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Actual design question.

H

Homer J Simpson

Jan 1, 1970
0
Can CFLs be reconfigured to run off a DC supply? Minimum voltage?
 
P

Phil Allison

Jan 1, 1970
0
"Homer J Simpson"

** Your heading is BOLLOCKS !

Can CFLs be reconfigured to run off a DC supply?

** With most CFLs there is no need to do anything.


Minimum voltage?


** Depends on the CFL of course - dickhead.

Ones I have here ( rated for 220 - 240 volt AC operation) light up at
anywhere from 70 to 200 volts DC and reach full brightness at about 300.

The light up voltage depends greatly on the temperature with many CFLs while
brightness is roughly proportional to the voltage - ie half rated voltage
= half max light output in lux.

YOU will just have to try some out.



......... Phil
 
P

Paul Hovnanian P.E.

Jan 1, 1970
0
Homer said:
Can CFLs be reconfigured to run off a DC supply? Minimum voltage?

I suppose it depends on the CFL ballast design. I cut one open once. The
120 Vac line input drives a rectifier and a filtering cap. I'd guess
that one could feed 170 Vdc in at this point.
 
H

Homer J Simpson

Jan 1, 1970
0
I suppose it depends on the CFL ballast design. I cut one open once. The
120 Vac line input drives a rectifier and a filtering cap. I'd guess
that one could feed 170 Vdc in at this point.

So the other way is to dump the electronics and add a fluo inverter / driver
I guess.
 
P

Phil Allison

Jan 1, 1970
0
"Bob The Tenth Wit **** "



** Please remember to take your head out of that donkey's backside before
you post anything.





........ Phil
 
H

Homer J Simpson

Jan 1, 1970
0
12v CFL Light Bulbs Price Ex VAT = £ 10.50

As compared to 99 cents for 120 VAC.
Please remember to take your psychosis medications before you post
anything, Phil.

Bob

He's a sad case, no? And he can't read : "Can CFLs be reconfigured to run
off a DC supply? Minimum voltage?"
 
P

Phil Allison

Jan 1, 1970
0
"Homer J Simpson Fucking IDIOT "

He's a sad case, no? And he can't read : "Can CFLs be reconfigured to run
off a DC supply? Minimum voltage?"


** Shame it says not ** one tiny thing ** about 12 volts.

YOU ASD FUCKED BRAIN DEAD **** !!!




........ Phil
 
E

Eeyore

Jan 1, 1970
0
Homer said:
Can CFLs be reconfigured to run off a DC supply?
Yes.

Minimum voltage?

Anything you like within reason. 12V DC versions exist.

Graham
 
R

Robert Baer

Jan 1, 1970
0
Homer said:
Can CFLs be reconfigured to run off a DC supply? Minimum voltage?
*Any* fluorexcent lamp can run off of DC; the problem is to first
strike that arc, which takes high voltage.
When the arc is present, then it is wise to use current limiting so
as to not overheat the poor lamp; typical voltage drop is the first
ionizationpotential of mercury ~32V.
 
R

Robert Baer

Jan 1, 1970
0
Eeyore said:
Homer J Simpson wrote:




Anything you like within reason. 12V DC versions exist.

Graham
That is with an inverter AKA "ballast".
What i answered was relative to the bulb itself absent electronics.
 
E

Eeyore

Jan 1, 1970
0
Robert said:
That is with an inverter AKA "ballast".
What i answered was relative to the bulb itself absent electronics.

By CFL I expected he meant the latter.

Graham
 
H

Homer J Simpson

Jan 1, 1970
0
*Any* fluorexcent lamp can run off of DC; the problem is to first strike
that arc, which takes high voltage.
When the arc is present, then it is wise to use current limiting so as
to not overheat the poor lamp; typical voltage drop is the first
ionizationpotential of mercury ~32V.

ISTR some fairly compact designs to run the tube off a low voltage supply.
 
R

Robbo

Jan 1, 1970
0
Robert Baer said:
*Any* fluorexcent lamp can run off of DC; the problem is to first strike
that arc, which takes high voltage.
When the arc is present, then it is wise to use current limiting so as
to not overheat the poor lamp; typical voltage drop is the first
ionizationpotential of mercury ~32V.


I recall reading something about premature blackening at one end of the
"tube" and early failure if dc is used with fluoro's????
 
P

Phil Allison

Jan 1, 1970
0
"Robbo"
I recall reading something about premature blackening at one end of the
"tube" and early failure if dc is used with fluoro's????


** All modern CFLs use electronic ballasts - ie high frequency inverters -
to drive the tube.

The AC supply is rectified and used as a source of DC voltage for that
inverter !!!!!

Eg: http://www.repairfaq.org/sam/cflamp1.pdf




....... Phil
 
J

John Larkin

Jan 1, 1970
0
"Robbo"



** All modern CFLs use electronic ballasts - ie high frequency inverters -
to drive the tube.

The AC supply is rectified and used as a source of DC voltage for that
inverter !!!!!

Eg: http://www.repairfaq.org/sam/cflamp1.pdf




...... Phil

I just picked up eight 18-watt spiral-tube cfl's at Cole Hardware, 50
cents each, subsidized by PG&E. They're guaranteed for 12 years. I
don't believe that. My experience with cfl's is that they blow up
fairly often, especially if started/stopped a lot.

John
 
H

Homer J Simpson

Jan 1, 1970
0
I just picked up eight 18-watt spiral-tube cfl's at Cole Hardware, 50
cents each, subsidized by PG&E. They're guaranteed for 12 years. I
don't believe that. My experience with cfl's is that they blow up
fairly often, especially if started/stopped a lot.

And they don't much like outside light fittings.
 
E

Eeyore

Jan 1, 1970
0
John said:
I just picked up eight 18-watt spiral-tube cfl's at Cole Hardware, 50
cents each, subsidized by PG&E. They're guaranteed for 12 years. I
don't believe that. My experience with cfl's is that they blow up
fairly often, especially if started/stopped a lot.

I've never had one 'blow up' in some 15 years of using them.

Almost all have been Philips or Osram though.

Graham
 
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