
_|_
||
| .03 uF --||
|
|
||
Yellow o----------------------+---+ ||
8.5 V
|
(.5) )||
Yellow o--------------------------+ ||
|
||
|
||
Blue 1 o------------+-------------+ ||
8.5 V
(.5) )||
Blue 2 o--+-----------------------+ ||
|
||
+--> Black (H) o--+-----------------------+ ||
|
)||
115 V
(13) )||
|
)||
+--> White (N) o------------o/o-----------+ ||
Interlock
||
|
Green (G) o-----------------------------+

Tube 1 Filament 1

HV winding

Tubes 1 and 2 filament 2

Tube 2 filament 1

Primary of
autotransformer

Measurements of Dual Tube Rapid Start Ballasts

One is a Universal, the other is a Valmont.
(Measurements made with Radio Shack multimeter)
Resistance:
Measurement
-----------------------White-Black
Between blues
Between reds
Between yellows
Black to closer blue

http://www.repairfaq.org/sam/flamp.htm

Universal
----------13
.5
.5
.5
<.1

Valmont
----------13
.55
.55
.6
<.1

7/2/2014

Fluorescent Lamps, Ballasts, and Fixtures

Blue-red
Blue-yellow
Red-yellow

Page 17 of 53

open
open
open

open
5 M
20 M

Capacitance:
Blue-red
Blue-yellow
Red-yellow

~4 uF
~.03 uF
~.03 uF

~3.5 uF

Primary current, (not true RMS), various secondary load conditions:

Secondary open
60W 120V incandescent bulb
Short
Heater voltage:

.32 A
.75 A
.48 A

.35 A
.63 A
.53 A

not measured

approx. 8 V, unsteady
surprisingly independent
of secondary load

Open circuit output voltage voltage (from one red wire to one blue one, highest reading of four
combinations):
Red-Blue

270 V

275 V

Fluorescent Lamps in Series?

This is not possible where line voltage is 105 to 125 VAC because this is not sufficient to sustain the
discharge where two lamps are in series. Special dual lamp ballasts are required.
However, where the line voltage is 220 VAC, it is possible:
(From: [email protected] (Andrew Gabriel)
Here in UK (and probably all 220 to 250 V areas), this is common:
=======
L o---+-----^^^^^^^-------+ +-----+
|
Ballast
| |
|
|
(Inductor)
+|-|+
|
|
| - |
|
|
|
|
+-+
|
Tube 1 |
|
|S| Glow Starter
|
|
|
+-+
|
| - |
|
|
+|-|+
|
|
| |
|
_|_ Power Factor
| +-----+
___ Correction
|
| Capacitor
| +-----+
|
| |
|
|
+|-|+
|
|
| - |
|
|
|
|
+-+

http://www.repairfaq.org/sam/flamp.htm

7/2/2014

Fluorescent Lamps, Ballasts, and Fixtures

Page 18 of 53

|
Tube 2 |
|
|S| Glow Starter
|
|
|
+-+
|
| - |
|
|
+|-|+
|
|
| |
|
N o---+-------------------+ +-----+

Note that starters for a 230 VAC two tube fixture may NOT be the same as those for a 230 VAC single
tube fixture. Installing single tube starters in a two tube fixture may result in no action at all since their
breakdown voltage may be too high. Doing the reverse may result in damage.

Fluorescent Lamps in Parallel?

Like most gas discharge tubes, fluorescent lamps are negative resistance devices. Therefore, it isn't
possible to put more than one lamp in parallel and get them both to light - additional components are
needed. The following applies mostly to magnetic ballasted fixtures. Where electronic ballasts are used,
all sorts of games can be played to implement wierd configurations!
Multiple lamp fixtures in countries with 110 VAC power usually have special ballasts with separate
windings for this purpose. Where 220 to 240 VAC is available, it may be possible to put multiple lamps
in series with individual starters. See the section: Fluorescent Lamps in Series?.
However, there is at least one application where putting two lamps is parallel makes sense: light fixtures
in hard-to-reach or safety-critical areas where redundancy is desirable. With only minor modifications at
most, a conventional single lamp ballast can be connected to a pair of lamps in such a way that only one
will light at any given time. (Which one actually starts could be random without additional circuitry,
however.) If either lamp burns out or is removed, the other will take over. The ballast must provide
enough power to the filaments for starting but once started, the lamp that is on will operate normally and
there should be no degradation in performance or expected lamp life (except to the extent that the unlit
lamp's filaments might be kept hot).
The following is just a suggestion - I have not confirmed if or with which model ballasts these schemes
will work!
For rapid start ballasts, this could be as simple as wiring all connections to the lamps in parallel - if the
ballast has enough current available to power both sets of filaments for starting. For trigger start ballasts,
the filament power is not an issue so it should be even easier:
Power Switch
+---------------------------+
Line 1 (H) o----/ ---------|Black
Rapid/Trigger
|
+-----|White
Start
Red|--------+
| +--|Blue
Ballast
Red|-----+ |
| | +--------------+------------+
| |
| |
|
| |
| |
+---------------+ | |
| |
Grounded | Reflector
| | |
| |
----------+---------| | |
| |
.-------------------------. | | |
| +----|Fluorescent
-|--|--+ |
| |
| )
Tube
( | | | |
+--|----|- (bipin or circline) -|--|--|--+
| |
'-------------------------' | | |
| |
+---------------+ | |

http://www.repairfaq.org/sam/flamp.htm

7/2/2014

Fluorescent Lamps, Ballasts, and Fixtures

Page 19 of 53

| |
Grounded | Reflector
| |
| |
----------+---------| |
| |
.-------------------------.
| |
| +----|Fluorescent
-|-----+ |
|
| )
Tube
( |
|
Line 2 (N) o---------+-------|- (bipin or circline) -|--------+
'------------------------'

Note: The interlock normally present on most rapid/trigger start fixtures have been removed to permit one
lamp to operate if other is removed.
For preheat ballasts, wiring the filaments in parallel would probably result in insufficient current to either
lamp for it to start reliably. If the filaments were wired in series, one lamp would probably start, but if the
filament of one lamp burned out or the lamp was removed, the fixture would cease to function kind of
defeating the purpose of these gyrations!

Wiring Fluorescent Lamps to Remote Ballasts

For reasonable distances, this should work reliably and be safe provided that:
1. This is only attempted with iron ballasts. The fire safety and reliability of electronic ballasts that
are not in close proximity to the lamps is unknown. The ballast may fail catastrophically either
immediately or a short time later as the circuit may depend on a low impedance (physically short)
path for stability.
In addition, there will almost certainly be substantial Radio Frequency Interference (RFI) created
by the high frequency currents in the long wires. The FCC police (or your neighbors) will come
and get you! This may be a problem with iron ballasts as well - but probably of less severity.
2. Wire of adequate rating is used. The starting voltage may exceed 1 kV. Make sure the insulation is
rated for at least twice this voltage. Use 18 AWG (or heavier) gauge wire.
3. There is no possibility of human contact either when operating or if any connectors should
accidentally come loose - dangerous line voltage and high starting voltage will be present with
tubes disconnected.
Note: one application that comes up for this type of remote setup is for aquarium lighting. My
recommendation would be to think twice about any homebrew wiring around water. A GFCI may not
help in terms of shock hazard and/or may nuisance trip due to inductive nature of the ballast (both depend
at least in part on ballast design).

Wiring diagram of Low Power 220 VAC Fluorescent Lamp

(From: Manuel Kasper ([email protected]).)
The circuit in Low Power 220 VAC Fluorescent Lamp is from an AC line powered 'light stick'. So there's
no fancy inverter circuit inside, but a simple ballast without any nasty coils - just capacitors, resistors, and
diodes. A few modifications would probably be necessary to make it operate from 110 VAC. It runs the
tube brighter than a similar lamp power from a 12 V inverter. (See the section: "Automotive Light Stick
Inverter" in the document: Various Schematics and Diagrams. FWIW, the brand is "Brennenstuhl".

http://www.repairfaq.org/sam/flamp.htm

7/2/2014

Fluorescent Lamps, Ballasts, and Fixtures

Page 20 of 53

It was damn hard to open up because everything was made out of thick plastic with no screws (no
wonder; it cost $6) - but thanks to a huge saw I managed to get at the guts without destroying the tube or
the circuit.

Alternatives to Commercial Iron Ballasts?

While the circuit diagrams of iron ballasts may resemble those of common power transformers, I
wouldn't recommend attempting to use these as ballasts unless you really know how to implement
controlled impedance behavior in a non-current limited transformer. Ballasts are rather special and unless
you are willing to blow a lot of fluorescent lamps, transformers, fuses, and circuit breakers, just go with
commercial ballasts. :)
Even for small lamps using a glow starter or separate starting switche, while it's certainly possible to use
an ordinary inductor rather than something labeled "ballast", it's still probably not a good idea from fire
safety and liability considerations.

Back to Sam's F-Lamp FAQ Table of Contents.

Specialty Fluorescent Lamp Types

All Sorts of Less Conventional Lamps
In addition to the boring white ones (OK, well 'white' does come in various colors!), other interesting
types of lamps include all sorts of real colors (red, green, blue, yellow), blacklight lamps, germicidal
lamps in which there is no phosphor coating at all and a quartz tube to transmit short-wave UV light (e.g.,
EPROM erasers and PCB photoresist activation), sunlamps, plant lights and special purpose specific
wavelength lamps such as reprography and copier lamps.
The basic technology is extremely flexible!
(From: Bruce Potter ([email protected]).)
There are also High Output and Very High Output types of lamps that have a discharge current of 0.8 A
and 1.5 A instead of the standard 0.3 A. HO and VHO lamps are used when high light output is desired
but are being outmoded by HID lamps like metal halide.

Blacklight Fluorescent Lamps

(From: Don Klipstein ([email protected]).)
BL in the tube designation (e.g., F40T12BL) means "blacklight", which is a fluorescent lamp with a
phosphor that emits the longest largely invisible UV wavelengths that are both efficiently and fairly
cheaply possible. This phosphor seems to emit a band of UV mainly from 350 to 370 nanometers, in the
UV-A range.
BLB means "blacklight-blue", which differs from "blacklight" only in that the glass tube of this lamp is
darkly tinted with something with a dark violet-blue color to absorb most visible light. Most UV gets
through this, along with much of the dimly visible deep-violet 404.7 nanometer line of mercury. Most of

http://www.repairfaq.org/sam/flamp.htm

7/2/2014

Fluorescent Lamps, Ballasts, and Fixtures

Page 21 of 53

the violetish-blue 435.8 nanometer line is absorbed, but enough of this wavelength gets through to largely
dominate the color of the visible light from this lamp. Longer visible light wavelengths do not
significantly penetrate the BLB's very deep violet-blue glass, which is known as 'Wood's glass'. The UV
is the same as that of the BL lamp, being mostly between 350 and 370 nanometers.
There is a 350BL blacklight lamp, using a different phosphor that emits a band of slightly shorter UV
wavelengths in the UV-A range. The reasoning for this lamp is that it is supposedly optimized for
attracting insects. These lamps are one variety of UV lamps used in electric bug killers.
There are other UV fluorescent lamps. There are at least two different UV/deep violet emitting
fluorescent lamps used mainly in the graphic arts industry, emitting mainly wavelengths between 360 and
420 nanometers. Possibly one of these is also used in bug killers. I have noticed one kind of UV
fluorescent lamp for bug killers with a broadish band phosphor with significant output from the 360
nanometer range (maybe also shorter) into visible wavelengths around 410 to 420 nanometers or so.
There is an even shorter UV-A lamp used for suntanning purposes. I would guess the phosphor emits
mainly within the 315 to 345 nanometer range. One brand of such lamps is "Uvalux".
There is even a UV-B emitting fluorescent lamp. Its phosphor emits mostly at UV-B wavelengths (286 to
315 nanometers). It is used mainly for special medicinal purposes. Exposing skin to UV-B causes
erythema, which is to some extent a burn reaction of the skin to a slightly destructive irritant. Use of UVB largely limits this to outer layers of the skin (perhaps mainly the epidermis) and to parts of the body
where skin is thinner. UV-A wavelengths just over 315 nanometers can also cause sunburn, but they are
more penetrating and can affect the dermis. Please note that the deadliest varieties of skin cancer usually
originate in the epidermis and are usually most easily caused by UV-B rays.
There are clear UV-emitting lamps made of a special glass that lets through the main shortwave UV (UVC) mercury radiation at 253.7 nanometers. These lamps are marketed as germicidal lamps, and ones in
standard fluorescent lamp sizes have part numbers that start with G instead of F. These lamps will work
in standard fluorescent lamp fixtures.
Cold-cathode germicidal lamps are also in use; these somewhat resemble "neon" tubing.
Be warned that the shortwave UV emitted by germicidal lamps is intended to be dangerous to living cells
and is hazardous, especially to the conjunctiva of eyes. Signs of injury by the UV are often delayed, often
first becoming apparent several minutes after exposure and peaking out a half hour to several hours
afterwards.
Please note that non-fluorescent (high pressure mercury vapor discharge) sunlamps generally emit more
UV-B rays rather than the tanning-range UV-A rays. These lamps do have substantial UV-A output, but
mainly at a small cluster of wavelengths around 365 nanometers. Tanning is most effectively
accomplished by wavelengths in the 315-345 nanometer range. In addition, no UV suntanning is
completely safe.

Compact Fluorescent Lamps

These are miniaturized fluorescent lamps that usually have premium phosphors which often come
packaged with an integral ballast (either iron or electronic). They typically have a standard screw base
that can be installed into nearly any table lamp or lighting fixture that accepts an incandescent lamp.
Compact fluorescent Lamps (CFLs) are being heavily promoted as energy savings alternatives to

http://www.repairfaq.org/sam/flamp.htm

7/2/2014

Fluorescent Lamps, Ballasts, and Fixtures

Page 22 of 53

incandescent lamps. They also have a much longer life - 6,000 to 20,000 hours compared to 750 to 1,000
hours for a standard incandescent. While these basic premises are not in dispute, before replacing all the
incandescent lamps in your house with CFLs, that there are some disadvantages and quirks:
1. CFLs are often physically larger than the incandescent bulbs they replace and simply may not fit
the lamp or fixture conveniently or at all. However, they are getting smaller as the technology
matures.
2. The funny elongated or circular shape may result in a less optimal lighting pattern.
3. The light is generally cooler - less yellow - than incandescents - this may be undesirable and result
in less than pleasing contrast with ordinary lamps and ceiling fixtures. Newer models have been
addressing this issue and color temperature of some are now very close to incandescent lamps.
4. Some types (usually iron ballasts) may produce an annoying 120 Hz (or 100 Hz) flicker.
5. Ordinary dimmers cannot be used with compact fluorescents and may result in immediate
destruction of the CFL.
In addition, CFLs should not be used with illuminated switches, electronic timers, or any other
means of control that results in a small current in series with the lamp when it is supposed to be off.
With some electronic ballast designs, the small current will slowly charge a filter capacitor inside
the CFL until it reaches a critical threshold, at which point the lamp will flash on momentarily perhaps every 5 seconds. This may be kind of cool and may not damage the CFL (at least not
immediately) but probably isn't the intended effect in your home. :) For illuminated switches, the
switch won't be affected (though it may pulse synchronously with the cycle of the flashing CFL),
but for timers and the like, the non constant current is likely to result in erratic behavior if not
actual damage to the control device.
6. Light output may depend somewhat on mounting orientation.
7. Some CFLs come on instantly while others may have a delay of a up to a second or more where
nothing appears to happen. They generally go off instantly. There characteristics may be annoying
to anyone used to normal incandescent desk lamp behavior where which has a small but noticeable
(and expected) delay as the filament heats or cools.
8. There will usually be a warmup time of a few seconds to a minute or more before full light output
is produced even in warm temperatures.
9. Light output will decline slightly over the course of the life of the CFL.
10. Like other fluorescents, operation at cold temperatures (under around 50 to 60 F) may result in
reduced light output. Starting may also be erratic, although most compact fluorescent lamps seem
to start OK at temperatures near freezing. Many types start OK near zero F. Operation in an
enclosed fixture often results in full light output in cool surroundings after the lamp warms up for a
few minutes, as long as the initial temperature is high enough to permit a good start. However,
enclosing compact fluorescents often impairs their ability to work well at higher temperatures.
11. CFLs should not be use in an unenclosed fixture outdoors unless the package states that this is
acceptable since the electronics are really not always well protected. There may be additional
specific environmental limitations listed as well.

http://www.repairfaq.org/sam/flamp.htm

7/2/2014

Fluorescent Lamps, Ballasts, and Fixtures

Page 23 of 53

12. Similarly, operating in enclosed fixtures or various orientations may result in reduced reliability,
despite what the package claims. The only failures of GE-branded CFLs I've seen were for 2
samples run in a semi-enclosed ceiling fan fixture base-up due to fractured solder joints, and one
sample in a sideways position in a ceiling fixture due to a blown resistor. Two of these three were
repairable but one of those with the bad solder joints blew the MOSFETs making repair more
trouble than it was worth. If manufacturers would just use a printed circuit board with plated
through holes (vias), these failures would be virtually eliminated. At most, it might add 25 cents to
the cost.
More below.
13. There may be an audible buzz from the ballast, especially the iron type.
14. CFLs may produce Radio Frequency Interference (RFI).
15. While their rated life may be 6,000 to 20,000 hours, a wayward baseball will break one of these as
easily as a 25 cent incandescent as I've found out. However, that's how I was able to trace the
ballast schematics! I finally did have a CFL fail due to the filament on one end of the spiral tube
opening but that was one of the oldest and probably did operate for its rated life with no problems.
The prices of CFLs are dropping and $5 or $6 for one that does a decent job of replacing a 100 W
incandescent lamp (in terms of color, light output, and fit) is now common. And $3 or less for something
suitable for enough light to illuminate a path at night (e.g., 40 W equivalent). They will often be much
less in bulk packs, during promotions or sales. In some places, they are given away free simply to reduce
large scale energy usage.) Depending on the cost of electricity in your area, these should pay for
themselves over the number of hours equivalent to the lifetime of 1 to 2 incandescent lamps.
As an example, in 750 hours, a typical 26 W (consumed) CFL with a light output of 1,700 lumens
(similar to a 100 W soft white incandescent) will use 19.5 kWh, compared to 75.0 kWh for the
incandescent. At 10 cents/kWh, this represents a saving of $5.55. Add in $0.50 for the cost of the
incandescent lamp and it's already just about break-even for a $6 CFL. And, most of the life of the CFL
and continued savings on electricity lies ahead. With special discounts and promotions, CFL prices may
be even lower resulting in quicker pay-back periods.
Identify locations where lamps or fixtures are left on for a significant number of hours on average per
day. Or equivalently, where it seems you are always replacing bulbs (but they are actually lasting for their
rated life, not burning out due to vibration or bad connections). It doesn't make sense to put a CFL in a
closet or attic which isn't used much. Even a bathroom is typically a marginal location. Go for CFLs that
will fit physically and and where their color and appearance is acceptable. Home centers may have better
prices than corner hardware stores but not always. Shop around before buying (or at least before buying a
bushel).
For more information, see the separate document on Compact Fluorescent Lamps.
If you're into recycling electronics to other uses, see Andrew Gabriel's D.I.Y. Electronic Gear Page for
taking the electronic ballasts from compact fluorescents that died due to lamp failure and using them to
drive normal fluorescent lamps as well as remotely connected CF lamps.
However, one thing that is rarely discussed is the net energy usage over the life of the CFL including the
energy used during manufacture. It would seem that the energy used to manufacture a CFL compared to
an incandescent lamp may be at least somewhat more due to their greater complexity and the higher-tech

http://www.repairfaq.org/sam/flamp.htm

7/2/2014

Fluorescent Lamps, Ballasts, and Fixtures

Page 24 of 53

parts inside. But this isn't a fair comparison because it's not one incandescent lamp that much factor into
the comparison but the five or more that would be needed to match the life of the CFL. So, it's almost
certain that the CFL clearly wins. If anyone has some hard numbers, please contact me via the
Sci.Electronics.Repair FAQ Email Links Page.
(From: Victor Roberts ([email protected]).)
One big difference between the low cost electronic ballasts designed for integral CFLs and the higher
cost ballasts designed to be used with plug-in CFLs or linear fluorescent lamps, is that the former are
usually not designed to survive if the lamp does not light or is not present. After all, for an integral
system, once the lamp dies there is no reason why the ballast cannot also burn out. One reason external
electronic ballasts are more expensive than the electronic ballasts used in integral CFLs is that external
ballasts are designed to survive if the lamp does not light or is not present.
If you "harvest" an electronic ballast from an integral CFL, in addition to making sure you know what
you are doing so you don't kill yourself or someone else, make sure that you never operate the ballast
without a operating lamp attached. If you do, the ballast will most likely burn out in less than a few
seconds.
Repairing CFLs
Repair a light bulb???? :) Well, yes, in the case of CFLs. Unlike incandescent lamps where failure is
generally terminal, the actual lamp part of a CFL is often not the problem. Rather, it is a failure of the
ballast, which for most consumer CFLs is not considered to be a serviceable item by the manufacturer.
For older style CFLs using magnetic ballasts, see the relevant sections starting with Troubleshooting of
Fluorescent Lamps and Fixtures.
A typical modern CFL consists of the electronic ballast and the fluorescent lamp. Either or both may be at
fault when the lamp refuses to light. An electronic ballast failure is not that likely to ruin the lamp.
However, a lamp that refuses to start due to a bad connection or open filament may cause some electronic
ballasts to self destruct.
To get inside the typical CFL will require either prying the plastic shell housing the electronic ballast
apart where it joins the lamp base, or the careful use of a hacksaw. Once inside, it may be necessary to
disconnect one end or both ends of the fluorescent tube (note the connections!) to access the bottom of
the PCB. If the connections are originally wire-wrapped, they can be soldered when reassembled. But
clean corrosion from the wires and posts with fine sand paper and take care that the heat of soldering
doesn't mess up the PCB connection of the post when reattaching them.
Some of the common problems include:
l

Bad solder j oints on electronic ballast PCB:. This is probably the *most* common fault.
Symptoms may be erratic operation, or where touching it or twisting the base results in a lamp that
goes on and off, or goes on and stays on. However, it's also possible for the ballast to blow due to
bad connections. So, the unit may simply be dead. Therefore, DON'T keep operating the CFL
under these conditions where it is flickers or is erratic in some other way if you want to try to repair
it. Once the transistors or MOSFETs blow, it's not worth it.

Bad connections to fluorescent tube: These are often wires that are poorly wrapped around round
posts. Otherwise similar comments to above. Soldering is better when reinstalled. Clean both the

http://www.repairfaq.org/sam/flamp.htm

7/2/2014

Fluorescent Lamps, Ballasts, and Fixtures

Page 25 of 53

posts and wires with fine sandpaper to minimize the amount of heat needed to solder them back
together so that the PCB solder joint isn't affected by soldering of the post since one pair may not
be accessible for inspection.
l

Blown fuse or fusable resistor: This usually indicates that one or both transistors or MOSFETs
have failed, possibly due to bad solder connections, a bad lamp, or something else. A replacement
will just blow.

Other bad parts: There may be other resistors, capacitors, diodes, an NTC (inrush limiting)
thermistor, or something else that had failed. Resistors and diodes can be checked easily enough.
Capacitors can be at least checked for shorts. But, swapping parts or at least comparing resistances
of parts from a known working unit may be easiest.

Bad fluorescent tube: Aside from one that's smashed into a million pieces, the filament(s) can
open, usually from long hours of use. This is easily tested with a multimeter without disconnecting
anything. The normal resistance is a few ohms at most. An open filament may have also damaged
the ballast but not always.
One strange, but seemingly common failure (I've had three of them), is for a hot spot to be
generated near the filament at one end of the tube that eventually results in the glass actually
melting and being sucked in until a hole develops and then it's all over. See: Hole Failure Mode of
Spiral CFL. This generally happens on high-mileage CFLs. Depending on the design of the ballast,
the chopper transistors may be destroyed as well once this happens. More below.
I've seen this on 3 CFLs in 3 different lamps/fixtures. There are no known problems that could
account for such nasty behavior. They were all high mileage, so perhaps the filament at that end of
the lamp opened resulting in the discharge concentrating at one post, near the glass and getting very
hot there, or something. :)

Sometimes, the general nature of the ballast problems can be detected by their acrid aroma due to
multiple fried parts. The ballast is generally not salvageable on these, but the fluorescent tube may be
fine.
Above all, when a problem is found and fixed so the lamp works again, make sure that any SAFETY
related parts are replaced with the PROPER part type and value. The most critical are fuses or fusable
resistors in series with one side of the AC line since these will prevent the unit from catching fire or
melting down due to a major failure. The easiest source for these would be an *identical* model CFL that
failed for some other reason.
More on CFL Failure
(From: Curtis Sell.)
I believe holes are caused by a loss of emissivity coating (the white powder on the filaments) as described
in the section What Happens when Fluorescent Lamps Wear Out. Once the coating is lost the filament
will overheat and melt or crack the glass.
On a related note: Many electronic CFL balasts generate pulsed DC, not AC. (They use a simple Buck
converter.) The DC current causes the emissivity coating on one end of the tube to wear out more quickly
than on the other end. Once the coating is sputtered off the worn tube end will glow purple and the tube
will blacken and heat up. I have revived lamps in this condition by swapping the tube end for end,

http://www.repairfaq.org/sam/flamp.htm

7/2/2014

Fluorescent Lamps, Ballasts, and Fixtures

Page 26 of 53

allowing the side with the 'good' emissivity coating to be used.

If not noticed in time the tube will crack or melt (unless the ballast quits first). The filament on the
cracked end will be worn bare, but not necessarily open circuit, while the filament on the opposite end
will have a large amount of emissivity coating left.
I believe that CFLs that use AC to drive the tube have a significantly longer life than ones that use pulsed
DC.

Cold Weather Fluorescent Lamps

(From: Bruce Potter ([email protected]).)
There are special lamps with heavy glass jackets and/or with krypton gas filling for cold weather/freezer
applications. They work best at below room-temperatures. It really annoys me when I go to the grocery
store or see outside installations with dim, flickering tubes! What a waste of electricity!

Fluorescent Lamps which Operate from Low Voltage DC

These are now found in all sorts of equipment including laptop computers and all many other portable
high tech devices to camping lanterns, boats, and RVs, All are based on an electronic ballast that converts
the low voltage DC (anywhere from 3 V to 24 V depending on application) to high frequency high
voltage AC to operate the fluorescent tube(s). Laptop computers and similar devices use special narrow
tubes designed specifically to be run without heated filaments (cold cathode operation) and very narrow
envelops to fit into very thin spaces. :) Most of the others use conventional fluorescent tubes and may or
may not drive the filaments during starting or at any other time.
The ballasts for these lamps must generate the required voltages to start and operate the lamps reliably as
well as to assure long life. See the section: Electronic Ballasts for more info and some links to sample
circuits.

Back to Sam's F-Lamp FAQ Table of Contents.

Troubleshooting of Fluorescent Lamps and Fixtures

Problems with Fluorescent Lamps and Fixtures
(For problems with Compact Fluorescent Lamps specifically, see the section: Repairing CFLs.)
In addition to the usual defective or damaged plugs, broken wires in the cord, general bad connections,
fluorescent lamps and fixtures have some unique problems of their own. Always try a new set of
fluorescent tubes and starter (where used) before considering other possible failures.
If two tubes dim or flicker in unison, this means that both are powered by the same ballast. Often this
means that one tube has failed, although the other tube may also be in poor condition or approaching the
end of its life. Both tubes must be replaced with known good tubes in order to rule out a defective ballast.
1. Bad fluorescent tubes. Unlike incandescent lamps where a visual examination of the bulb itself will

http://www.repairfaq.org/sam/flamp.htm

7/2/2014

Fluorescent Lamps, Ballasts, and Fixtures

Page 27 of 53

often identify a broken filament, there is often no way of just looking at a fluorescent tube to
determine if it is bad. It may look perfectly ok though burned out fluorescents will often have one
or both ends blackened. However, a blackened end is not in itself always an indication of a bad
tube. Blackened ends are a somewhat reliable means of identifying bad tubes in 34 or 40 watt rapid
start fixtures. Blackened ends are not as reliable an indicator in preheat or trigger start fixtures, or
for tubes of 20 watts or less.
Failure of the electrodes/filaments at one or both ends of the the fluorescent tube will usually result
in either a low intensity glow or flickering behavior, or sometimes in no light at all. A broken
filament in a fluorescent tube used in a preheat type fixture (with a starter) will almost always
result in a totally dead lamp as there will be no power to the starter. A dim glow is rare in this case
and would probably be confined to the region of the broken filament if it occurs. The best approach
is to simply try replacing any suspect tubes - preferably both in a pair that are driven from a single
ballast.
One end glowing bright orange means the tube is dead - the filament has lost its electron-emitting
coating. A working filament at that temperature will emit enough electrons to cause a discharge
around it which will make the phosphor glow at that end (even without any voltage across the
tube). The electron-emitting coating is normally to be found at this stage coating the inside of the
glass, resulting in black tube ends.
Before such complete failure, while the coating on one filament is much less effective that the
other, this results in asymmetric current flow and 50/60 Hz flicker. This can have a bad
psychological effect on people (even if they are not actually aware of the flicker), and is very bad
news for anyone susceptible to epilepsy (50 Hz supplies are probably worse in this respect).
In fixtures where a rapid start ballast runs two tubes, both tubes will go out when one fails.
Sometimes one or both tubes will glow dimly and/or flicker. If one tube glows dimly and the other
is completely dead, this does not indicate which tube has failed. The brighter tube may be the good
one or the bad one. The bad tube usually has noticeable blackening at one end. It may pay to
replace both tubes, especially if significant labor costs are involved. Also, prolonged dim-glowing
may degrade the tube that did not initially fail.
In trigger start fixtures that use one ballast to power two 20 watt tubes, sometimes both tubes will
blink or intermittently dim. Replacing either tube with a known good tube may fail to fix this. The
tubes may continue blinking or intermittently dimming until both are replaced with brand new
tubes. This sometimes indicates borderline low line voltage ("brownout", etc.), nonideal
temperatures, or a borderline (probably cheaply designed) ballast.
A simple test that will confirm that a tube is bad is to check the continuity between the pair of pins
at each end. If either set are open, the tube is guaranteed bad if used in a preheat or rapid start
fixture. It might still work in an instant or trigger start fixture, or one with an electronic ballast,
since these do not depend on heating the filament via current through the two pins. However, if
there is continuity, the tube could still be bad as noted above.
2. Bad or incorrect starter (preheat fixtures only). The little starter can may go bad or be damaged by
faulty fluorescent tubes continuously trying to start unsuccessfully. It is a good idea to replace the
starter whenever tubes are replaced in these types of fixtures. One way that starters go bad is to "get
stuck". Symptoms of this are the ends of the affected tube glowing, usually with an orange color of
some sort or another but sometimes with a color closer to the tube's normal color if arcs form
across the filaments. Occaisionally, only one end arcs and glows brightly, and the other end glows

http://www.repairfaq.org/sam/flamp.htm

7/2/2014

Fluorescent Lamps, Ballasts, and Fixtures

Page 28 of 53

dimmer with a more orange color. This is hard on both the tube and the ballast. The defective
starter should be immediately removed.
A starter that is rated for a different wattage lamp can result not only in starting problems, but
erratic behavior if the lamp does successfully start. For example, a starter rated for a lower wattage
or shorter lamp (lower voltage drop) may be randomly activated resulting in flickering as it
attempts (incorrectly) to restart.
Should one or both ends glow with a bright yellowish orange color with no sign of any arc
discharge surrounding each filament, then the emissive material on the filaments is probably
depleted or defective. In such a case, the tube should be replaced regardless of what else is wrong.
If both ends glow a dim orange color, then the filaments' emissive coating may or may not be in
good shape. It takes approximately 10 volts to form an arc across a healthy fluorescent lamp
filament.
3. Defective iron ballast. The ballast may be obviously burned and smelly, overheated, or have a loud
hum or buzz. Eventually, a thermal protector built into many ballasts will open due to the
overheating (though this will probably reset when it cools down). The fixture may appear to be
dead. A bad ballast could conceivably damage other parts as well and blow the fluorescent tubes. If
the high voltage windings of rapid start or trigger start ballasts are open or shorted, then the lamp
will not start.
Ballasts for fixtures less than 30 watts usually do not have thermal protection and in rare cases
catch fire if they overheat. Defective fixtures should not be left operating.
4. Electronic ballasts including those in Compact Fluorescent Lamps (CFLs). These are basically
switchmode power supplies and a total failure must be diagnosed with that in mind (including the
SAFETY issues!). However, the most likely problems with mass produced and cheaply made
electronic ballasts - especially when heat-stressed in enclosed or semi-enclosed fixtures - are
cracked solder joints. Going over all the solder joints on these at the first sign of any flickering or
other erratic behavior may prevent subsequent This is the only type of electronic ballast failure that
it probably makes any sense to spend time on if your time is worth anything. :)
5. Bad sockets. These can be damaged through forceful installation or removal of a fluorescent tube.
With some ballasts (instant start, for example), a switch contact in the socket prevents generation of
the starting voltage if there is no tube in place. This minimizes the possibility of shock while
changing tubes but can also be an additional spot for a faulty connection.
6. Lack of ground. For fluorescent fixtures using rapid start or instant start ballasts, it is often
necessary for the metal reflector to be connected to the electrical system's safety ground. If this is
not done, starting may be erratic or may require you to run your hand over the tube to get it to light.
In addition, of course, it is an important safety requirement.
WARNING: Electronic ballasts are switching power supplies and need to be serviced by someone
qualified in their repair both for personal safety as well as continued protection from electrical and fire
hazards.

Causes of Short Lamp Life

The following directly addresses issues with the common 4 foot 34 to 40 W fluorescent lamps and
fixtures. However, most will apply to other wattages.

http://www.repairfaq.org/sam/flamp.htm

7/2/2014

Fluorescent Lamps, Ballasts, and Fixtures

Page 29 of 53

(From: Don Klipstein ([email protected]).)

There are two likely reasons for short lamp life:
1. Bulb-ballast mismatch: There are several different wattages of 4-foot fluorescent bulbs, two of
which are called F40. The "energy saver" F40 is usually 34 watts but sometimes 35 watts but
treatable as a 34. F40 with no mention of "energy saver" or "energy saving" is a true 40 watt.
2. Subtle partial ballast failure: Sometimes, usually in a 2-bulb magnetic rapid start ballast, a
capacitor in series with the transformer's secondary winding fails. Excessive current flows through
the lamp and the ballast can overheat. If you have or can borrow one of those "clamp-on" AC
ammeters, clamp it around the black lead or the white lead (but not both, for a 120 VAC USAusual ballast of this sort). A good ballast will draw approximately 0.8 A. A bad one will draw
around 1.5 A.
It may be possible to measure the actual current through the lamp;
(From: James Sweet ([email protected]).)

High output lamps: 800 mA.

Standard lamps (in North America anyway): T12 lamps are 430 mA and T8
lamps are 230 mA.

Some less likely reasons:

3. Excessive cycling: You turn the lamps on and off a lot.
4. The ballasts are cheap j unk: Replace them with "commercial grade" ballasts.
5. Corroded contacts in the sockets: Try twisting the bulbs around. Slight chance you need to clean
the socket contacts with sandpaper (WITH POWER OFF - 280 volts is a popular output voltage of
a 2-bulb F40 rapid start ballast.) Slight chance you need a new fixture - and then replace the
cheapo-junko ballast with a proper "commercial grade" one, if the usually 2-inch-longer-length of
the proper ballast is something the fixture will accept.
6. Bulbs need to be cleaned: More likely in humid coastal areas - a slightly conductive film of
dust/salt/dirt on the bulbs can affect electric field distribution within bulbs that have not yet started
and that can impair starting.
7. The fixture may not be grounded: It should be connected to the grounding conductor of the cable
feeding it. This sometimes affects starting and sometimes unpredictably or in a manner varying
with bulb age, temperature and humidity.
But if the bulbs always start until some time when they act up and never start again, then grounding
is probably not the problem.

Comments on Black Bands and Other Fluorescent Failure Issues

(From: Don Klipstein ([email protected]).)
Fluorescent tubes failing in this manner normally draw reduced current. The voltage across the tube is

http://www.repairfaq.org/sam/flamp.htm

7/2/2014

Fluorescent Lamps, Ballasts, and Fixtures

Page 30 of 53

higher and the tube will sometimes draw more power, but the current flowing through the ballast is less.
Since the ends of the bulb usually burn out unequally, some "net DC" may try to flow through the ballast.
My experience is that the feared core saturation effects do not occur. Furthermore, the common rapid start
ballasts have a capacitor in series with the secondary windings which would block any DC.
There is a different problem that I once knew of causing a fire: Starters getting stuck in the "closed" state.
The symptom is the ends of the tube glowing brightly, either yellow-orange or a color closer to the
normal tube color, sometimes even one end glowing yellow-orange and one end glowing a more normal
color. Excessive ballast current flows in this case. This is not a problem with "instant start", "rapid start",
or "trigger start" fixtures. It is only a problem where there are starters.
A dim orange or red-orange glow more likely indicates dead tubes on a rapid start or trigger start ballast.
If the fixture is a preheat type, dim orange end glow indicates less current than a brighter yellow-orange,
and the ballast is less likely to overheat. Different brands of ballasts are designed a little differently.
If a preheat fixture has the tube glowing only in the ends, it is recommended to immediately remove the
tube to stop the ballast from possibly overheating. You should replace both the tube and the starter. The
starter is bad if this occurs, and the tube is usually bad also. Typically, the starter goes bad after too much
time trying to start a bad tube. In the unlikely event the starter had the initial failure, the tube will be
damaged by prolonged excessive end glow.

Why is a Grounded Fixture N eeded for Reliable Starting?

Many fluorescent fixtures will not start reliably unless they are connected to a solid earth (safety) ground.
This is most likely the case with rapid or trigger start magnetic ballasts. These will usually state on the
label: "Mount tube within 1/2 inch of grounded metal reflector". If this is not done or if the entire fixture
is not grounded, starting will be erratic - possibly taking a long or random amount of time to start or
waiting until you brush your hand along the tube.
The reason is straightforward:
The metal reflector or your hand provides a capacitive path to ground through the wall of the fluorescent
tube. This helps to ionize the gases inside the tube and initiate conduction in the tube. However, once
current is flowing from end-to-end, the impedance in the ballast circuit is much much lower than this
capacitive path. Thus, the added capacitance is irrelevant once the tube has started.
The reason that this is required is probably partly one of cost: it is cheaper to manufacture a ballast with
slightly lower starting voltage but require the fixture to be grounded - as it should be for safety anyhow.
(From: Don Klipstein ([email protected]).)
Should one or both tubes glow dimly, then ionization is not the problem and poor grounding isn't the
cause. In such a case, the problem is poor contact with the pins of the tubes, one or both tubes are bad,
insufficient voltage, bulb/ballast mismatch (wrong bulbs may fit but not work especially for 4-footers
which come in many wattages), or possibly just a bad case of the bulbs being much too cold. Wire or foil
or other attachments to change the electric field distribution will not help dim glow make the transition to
arc - only help with the tubes ionizing and glowing at all.

Why Do Fluorescent Lamps Buz z and What to Do About It?

http://www.repairfaq.org/sam/flamp.htm

7/2/2014

Fluorescent Lamps, Ballasts, and Fixtures

Page 31 of 53

The buzzing light is probably a mundane problem with a defective or cheap ballast. There's also the
possibility of sloppy mechanical construction which lets something vibrate from the magnetic field of the
ballast until thermal expansion eventually stops it.
First check for loose or vibrating sheetmetal parts - the ballast may simply be vibrating these and itself
not be defective.
Most newer fixtures are of the 'rapid start' or 'warm start' variety and do not have starters. The ballast has
a high voltage winding which provides the starting voltage.
There will always be a ballast - it is necessary to limit the current to the tube(s) and for starting if there is
no starter. In older fixtures, these will be big heavy magnetic choke/transformer devices - hard to miss if
you open the thing. Cheap and/or defective ones tend to make noise. They are replaceable but you need to
get one of the same type and ratings - hopefully of higher quality. A new fixture may be cheaper.
The starter if present is a small cylindrical aluminum can, approximately 3/4" x 1-1/2" in a socket,
usually accessible without disassembly. It twists counterclockwise to remove. They are inexpensive but
probably not your problem. To verify, simply remove the starter after the lamp is on - it is not needed
then.
The newest fixtures may use totally electronic ballasts which are less likely to buzz. Warning: electronic
ballasts are basically switching power supplies and are maybe hazardous to service (both in terms of your
safety and the risk of a fire hazard from improper repair) unless you have the appropriate knowledge and
experience.
Where the buzzing started after replacing the ballast, assuming the replacement is of the same type as the
original and it is tightly mounted, there is probably nothing really wrong - it is just not as quiet as your
previous ballast. Make sure it is the ballast and not its mounting sheet metal vibrating. If the sound is
coming from the ballast, there really isn't a lot that can be done other than to try another manufacturer or
sample. Also see the section: Why do Fluorescent Lamps Buzz and What to Do About It?.
(From Brian Beck ([email protected]).)
There are 2 main types of ballasts; those for 'home' use and those for commercial use. The commercial
type will last longer and the lamp life is better as well.
There are three sound ratings
l
l
l

A - extremely quiet (e.g., libraries, churches).

B - somewhat noisy (e.g., work areas, shops).
C - outdoor noisy (e.g., 60 foot poles in parking lots).

My guess is you got a home rated ballast with a 'B' sound rating. There is nothing wrong with the ballast it is just noisy. If the buzz bothers you, return it to the store you bought it and go purchase one at an
actual electrical parts supplier (home centers and hardware stores may not have the highest quality
components). For a 2 lamp F40/T12/CW/SS lamp fixture, you want an R2S40TP ballast.

Why Fluorescent Lamps are Sometimes Dimmer than Expected?

"I recently replaced a kitchen overhead fixture with two 75 watt bulbs with a fluorescent one
having two 20 W bulbs. Guess what? Not enough light!"

http://www.repairfaq.org/sam/flamp.htm

7/2/2014

Fluorescent Lamps, Ballasts, and Fixtures

Page 32 of 53

Somehow I was under the impression that a watt of fluorescent lighting produced many more
candles than a watt of incandescent lighting, but obviously, I overestimated the ratio."
A 20 watt fluorescent bulb of a higher light output color should make as much light as a 75 watt
incandescent (1170 to 1210 lumens), BUT:
1. A few fluorescent lamp colors are dimmer, such as Deluxe versions of cool white and warm white,
and a few others.
2. Fluorescent lamps only make full light output in a somewhat narrow temperature range. The
fluorescents will probably not make full light when they first get started. They typically make more
light after warming up for a few minutes, then may lose a bit of light output if they warm up past
optimum temperature.
3. Some ballasts do not make fluorescent lamps produce full light. Some 20 watt fixtures use a multipurpose ballast designed to be usable with a few different wattages of lamps, and which typically
sends about 16 watts of power to a 20 watt tube. A few other ballasts send an inferior current
waveform to the tube, impairing efficiency. I have found some fixtures by "Lights of America" to
suffer slightly impaired efficiency from a less smooth current waveform generated by an instantstart ballast system that starts "preheat" tubes instantly without a starter. Some cheaper rapid start
and trigger start ballasts produce slightly inferior current waveforms.
Some of the slightly popular 2-tube 20 watt "trigger start" ballasts are cheap and "fussy", and only
work well if everything is optimum. These ballasts often don't work well with cool temperatures,
slightly low line voltages, or slightly weak lamps. Their best may not be too great anyway. The
same may be true of some cheaper two-tube 40 watt "shop light" ballasts. Also, some "shop light"
fixtures that you may think are dual 40 watt are actually dual 25 watt 4-foot fixtures.
4. Some fluorescent lamp colors (especially warm white, white, and cool white) have a spectral
distribution that dims most reds and most greens. This may make things look dimmer. For details
of this effect, look for the appropriate section in Some Bits of Discharge Lamp Theory andOther
Technical Information!, (a web document related mostly to discharge lamp mechanics).
"What will happen if I replace the two T20s with higher powered lamps? (If some will burn
out, can I replace it as well?"
The ballasts in nearly all 20 watt fixtures will not send much over 20 watts of power to any size tube.
Sometimes even not much over 16 watts to any size tube. You need a different fixture, more
fixtures/tubes, or possibly tubes of the same wattage but better brightness and/or color brightening (more
modern '3000', 'D830', '3500', 'D835', '4100', or 'D841' tubes with higher lumen ratings but of wattage and
size for the fixture).

Replacing fluorescent lamp or fixture components

Most of these parts are easily replaced and readily available. However, it is usually necessary to match
the original and replacement fairly closely. Ballasts in particular are designed for a particular wattage,
type and size, and tube configuration. Take the old ballast with you when shopping for a replacement.
There may be different types of sockets as well depending on the type of ballast you have.
It is also a possible fire hazard to replace fluorescent tubes with a different wattage even if they fit
physically. A specific warning has been issued about replacing 40 W tubes with 34 W energy saving

http://www.repairfaq.org/sam/flamp.htm

7/2/2014

Fluorescent Lamps, Ballasts, and Fixtures

Page 33 of 53

tubes, for example. The problem is that the ballast must also be correctly sized for the new tubes and
simply replacing the tubes results in excessive current flow and overheating of the ballast(s).

Rings or Swirls of Light in Fluorescent Lamps

Complaints are generally of the following form:
"I just replaced my bulbs because they had the black bands at the end and finally went out
altogether. The new bulbs light fine but they have subtle rings of light running down the
inside of them."
or
"My fluorescent tubes look like a they have a writhing snake inside trying to get out."
(From: Don Klipstein ([email protected]).)
The rings sometimes happens. I forget the name of this, but it is a sometimes normal feature of the main
discharge column in low pressure lamps. In fluorescent tubes, it is more common if the bulb is cold or not
fully warmed up, brand new or not-yet broken in, or if the ballast is of poor quality or there is a
bulb/ballast mismatch.
Double check the label on the ballast and the lamp type to be sure they are compatible with each other.
If the bulb is an "energy saver" 34 or 35 watt model (part number usually begins with F40, which is the
same for a normal 40 watt bulb), be sure the ballast is compatible with that bulb. If it is compatible with
both 34's and 40's, it is compatible with 35's. Matching bulbs/ballasts is important for these models
mainly to ensure long bulb life and to avoid overheating the ballast. 34 and 35 watt bulbs are prone to
rings and flickering and being dim and being unusually sensitive to cold because of the nature of these
bulbs and can do so no matter what ballast you use. They will normally behave properly after warming
up, especially in ceiling fixtures where heat builds up.
Fluorescent tubes sometimes also "swirl" before being broken in, or if they are underpowered by an
incorrect or low quality ballast.

Comments on Instant Start/ Rapid Start Compatibility

(From: Ken Berg ([email protected]).)
The problem with premature lamp failures using Instant Start ballast lies in the fundamental difference in
the basic operating principles between Rapid Start and Instant Start lamps. It has really nothing to do with
whether the ballast is magnetic or electronic. Instant Start ballasts are really designed to be used with the
standard T12 single pin Slimline lamps. Instant Start ballasts deliver a higher striking voltage on starting
than Rapid Start ballasts do. Slimline (the single pin) lamps have a slightly heavier cathode to tolerate the
starting cycle. With Instant Start, the lamps are really started "cold cathode" style, and then they of course
run as hot cathode.
On occasion, even the standard T12 Slimlines refuse to "die like gentlemen" and flash and swirl wildly.
Maintenance guys have known for decades that they need to replace Slimlines promptly if they start
doing this. They will need to keep this in mind when dealing with the F32T8 lamps as well. Even though

http://www.repairfaq.org/sam/flamp.htm

7/2/2014

Fluorescent Lamps, Ballasts, and Fixtures

Page 34 of 53

the lamps are bi-pin, and so look like the old Rapid Start T12's, they are more than likely running on an
Instant Start circuit, and will sometimes go like this.
The cathodes in most bi-pin lamps are made for Rapid Start, which is a starting method that is easier on
the filaments. The lamp manufacturers are supposed to have already taken the starting characteristics of
the new F32T8 Instant Start ballasts into account, but some might just be going on the cheap, and
skimping of the lamp filaments.

Premature Cathode Failure in Dimmed Fluorescent Lamps

"I have been experimenting with 15 W T8 lamps running from a dimmable electronic ballast.
I have found that if set to a low light level after a few days of being left on, one of the
cathodes in the tube often goes open circuit."
(From: Clive Mitchell ([email protected]).)
The only explanation that I can come up with is that there isn't enough current flow to keep the cathodes
warm and this is causing the discharge to be concentrated on a small point. The discharge will tend to
stay on that point since it's the only warm bit, and as such is emitting electrons, making it the easiest path
for current flow.
The voltage drop across this point will be higher than normal since the heat being generated is being
dissipated by the rest of the cathode and this means that more power than normal is being dissipated from
that point causing sputtering. This could be causing the early burn-out.
The best way to validate this would be with a clear tube to see the cathode discharge activity.
I've seen a phenomenon like this when I've lit a halide lamp at low level with a small voltage multiplier
circuit. The glow discharge led to a white hot point on the electrode that caused sputtering.
If this is the case, then the cure is to use a ballast that can supply a continuous heating current to the
cathodes.

Replace Preheat Ballasts with Rapid or Trigger Start Type?

When a ballast fails in a preheat fixture, should the bad preheat ballast be replaced with a more modern
type?
Advantages of a rapid or trigger start ballast are that the starter (a high failure part) is eliminated and the
fluorescent lamps may last longer as a result of less stress during starting.
Disadvantage include cost of the ballast and possibly space limitations inside the fixture. However, since
a defective starter may ruin the lamp controlled by it, the potential cost of replacement lamps may offset
the additional cost of the ballast.
All in all, this is probably not a decision affecting the future of the Universe but in certain cases, changing
ballast types may make sense.

N ewly Installed Fluorescent Lamp Flashes Every Few Seconds When Off

http://www.repairfaq.org/sam/flamp.htm

7/2/2014

Fluorescent Lamps, Ballasts, and Fixtures

Page 35 of 53

Compact Fluorescent Lamps (CFLs) and many other modern fluorescent lamps use an electronic ballast.
(See the sections on ballasts.) In simple terms, this consists of a rectifier and filter capacitor following by
a switching circuit. The switching circuit requires a certain minimum voltage to function and until it gets
going, its input may appear as a high impedance, almost an open circuit. Any source of AC even a small
amount of leakage through a defective switch, a switch with a neon lamp night light feature (lighted when
off), an electronic timer, motion sensor controlled yard light, or a light dimmer that isn't fully off, may
produce a small amount of current to the input of the fluorescent lamp. Depending on how severe the
leakage is relative to the actual input impedance of the ballast's circuitry, this can cause the voltage to
build up on the filter capacitor until the "startup circuit" kicks in producing a flash of light. The startup
circuit usually has some sort of threshold device like a zener diode or diac that won't pass current until the
voltage across it exceeds a spec'd value. When that happens, the lamp starts up and strikes but just for an
instant since there isn't enough current available on the input to maintain it. Then the cycle repeats.
So, there is nothing wrong with the fluorescent lamp or fixture. But there may be a problem in what's
feeding it.
Most fluorescent lamps and fixtures have warnings about avoiding their use on any type of circuit that
doesn't involve a simple switch. Not only is it possible for this sort of problem to occur, but the electronic
ballast may be destroyed.
If there are no lighted switches or high tech switched gizmos driving it, then there could be a potentially
serious wiring problem. It has also been suggested that inductive or capacitive coupling between
conductors in long runs of cable could produce enough leakage for this effect to occur, though I'm
somewhat skeptical of this explanation except under unusual circumstances such as where the outlet or
fixture is controlled from multiple locations and there a long "traveller" in the circuit. This would have 2
parallel wires in it, one of which is connected to the source, and the other is connected to the lamp when
it is *off*.

Radio Freq uency Interference from Fluorescent Fixtures U nless there are
bad/ intermittent/ marginal connections in the wiring, or a bad switch or socket,
incandescent lamps cannot generate any electrical interference. H owever, with
fluorescent lamps, there are several ways in which they may produce Radio Freq uency
Interference (RFI) that can affect AM (mostly) radios or other electronics:
l

Electronic ballasts: Modern electronic ballasts are basically switchmode power

supplies with switching freq uencies of 10s of kH z . The sharp edges produce
harmonics well into the AM band and can result in significant conducted and/ or
radiated RFI if the ballasts do not include adeq uate filtering and shielding and/ or
if the wiring runs from the ballasts to the lamps are long and not shielded.
Plasma discharge: The current flowing in the fluorescent lamps can give rise to
some radiated RFI. This is probably a less likely cause. But there may be some
cases (probably more likely if using the lamps is a less than optimal manner as
when dimming) where this has the potential to be more significant.
Bad or improper wiring/ grounding: Make sure that all proper electrical practices
are following in installation. If fixtures are not properly grounded or plugged into
grounded outlets, any benefit from filtering and shielding may be lost. Long runs
of unshielded wires to the lamps themselves will radiate, so this should be avoided

http://www.repairfaq.org/sam/flamp.htm

7/2/2014

Fluorescent Lamps, Ballasts, and Fixtures

Page 36 of 53

if possible.
To narrow down the source, an AM radio tuned between stations may be useful as a
signal detector, moving it around in the vicinity of the ballast(s), lamp(s), and fixture
wiring, and the wiring connecting the fixtures to the power source. For multiple ballast
installations, try this with only one ballast powered.
The cleanest (RFI-wise) ballasts are old-style iron types with no active electronics. H igh
q uality electronic ballasts should also be low in RFI, but there are a lot of cheap
electronic ballasts and who knows what they might do, even with U L and other labels.
If it turns out that there is significant conducted RFI, filters may be installed in-line
with the power feed to the fixtures. If it's radiated from the ballasts (or lamps),
grounded copper or aluminum screening * might* help. But where electronic ballasts
are the culprits, replacing them with iron ballasts may be best.
(From Don.)
Best I can think of sound to me like usual suspects, with one exception:
Fluorescent lamps themselves are sometimes RFI generators. This is mainly with rapid
start ballasts - with the filaments being heated, occasionally the filaments are hot
enough to make their work function negative. In that cause, there is a region near the
filament where the electric field is reversed. That causes a potential well near the
cathode, and free electrons oscillate (though with a damped oscillation) through the
potential well.
I have heard of this in one of those books at Drexel's library, maybe by Willem
Elenbaas, or maybe " Electric Discharge Lamps" by John Waymouth, with call number
probably close to TK 4000.
Possibly (authored by or edited by) Willem Elenbaas: " Fluorescent Lamps" . Web
searching likes to concentrate towards a 197 1 2nd edition, in Philips Technical Library.
Possibly " Fluorescent Lamps and Lighting" by W. Elenbaas.
H owever, I have the impression that this basically does not happen in anything usual. It
seems to me to be something that happens when you heat the filaments and then pass
very low current through the tube.
8 -footers tend to be instant-start rather than rapid-start, and are definitely instant-start
if they have only one pin on each end. In that case, there is no current being applied
through the filaments to heat them.
So, I seem to think that this is caused by the usual suspects:

http://www.repairfaq.org/sam/flamp.htm

7/2/2014

Fluorescent Lamps, Ballasts, and Fixtures

Page 37 of 53

The ballasts are worse ones for RFI - add filters close to the fixtures or inside the
fixtures, or use different ballasts. The noise may be common mode, so filters may
need to be common mode ones.
Ballast cases and/ or fixtures are not properly grounded.
Dimmed rapid start fluorescents might do that thing that I brought up, due to lack
of active filament heating combined with low current through the tube.

Back to Sam's F-Lamp FAQ Table of Contents.

Items of Interest
All Those Different Wattage 4-Foot and F40 and " Shop Light" Lamps?
The original 4-foot fluorescent lamp was the F40T12, which is 47 .7 5 inches (approx.
121.3 cm) long from pin tip to pin tip and 1.5 inches (approx. 4 cm) in diameter and
designed to consume 40 watts. N ot too many years ago, this was the most common and
least expensive fluorescent lamp.
There is the " H O" (high output) 4-foot tube and the " SH O" (super high output) 4-foot
tube. These are not common and are only used where there is not enough room to fit
enough standard F40 tubes to make enough light. These lamps are slightly less efficient
than standard fluorescent lamps. These tubes req uire more current than standard 4foot tubes and req uire special ballasts. These tubes should only be used with their
respective ballasts, and these ballasts should only be used with the tubes they were
designed for.
In response to the energy shortages of the 197 0's, the 34 watt lamp with the same
physical dimensions was introduced. It works in most 40 watt fixtures and draws 34
watts in these fixtures. H owever, some 40 watt ballasts can overheat with this lamp. The
ballast should say that it is rated for use with 34 watt lamps.
Please note that a 34 watt tube can say F40 and still be a 34 watt tube and not be a 40
watt tube. It will in some way say near the F40 designation that it is an energy-saving
tube. There have also been a few 35 watt tubes, which are similar enough to 34 watt
tubes to work anywhere both 34 and 40 watt tubes can work. 34 watt lamps sometimes
produce noticeably less light than 40 watt lamps, especially in cooler environments.
N owadays, there is the 25 watt " shop light" lamp. The 25 watt tubes should only be
used with appropriate 25 watt shop light ballasts, and these ballasts should only be used
with these tubes. Please do not confuse these with other wattage tubes/ fixtures of the
same physical dimensions which are also sometimes called " shop lights" .
A more recent development is the 32 watt T8 lamp, which is 4 feet long but only one

http://www.repairfaq.org/sam/flamp.htm

7/2/2014

Fluorescent Lamps, Ballasts, and Fixtures

Page 38 of 53

inch (2.5 cm) in diameter. These req uire ballasts made for them. Many of the ballasts
made for these lamps are electronic ballasts.
The confusion has increased in recent years now that the U SA has an energyconservation law against manufacturing and importing standard 40 watt white
fluorescent lamps. Specialty lamps and white ones with a color rendering index of at
least 8 2 (out of a maximum of 100) are exempt and are still available in the U SA as true
40 watt lamps.
Again, be sure that you are not mismatching the bulb and the ballast. If the ballast is
not rated to operate the bulb type being used, the bulb life will probably be shortened
and the ballast life may be shortened. In a few cases, the ballast may catch fire after
failing.
What's with All Those Different Shades of White?
At one time, most fluorescent lamps were " cool white" which is a plain-old white with a
color like that of of average sunlight.
One bad thing about " cool white" is that the spectrum of " cool white" has a surplus of
yellow and a shortage of green and red. Since mixing red light with green light makes
yellow, the white light of a cool white lamp still looks white. Since yellow obj ects usually
reflect green through red, they look yellow as usual in this light.
But red obj ects reflect mainly red light and green obj ects reflect mainly green light, and
look dim and dull due to the shortage of red and green wavelengths in " cool white" .
Impure reds and greens will look less red and less green as well as darker - making
them look more brown.
Other early whites were " warm white" and " daylight" . Warm white is a color similar
to that of incandescent lamps, although it usually looks slightly less yellow and more
white-pink. A warm white lamp's spectrum has a surplus of yellow and violet-blue, and
a shortage of red, green, and green-blue. Like cool white, warm white can distort colors
in unflattering ways.
Both " warm white" and " cool white" are obtained using " halophosphate" phosphors.
The surplus of yellow and shortage of red and green is a general characteristic of
halophosphate phosphors.
" Daylight" is a bluish white, and does not have as bad a surplus of yellow as the other
halophosphate whites. But it is also slightly dimmer.
N ext were the " deluxe" versions of cool white and warm white. These have " improved"
halophosphate phosphors and are sometimes known as " broad spectrum" lamps. They
have a less severe yellow surplus and red/ green shortage than standard halophosphate
lamps. They also produce slightly less light.
Another slightly common halophosphate white is " white" , which is between " cool
white" and " warm white" in color.

http://www.repairfaq.org/sam/flamp.htm

7/2/2014

Fluorescent Lamps, Ballasts, and Fixtures

Page 39 of 53

Other halophosphate whites, whether of differing spectral q uality or different shade of

" warmth/ coolness" include " supermarket white" , " sign white" , " north light" ,
" merchandising white" , etc. Please note that some of these are not made by all
fluorescent lamp manufacturers, and some of the less standard color names are
trademarks of their respective manufacturers.
One earlier fluorescent lamp color with enhanced red spectral content is the " natural" .
This lamp has " cool white" halophosphate phosphor with a red-glowing phosphor of a
different type added in. These lamps look slightly pinkish in color, sometimes purplish
when compared to warmer colored light such as incandescent light. " N atural"
fluorescent lamps make skin tones look pinkish, unlike the usual halophosphate types
which make skin tones look green-yellowish. Some meat displays have " natural"
fluorescent lamps to make the meat look more red.
N owadays, there are " triphosphor" fluorescent lamps. These have a spectrum very
different from that of the halophosphate lamps. Triphosphor lamps have their spectral
content mostly in distint bands and lines: Orangish red, slightly yellowish green, greenblue, and violet-blue. For cooler color lamps, there is an additional band in the midblue. Triphosphor lamps do not distort colors as badly as halophosphate lamps, and
triphosphor's color distortions are usually not as unpleasant as those of halophosphate.
Also, triphosphor lamps often make reds and greens look slightly brighter than normal,
unlike halophosphate lamps which usually make these colors look dimmer than normal.
Most compact fluorescent lamps and most 4-foot T8 (1-inch diameter) lamps are
triphosphor lamps.
Triphosphor lamps come in various warm and cool shades, usually designated by " color
temperature" . This is the temperature that an ideal incandescent radiator would be
heated to in order to glow with a similar color. Color codes on fluorescent lamps may
include the color temperature or 1/ 100 of the color temperature. Osram/ Sylvania brand
lamps often have D8 immediately preceding the color code.
27 00 or 27 - orangish shade common for compact fluorescent lamps, similar to many
incandescent lamps.
3000 or 30 - " warm white" , similar to whiter shades of incandescent.
35 00 or 35 - between warm white and cool white, similar to the whitest halogen lamps
and proj ector lamps.
4100 or 41 - " cool white" or the color of average sunlight.
5 000 or 5 0 - an icy cold pure white like that of noontime tropical sunlight.
65 00 or 65 - slightly bluish white or " daylight" .

http://www.repairfaq.org/sam/flamp.htm

7/2/2014

Fluorescent Lamps, Ballasts, and Fixtures

Page 40 of 53

There are still other specialty whites, including ones with a mixture of " broad
spectrum" and " triphosphor" phosphor formulations to get a spectrum more like that
of daylight. Some others have particularly good " broad spectrum" phosphors,
sometimes mixed with other phosphors for a tailored spectrum. Many of these, like
most triphosphor lamps, have color temperature designations.
Why Small Fluorescent lamps Cost More than 4-Foot Ones
Can you say 'supply and demand' and 'economies of mass production'. Y ou are
comparing the price of the common F40CW-T12 lamp manufactured by the z illions and
sold in home centers for about $ 1 with specialty bulbs used in a relatively few devices
like battery powered fluorescent lanterns and makeup mirrors. These little bulbs may
indeed cost up to ten times as much as the much larger ones.
By any measure of materials and manufacturing cost, the 4 foot bulb is much much
more expensive to produce. There is nothing special involved.
Energy Consumption and Wear-And-Tear due to Starting
(From: John Gilliver (g6j pg@ gmrc.gecm.com).)
The amount of energy used in starting isn't worth worrying about. H owever, in addition
to the turn on/ off deterioration, there is also the steady-state ` on' deterioration (they
don't last for ever even if left on), so...
As far as turn-on deterioration:
I can't give it as a percentage, but for ordinary striplights I heard a figure of 15 minutes
(about 15 years ago), i. e. turning it on stresses it as much as leaving it on for that long.
Things have perhaps changed by now (and there are so many kinds these days as well).
For low-energy use, I'd go for fluorescents any day, unless siz e is a maj or factor (Bosch
[ I think] and others have been trying to get some sort of discharge lamp for headlights
for some time, but I haven't seen any yet). Y ou might also look into LEDs, but I doubt
they will match the efficiency; certainly only the high-effificiency types (all seem to
consume about 10, 20, or 30 mA, but the output power in light seems to vary widely,
from a few millicandelas to about three candelas! ). They are narrow band (i. e.
coloured) as well of course.
What H appens when Fluorescent Lamps Wear Out?
(From: Charles R. Sullivan (charless@ crissy.EECS.Berkeley.EDU ).)
The usual failure mode is depletion of the emission mix on the filaments. Then they do
not emit electrons, and the arc can't be sustained. U nless the ballast supplies a high
enough voltage that very high field can be set up near the electrode. Then the ions

http://www.repairfaq.org/sam/flamp.htm

7/2/2014

Fluorescent Lamps, Ballasts, and Fixtures

Page 41 of 53

bombarding the electrode have a high enough energy to knock electrons out of the
metal even with no emission mix, or to heat the metal to the point it emits electrons. The
high field is also sufficient to ioniz e the argon fill gas---normally only mercury is
ioniz ed. The argon radiation is of a more purple color. That is probably what you see.
(From: Sam.)
With most " normal" (non-CFL) fluorescent lamps, the result is usually either a
flickering lamp or one that never is able to fully start, so it glows weakly or not at all.
H owever, CFLs are constructed with narrow glass tubing in close proximity to the
filaments along with electronic ballasts that will maintain a discharge even with
increasing voltage drop. So, the higher power dissipation at the filament once the
emissivity material is exhausted may result in enough of a temperature rise to soften the
glass causing sudden failure when a hole finally develops. More on this in the section:
More on CFL Failure.
Blackening at Ends of Fluorescent Tubes
This is a common phenomenon with most common fluorescent tubes as they age.
H owever, freq uent or repeated starting can accelerate the process. The black areas in
themselves don't affect operation except to slightly reduce the amount of light available
since the phosphor in that area is dead. H owever, they do represent a loss of metal from
the electrodes (filaments).
The cause is sputtering from the filaments, mostly when cold. Thus. this happens mostly
when starting or with a defective rapid start ballast which doesn't heat the filament(s)
or a ballast or starter that continuously cycles. When the filament is cold and is the
cathode (on the negative half of the AC cycle for that end of the tube), the work function
is higher and ions have a higher velocity when impacting, knocking off metal atoms in
the process. This is greatly reduced once the filament is up to normal operating
temperature (though even then, some sputtering is inevitable).
(From: Greg Grieves (ggrieves@ home.com).)
Lamps with the longest lifetimes typically use the heavier noble gasses as the buffer gas,
( X enon or K rypton instead of Argon) because the sputtering that occurs at the cathode
is due to fast ion bombardment from the ioniz ed gasses in the tube. the heavier atoms
have a smaller velocity for a given kinetic energy of acceleration. its not the total energy
of the ion that sputters but its the momentum at impact that knocks other atoms loose. I
presume thats why K r and X e bulbs can run brighter, because they can crank up the
power and still have about the same lifetime. Some tubes use a " hollow cathode" design
in which the shape of the cathode is designed to deflect impacting ions rather than be
sputtered by them. That's my understanding, anyway, theres much more to the story...
(From: PBerry1234 (pberry1234@ aol.com).)

http://www.repairfaq.org/sam/flamp.htm

7/2/2014

Fluorescent Lamps, Ballasts, and Fixtures

Page 42 of 53

I recall one brand of lamp that positioned shields around the electrodes to prevent the
blackening. I suppose this improved the appearance in exposed lamp applications, but
don't know of any other benefits.
H ot Cathode Versus Cold Cathode Operation
The cathode is the negative electrode of a vacuum tube or gas filled discharge tube.
Current flows by way of electrons emitted from the cathode and attracted to the
positive electrode, the anode.
A hot cathode is one which must be heated to operate properly - to emit sufficient
electrons to be useful. Examples: TV and monitor CRTs, most vacuum tubes (or
valves), vacuum fluorescent displays (like those on your VCR). This is called thermionic
emission - the boiling off of electrons from the surface of the cathode. N ormal
fluorescent lamps are hot cathode devices - partially maintained by the discharge
current itself. They all have some sort of warmup period (though it can be q uite short).
(From: Phil Rimmer (primmer@ tunewell.com).)
A cold cathode is one where operation takes place without depending on heating of the
surface above ambient. There are all sorts of devices that use 'cold' cathodes - neon
lamps and signs, fluorescent backlight tubes, and helium neon laser tubes. N aturally,
cold cathode devices don't have much of a warmup req uirement.
The purpose of a cathode is to feed electrons into the negative end of the positive
column (the discharge) so they can variously excite and ionise gas or vapour atoms.
Electrons are released from cathodes by the action of the positive ions being accelerated
towards them due to an electric field in the vicinity of the cathode.
Electrons are broadly released in two ways: Thermal emission and secondary emission.
l

Thermal emission is the primary process used in " hot cathode" lamps which
include standard fluorescent tubes. The ions are accelerated towards the cathode
through a small cathode voltage (less than 10 volts) and gain j ust enough energy to
heat a small part of the very fine wire electrode when they collide with it. They
heat it until it glows dully and electrons are " boiled off" , liberated by the thermal
energy. This process is very efficient in producing lots of electrons and results in
efficient lamps.
Secondary emission is a more brutal process for generating electrons. It req uires
an accelerating voltage drop of 130 to 15 0 volts. It is used in cold-cathode lamps
that have relatively huge cylinders of iron for electrodes. These massive electrodes
req uire much too much energy input to make them into thermal emitters. The
energetic ions simply " knock" electrons off the metal surface. In so doing they also
knock some of the metal off as well, a process called sputtering. The big electrodes

http://www.repairfaq.org/sam/flamp.htm

7/2/2014

Fluorescent Lamps, Ballasts, and Fixtures

Page 43 of 53

have enough material to last before other effects cause lamp failure.
H ot cathode lamps operate in cold cathode mode if the cathode receives too little energy
to keep it glowing. The colliding ions are thirty times more energetic than usual and
soon sputter enough metal off the tiny electrodes to destroy them.
Moral: Pre-heat the electrodes before starting the discharge and maintain auxiliary
current in the electrodes if the discharge current is low (e.g, when dimming).
Failure Mechanisms of Cold Cathode Fluorescent Lamps
(Portions from: Victor Roberts (Vic@ RobertsResearchInc.com).)
l

All fluorescent lamps, be they hot cathode, cold cathode or electrodeless will suffer
from phosphor degradation. The rate of this degradation is a function of the type
and amount of phosphor, the type of glass used for the tube, the temperature of
the phosphor & glass and the intensity of the U V flux from the discharge. If these
parameters are the same, then the type of electrodes does not make any difference,
except perhaps at the ends of the tube.
For heated filament lamps (which means most of those in residential and
commercial lighting), the usual failure mode is depletion of the emission mix on the
filaments. Then they do not emit electrons, and the arc can't be sustained.
Many hollow cold cathodes contain a coating on the inner surface to improve
operation. When this coating is degraded the lamp will be harder to start and
therefore might not start if the starting voltage is not high enough.
Due to their high cathode fall voltages, there will often be significant sputtering of
cathode material from the surface of a cold cathode. Depending upon the design of
the lamp and cathode, this sputtered material can end of up the walls of the lamp
where it is unsightly at best, and may absorb significant light at worst.
Cold cathodes tend to " consume" the active gas in a discharge. Due to the
reasonably high cathode fall voltages, ioniz ed gas atoms get buried in the surface
of the cathode at a slow rate. In fact, this phenomena is used to make a very
effective high vacuum pump. Also, in many H eN e lasers that use cold cathodes, a
gas reservoir was added so that the loss of N e, the dominant excited species, would
not significantly change the H e:N e balance which is essential for proper laser
action. In a modern fluorescent lamp, where the amount of excess mercury is
reduced to prevent disposal problems, consumption of mercury by a cold cathode
could be another life-limiting factor.

Comments on Small Inverter Powered Fluorescent Lamps

(From: Paul Bealing (paul@ pmb.co.nz ).)

http://www.repairfaq.org/sam/flamp.htm

7/2/2014

Fluorescent Lamps, Ballasts, and Fixtures

Page 44 of 53

Many small low cost inverters use a 2 transistor (one q uite small) self oscillating circuit.
Simply minimum function, low cost. These circuits can be q uite efficient at low power
levels. I have seen them used up to 5 0 watts.
Losses are usually in the transformer and the switching transistors. As the currents
increase, the losses usually increase for a given power output.
The lamp req uires a high voltage, usually 300 to 5 00 V, to strike. The voltage depends
on the length/ wattage of the lamp. Once struck, the current through the lamp is limited
to achieve the wattage. The voltage across a small running lamp will be in the order of
60 to 100 volts AC.
Many simple inverters use a series resonant circuit to generate the high strike voltage,
which is disabled by the run current.
A couple of years ago I designed an inverter for a PL11 11 Watt lamp based on a
switchmode power supply controller IC, 2 power mosfets, and a push-pull transformer,
running at about 200 kH z . The main application was in diesel locomotives running from
7 5 V DC. I've had the circuit operating down to 10V DC (different transformer
winding). The primary current rises and the dissipation increases.
Fluorescent Lamp Voltage and Freq uency Considerations
For those using iron ballasts, both voltage and freq uency will be significant. Though it
may be possible to come up with a formula which incorporates both, the best thing to do
is to only use the line voltage for which the unit was designed.
Where the freq uency isn't the same, the current through the lamp may differ, most
likely too high in going from 60 H z to 5 0 H z , too low the opposite way. If the current is
too high, there could be shortened lamp life at the very least or even a serious fire
haz ard. If the current is too low, the lamp may not remain on in a stable manner,
flickering, or constantly restarting. Initial starting could also be affected.
If they use electronic ballasts, the freq uency probably won't matter. Some " universal"
types, can accommodate an input voltage from 90 to 25 0 VAC up to 400 H z or even DC.
In all cases, it is best to consult with the manufacturer if the product label doesn't
explicitly indicate " 5 0/ 60 H z " operation. When in doubt, leave them behind since there
is really no way to be sure of the safety issues.
Operating a Fluorescent Lamp on DC
" I have a application in mind that will use a DC power source around 100
volts and fluorescent lighting. What kinds of voltage do I need to sent the
fluorescent? Are there any good sources of info. for the circuitry I would
need? "

http://www.repairfaq.org/sam/flamp.htm

7/2/2014

Fluorescent Lamps, Ballasts, and Fixtures

Page 45 of 53

(From: Don K lipstein (don@ donklipstein.com).)

If it is a preheat tube of 22 watts or less, the cheap-and-dirty way to do it is to use a
normal preheat fixture. The only change is to add a resistor in series with the ballast.
This resistor should be maybe 100 ohms for 20 and 22 watt lamps, slightly higher for
lower wattage ones. It should be able to safely dissipate a wattage comparable to that of
the lamp. Of course, you are now wasting significantly more power as heat.
The above includes most simple " PL" / twin-tube compact fluorescent lamps with
removable bulbs with two pins, as well as most compact fluorescent bulbs with " choke"
type ballasts running from 120 volts AC.
Should you need anything more energy-efficient than this, then there is the world of
electronic ballasts.
BTW, most low-power-factor screw-in 120 VAC compact fluorescent lamps with
electronic ballasts work fine " as-is" with about 160 volts DC or sq uarewave.
Ballasts and PCBs (The H az mat Type)
(From: David Morris (allane@ ix.netcom.com).)
Ballasts that were made after the late 7 0's do not contain PCB's. I spoke with an
Advance and GE ballast rep. a few years ago about this and I was told the only sure-fire
method to tell that there are no PCB's is if the ballast says no PCB's. Any ballast that
doesn't say that has a better than 8 0% chance of having it. The amount in the ballast is
VERY minute. Less than a thimble full. It is used to cool a capacitor in the ballast. Since
he said the light is about 12 years old, I am q uite certain that the ballast does not
contain PCB's. In our state, it is legal to dispose of these ballasts in a limited q uantity in
your local landfill or throw them in the trash. Larger q uantities req uire H az mat
disposal methods. Our company policy is to leave any old ballasts that is not marked 'no
PCB's" with the customer for their disposal.
As a side note, I read in one of the Electrical trade rags that the liq uid that replaced
PCB's is testing out to be more dangerous than PCB's themselves. Go figure! ! :-)
As for catching fire, ballasts contain a thermal protector that will cut the power if the
ballast gets too hot. Only real old ballasts do not have this feature. Ballasts marked
Class P have this protection. It is very rare for one of these ballasts to actually catch
fire, although it does happen. More often, they will smoke up the house if they overheat
and the thermal protector fails.
Driving Cold Cathode Fluorescent Lamps
(From: David VanH orn (dvanhorn@ cedar.net).)

http://www.repairfaq.org/sam/flamp.htm

7/2/2014

Fluorescent Lamps, Ballasts, and Fixtures

Page 46 of 53

Linear Technology has several extremely detailed app notes written by Jim Williams on
this topic. It's more complicated than you might imagine to do it right. Just making the
tube light is perhaps only 10% of the j ob. The rest includes keeping it running a long
time without blackening, providing the ability to set the brightness, not loosing all your
energy to wiring capacitance, and not creating an EMI nightmare.
Definitely read and understand those app notes, even if you go to another vendor! The
good news is that the actual circuit isn't that bad!
What is the E-Lamp?
The E-Lamp is one of those inventions that sounds like a really good idea but still hasn't
(as far as I know) made it into wide scale production. In essence, it is an RF excited
compact fluorescent lamp. Some of the E-lamp's basic characteristics include.
l
l
l
l

l
l

Fits into standard household light bulb bases.

Radio freq uency radiation was emitted, then converted to light.
Dimmable using standard phase control dimmer - no special devices needed.
Very efficient so runs cool and consumes much less power than incandescent
lamps (don't know how it compares to compact fluorescents).
Desirable white spectral characteristics.
N o filament to wear out (and no wires through glass) so potentially very long life.

Aside from cost issues, there could also be concerns with respect to RF emissions effects
on health and interference with other household appliances and electronics.
(Victor Roberts (Vic@ RobertsResearchInc.com).)
E-lamps are electrodeless fluorescent lamps. They use a high freq uency or RF magnetic
field to create a time varying electric field which in turn drives a discharge which is
very similar to the discharge in an ordinary fluorescent lamp. Except for the means by
which the discharge is created, these E-lamps and identical to all other fluorescent
lamps. There is no magic other than the fact that electrodeless excitation allows for the
elimination of the electrodes, so electrode failure and wear out are no longer a problem.
Also, electrodeless excitation removes the req uirement that the lamp be long and thin to
achieve high efficacy. Proof of this is beyond the scope of this note. :) H ence, an
electrodeless fluorescent lamp can be more easily made in the shape of an incandescent
lamp.
There are also electrodeless metal halide lamps and, of course, the electrodeless sulfur
lamp.
N otes on Dimming of Fluorescent Lamps
The following provides a variety of dimming methods, some better than others.

http://www.repairfaq.org/sam/flamp.htm

7/2/2014

Fluorescent Lamps, Ballasts, and Fixtures

Page 47 of 53

Sam's dimming experiments:

OK , I did some experiments using both a dual-lamp Circline fixture and a typical dual40 W bulb shop light - both with magnetic (rapid start probably) ballasts.
The common wisdom is not entirely correct. Y ou can dim fluorescents. I do not know
about the long term reliability or stress on the ballasts but I could achieve dimming
down to around 30 to 5 0 percent brightness (using my standard-issue eye-balls,
calibrated annually) with a relatively stable light output - no excessive flicker and no
tendency to go out (though to get down to the low end req uires starting high and
backing off).
I tried both a Variac and a cheap light dimmer with similar results.
(If you want to go below the 30 to 5 0 percent threshold reliably, however, some means
must be provided to keep the filaments hot.)
H ow about long term reliability?
This was a 'q uick' experiment. All I did was observe the light output. A cheap light
dimmer j ust means the kind you get at a home center for $ 4 or so. Long term reliability
is certainly not known. The purpose was simply to show that j ust because something is
stated to be impossible does not always mean that it is - not a suggestion that it is.
Dimming fluorescents 1:
(From altavoz @ az starnet.com).
48 " tubes can glow at microamps if fired with 400 volts and req uire no heater current
at all. The mercury is still probably 99% liq uid! ! I did this with a 9 V transistor battery
and an inverter. As you fire them from lower impedances, still using 400 volts and no
heaters, you'll see that you can turn down the current and get a better efficiency (output
doesn't drop) but you reach a threshold and it drops light output suddenly. When I was
working with 12 VDC ballasts, and 24" tubes I had to fire them at 0.65 amps then drop
that to 0.4 A. But below 0.4 A they would dim suddenly to a less efficient point.
Of course this is at warm temperatures. At cooler temps you must have the heaters
drawing current to boil the mercury.
I have used the cheap dimmers on many inductive loads and as long as you derate them,
they will work fine.
I disassemble standard dual 48 " fixtures and put the tubes in line to make a 96" fixture
that puts out more light! you only need to put the ballast close to one end of the
" starter" tube (the one that always starts first) or put the line N eutral close to the tube
(they hook together at the ballast).

http://www.repairfaq.org/sam/flamp.htm

7/2/2014

Fluorescent Lamps, Ballasts, and Fixtures

Page 48 of 53

Dimming fluorescents 2:
(From: John Shotton (J.A.Shotton@ bnr.co.uk)).
I have been running four 5 foot (1.5 inch diameter) tubes like this for 15 years.
The circuits (4 off) are resonant start - i.e., there is a second winding on the ballast
which connects across the tube in series with an 8 uF capacitor (remember in the U K
the supply is 230 VAC). Thus the heaters are energised at all times.
I originally experimented with a moving iron wattmeter (measures true RMS power), a
photodetector, and a variac. Allowing for ballast loss (computed from current and
resistance), the light output was directly proportional to power consumption. The lamps
would dim to around 10% but they wouldn't start at this level.
The permanent installation used a mains transformer connected as an autotransformer
with several taps so that I can get around 6 light levels, though they will not start on the
two lowest settings and is slow at starting on the next two settings. I can't remember
offhand what light output they will self start on, but it must be around 30 to 40% .
As for tube life, the lights are on most of the time when it is dark - from around 5 pm till
1 am. I fitted my third set of tubes about two years ago, and this was not because the
second set had failed but because we wanted a change from daylight color-matching to
tri-phosphor 27 00 k - I've still got the second set should we decide to revert to the
daylight effect.
When I did my original experiments I also tried it with normal ballast circuits, i.e., with
a starter across the tubes. I can't remember the results, but I didn't pursue it so they
can't have been good. I believe it would work if the heaters were energised at all times
from a separate winding.
Dimming fluorescents 3:
(From: David Gibson (dgibson@ microconsultants.com)).
My company designed a fluorescent dimmer some years ago. It dims 40 x 40W tubes
fitted with high power factor inductor/ capacitor control gear as used in Australia and
other 220 to 240 VAC countries. Its main claim to fame is that it can cope with the
highly capacitive nature of power factor corrected luminaires, and is hence easily
retrofitted. A number of large office buildings in Australia are fitted with our/ my
dimmer.
U nfortunately, the standard ballast used in the U .S.A. (and I presume other 120 VAC
countries) uses, I believe, a resonant circuit which cannot be dimmed with our design.
The luminaires it does work with contain basically a tube/ choke series combination

http://www.repairfaq.org/sam/flamp.htm

7/2/2014

Fluorescent Lamps, Ballasts, and Fixtures

Page 49 of 53

across the line, plus a power factor correction cap also across the line. The lamp
filaments are heated only during turn-on by a starter switch that completes an
additional circuit at startup.
The purpose of these dimmers is energy saving. A photocell measures the ambient light,
and maintains a reasonable constant light level in the office. Energy saving is possible
because lighting systems must be overdesigned to allow for lumen depreciation due to
lamp aging, plus the fact that daylight allows lower levels of electric light.
Performance is as follows:
Dimming range: We budget for 40%
have achieved down to 26% .
Power saving: At 40%

of light output (60%

light power is about 35 %

reduction). In the lab we

(yup, you win twice)

Lamp savings: In a 26 story building in Sydney, for which good figures are available,
lamp replacement rate was reduced to about 40% , i.e., we more than doubled lamp life.
Overall power savings: Same building, independently audited figures, lighting bill was
reduced by 45 % . This included secondary savings from reduced air conditioning and a
time switching system integral to our design which ensures lights are off at night etc.
Power factor improvement. U ndimmed tubes have a power factor of typically 0.8 5 to
0.9. At 40% light this is 0.99. This is true power factor (see article on power factor on
our Web site, U RL below).
Line harmonics: During dimming the percentage of harmonics increases as current
drops, but the absolute level (total amps) decreases.
(The power companies love it! ).
Our design uses a hard-won, patented proprietary dimming method which has nothing
to do with triacs. It uses high freq uency switching and some very fast and smart
firmware.
The same lamps can be dimmed using triacs, but the power factor correction caps must
be removed from every fitting. The req uired triac circuit is slightly modified; the
patents belong to a competitor. Its power factor is lousy.
Dimming fluorescents 4:
(From: Andrew Gabriel (andrew@ cucumber.demon.co.uk)).
I have made a dimming fluorescent fitting out of a standard fitting (which started out as
a switch-start series ballast), and an ordinary phase control (triac) dimmer.

http://www.repairfaq.org/sam/flamp.htm

7/2/2014

Fluorescent Lamps, Ballasts, and Fixtures

Page 50 of 53

My only reservation is that this is all for standard 200-25 0 V switch-start fluorescents when I've seen American books describing fluorescent lamp control gear, it is q uite
different, presumably because of the lower mains voltage being unsuitable without more
complex control gear.
There are three significant things you have to do:
1. The lamp extinguishes at around half power because the filaments at each end are
no longer heated sufficiently during one half cycle's bombardment with electrons
to emit electrons in the following half- cycle. I overcame this by supplying the
filaments with a few volts from a miniature mains transformer with a pair of
isolated low voltage secondaries, around 4 volts IIRC for a 5 foot 8 0W fitting (it
doesn't need to be anywhere near enough voltage for a visible glow from them).
Also, with this transformer fitted (and the switch- starter removed), the tube
actually fires up all by itself without flashing, since it is now really rapid start
fitting.
I also have a switch to disable the dimmer, and when disabled, it also switches the
filament transformer's primary to be across the tube rather than the mains. Thus
initially when the tube is non- conducting and the tube voltage is 240 V, the
filaments are heated, but as the tube starts up and its voltage drops to its running
value of around 100 V, the additional filament heating provided by the
transformer, which is unnecessary when the lamp is running normally, is all but
disabled.
2. The second problem is that all cheap triac dimmers fire the triac with a pulse and
expect the triac to continue conducting until the z ero crossing point (or more
strictly, z ero current). H owever, an inductive load takes time to start conducting,
and at the end of the triac firing pulse, the current through the triac will not have
reached the minimum holding current when the dimmer is set low, which also
results in sudden extinguishing of the tube when dimming down. To overcome this,
I added a small incandescent lamp to the output load on the dimmer, in my case
it's a 40W spotlight pointing at a painting, so it's a useful additional feature.
This also allows the lamp to be dimmed completely down to z ero. At very dim
levels j ust above z ero, some tubes exhibit Faraday rings, rings of alternate light
and dark along the tube which might remain still or move along the tube.
I was expecting the current phase shift due to the inductor to be a problem with a
cheap dimmer, but it wasn't.
3. Ensure the power factor correction capacitor is before the dimmer, or you'll
destroy the triac. In a commercial environment, I think I would also include some
protection against typical triac failure modes of a one-way open or short, which
would result in high levels of DC through the inductor which will overheat it
and/ or destroy the lamp.

http://www.repairfaq.org/sam/flamp.htm

7/2/2014

Fluorescent Lamps, Ballasts, and Fixtures

Page 51 of 53

BTW, I did all this 20 years ago as a teenager. H owever, the fitting in q uestion is still
running, and has never req uired a lamp change in that time, nor is there any
blackening at the ends of the tube. It is normally run at full brightness with the dimmer
disabled.
Dimming fluorescents 5 :
(From: Peter Miller (p.miller@ elec.gla.ac.uk)).
I've tinkered a bit... the trick is to keep the filaments at the ends of the tubes warm. Y ou
will N OT be able to dim down to z ero - probably about 25 % at best.
H ere is a possible circuit:
Dimmer
+--+ Choke
AC Live/hot o--------| |--^^^^^^^^--+--------------+
+--+
|
|
|
|
+---------------------+
|
|
|
|
+-+
+---------------+ +-------+
|
)|(
|
|
|
Filament
)|(
|
-|---|Transformer
)| +------------------+
| ^^^ | Tube
2 * 6.3V 2A
)|
|
|
)|
|
|
)| +------------------+
| ^^^ |
)|(
|
-|---|)|(
|
|
|
+-+
+---------------+ +-------|
|
|
|
AC Neutral/cold o--+---------------------+--------------+

The lamp must be in a earthed / grounded reflector fitting. The metal end caps of the
tube must be connected to the reflector. The dimmer MU ST be a 'hard fired' dimmer
capable of operating an inductive load. The choke is a standard type for the tube in use.
Play with an inexpensive everyday tube before using expensive aq uaria ones. with a 240
VAC supply a 4 foot 40W tube operates ok. The main difficulty with this circuit is in
getting the tube to start - starting is greatly helped by a grounded reflector fitting and
connecting the metal end caps of the tube to the reflector (Don't ask - it works! ). The
transformer can be a standard valve filament transformer - use a separate transformer
for each end of the tube if you are unsure of the insulation between the secondaries of
any transformer that you buy. As the tube draws less current the voltage across it rises,
turning up the heat in the filaments. At start up, maximum voltage is across the lamp
and so the filaments are fully on. All dimming ballasts/ chokes use some scheme to add
extra heat to the filaments at dim running. An undimmed tube draws enough current to

http://www.repairfaq.org/sam/flamp.htm

7/2/2014

Fluorescent Lamps, Ballasts, and Fixtures

Page 52 of 53

keep the filaments warm by itself. There is no glow starter or other starting device in
the circuit, so the lamps tend to come on smoothly with no flickering. Shorter tubes are
easier to start. N ew slimline tubes are a real pain to start.
Dimming fluorescents 6:
(From: Bruce G. Bostwick (llbgb@ utxdp.dp.utexas.edu)).
This applies to rapid start fixtures.
If the fixture says " RAPID START" somewhere on it or on the package it came in, the
internal schematic will be roughly as follows:
|| +-------+---------o
AC line H o---------+ ||(
+----+
to both pins on
)||( ( <-6.3VAC
one end
)||(
+--------------o
)||(
)|| +=---- 2kVAC* -------------------------+
)||(
_|_
)||(
+--------------o
///
)||( ( <-6.3VAC
to both pins on
AC line N o---------+ ||(
+----+
the other end
|| +-------+---------o

* The high voltage winding of the secondary is on a branch magnetic circuit that limits
the output current to the mercury discharge. Most of the 48 " 40W " shop light" type of
bulbs use this. Open circuit voltage will be in the kilovolt range, while the voltage across
a lighted tube will be somewhat less than that and * exceedingly* non-sinusoidal.
If you're using the big bulbs (F96T12's for example) the ballast will only have the high
voltage winding and the cathodes are heated by ionic bombardment from the mercury
arc. These take a bit longer to light up when the power is turned on.
If you want instantaneous on/ off control, I'd suggest using 4-footers and linking up two
ballasts in such a way that the cathode heaters are driven from one which is always on,
and the arc is driven from the other which is turned on and off as you desire. They
won't last too long that way, but it will work better for show effects. The cathodes could
be driven from a pair of low-voltage filament transformers, but be sure to isolate them
well -- or you could use a ballast with a blown H V secondary ...
Another suggestion: U se solid-state relays to drive the ballast primaries. These are
fairly cheap and provide clean current-z ero-crossing switching even with very reactive
loads (I've used them for such! ; -) and provide a neat and rugged way to connect the
lights to logic controls such as your computer -- great for light seq uencing.

http://www.repairfaq.org/sam/flamp.htm

7/2/2014

Fluorescent Lamps, Ballasts, and Fixtures

Page 53 of 53

Dimming fluorescents 7 :
(From: a-freak@ freenet.de.)
The magaz ine " Elektor" developed a dimming circuit for fluorescent lamps running at
230 V which is wired in * parallel* to the lamp at the place where usually the glow
starter is located. I tried it and it works well for short lamps of the 18 W-type but very
unstable with the large ones.
In my opinion this circuit is especially nice if you want to dim up a lamp from z ero
brightness (lamp shorted, full preheating and maximum current) to full operation
(usual values), for example to simulate a sunrise.
Dimming fluorescents 8 :
(From: Charles R. Patton (patton@ dt.wdc.com)).
Advance (and probably others) made special ballasts for 60 H z (non-electronic such as
with a Variac) dimming. One of the main characteristics was the extra wire for the
Variac (or symmetrical electronic dimmer) input. The trick was to keep the filaments
warm on the tube, therefore the separate filament power which doesn't get varied so
that a larger dimming range was possible. This also makes for much longer lifetimes for
the tube because cold electrodes are subj ect to heavy ion bombardment until they heat
up from the normal current (which doesn't exist on a dimmed tube.) As I understand it,
some electronic ballasts will power the filament separately for a period of time to get it
to temperature, then apply high voltage excitation to light the tube.

Back to Sam's F-Lamp FAQ Table of Contents.

-- end V2.36 --

http://www.repairfaq.org/sam/flamp.htm

7/2/2014