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need fluor. inverter

M

martin griffith

Jan 1, 1970
0
I need help in locating a design for an efficent battery powered inverter to
power an 8 watt fluorecent ring light.

This ring light is my viewing light source (ac operated) on my stereo
microscope, and I am beginning to use it more and more to take digital
photos also. I need to be portable on this, though, so have removed the AC
cord and supply.

I have tried a few inverters from 8 and 9 watt portable work lights and a
battery operated closet light, and they are not too bad (at least they are
simple), but I think they all are under powering the light somewhat. They
all run on 12 volts. I do not know what frequency they operate on.

What I need it a good small battery powered inverter that will efficiently
light this bulb, and preferably run on 6 volts or so. The use is
intermittent; a few minutes at a time. Not knowing a lot about fluorescent
lights, I don't know if you can damage the bulb by overpowering it a little,
but understand that underpowering it will turn the ends black.

Can anyone lead me to a design or maybe a kit to do the job?

Thanks
try the zetex site, they have some application notes on flouro
inverters. Hope you like winding coils!


martin
 
R

Rich Grise

Jan 1, 1970
0
I need help in locating a design for an efficent battery powered inverter to
power an 8 watt fluorecent ring light.

This ring light is my viewing light source (ac operated) on my stereo
microscope, and I am beginning to use it more and more to take digital
photos also. I need to be portable on this, though, so have removed the AC
cord and supply.
Why not just go to the auto parts or RV store and get a little off-the-
shelf ordinary 115V power inverter for, say, $30.00
http://www.google.com/search?&q="rv+power+inverter" , and plug the
lamp into it?

Good Luck!
Rich
 
J

Joel Kolstad

Jan 1, 1970
0
Jim said:
What I need it a good small battery powered inverter that will efficiently
light this bulb, and preferably run on 6 volts or so.

6V is a little low to find some data sheet/application note circuit to do
this, so I suspect you'll have to whip something up yourself. Linear Tech has
a long application note by Jim Williams on driving CCFLs that will help, even
though your bulb is apparently? a hot filament style.
Not knowing a lot about fluorescent
lights, I don't know if you can damage the bulb by overpowering it a little,

You can in the sense of reducing the bulb's life (eventually it'll become
impossible to start with the voltages specified by the manufacturer), but
that's about it. (If you SERIOUSLY overpower it, you can probably heat it up
enough to break the glass...)
Can anyone lead me to a design or maybe a kit to do the job?

Try these (as well as the application notes from the likes of Linear Tech,
Zetex, etc.):

http://www.qsl.net/xq2fod/Electron/Fluolamp/fluolamp.html
http://tacashi.tripod.com/elctrncs/inverter/inverter.htm
http://www.pmb.co.nz/fluor_1.htm
http://repairfaq.ece.drexel.edu/sam/flamp.htm#fb4

---Joel Kolstad
 
J

Jim

Jan 1, 1970
0
I need help in locating a design for an efficent battery powered inverter to
power an 8 watt fluorecent ring light.

This ring light is my viewing light source (ac operated) on my stereo
microscope, and I am beginning to use it more and more to take digital
photos also. I need to be portable on this, though, so have removed the AC
cord and supply.

I have tried a few inverters from 8 and 9 watt portable work lights and a
battery operated closet light, and they are not too bad (at least they are
simple), but I think they all are under powering the light somewhat. They
all run on 12 volts. I do not know what frequency they operate on.

What I need it a good small battery powered inverter that will efficiently
light this bulb, and preferably run on 6 volts or so. The use is
intermittent; a few minutes at a time. Not knowing a lot about fluorescent
lights, I don't know if you can damage the bulb by overpowering it a little,
but understand that underpowering it will turn the ends black.

Can anyone lead me to a design or maybe a kit to do the job?

Thanks
 
P

Pooh Bear

Jan 1, 1970
0
Joel said:
6V is a little low to find some data sheet/application note circuit to do
this, so I suspect you'll have to whip something up yourself. Linear Tech has
a long application note by Jim Williams on driving CCFLs that will help, even
though your bulb is apparently? a hot filament style.


You can in the sense of reducing the bulb's life (eventually it'll become
impossible to start with the voltages specified by the manufacturer), but
that's about it. (If you SERIOUSLY overpower it, you can probably heat it up
enough to break the glass...)


Try these (as well as the application notes from the likes of Linear Tech,
Zetex, etc.):

http://www.qsl.net/xq2fod/Electron/Fluolamp/fluolamp.html
http://tacashi.tripod.com/elctrncs/inverter/inverter.htm
http://www.pmb.co.nz/fluor_1.htm
http://repairfaq.ece.drexel.edu/sam/flamp.htm#fb4

---Joel Kolstad

I just recall that I think IR has something on driving compact flourescents.

Graham
 
R

Ross Herbert

Jan 1, 1970
0
I need help in locating a design for an efficent battery powered inverter to
power an 8 watt fluorecent ring light.

This ring light is my viewing light source (ac operated) on my stereo
microscope, and I am beginning to use it more and more to take digital
photos also. I need to be portable on this, though, so have removed the AC
cord and supply.

I have tried a few inverters from 8 and 9 watt portable work lights and a
battery operated closet light, and they are not too bad (at least they are
simple), but I think they all are under powering the light somewhat. They
all run on 12 volts. I do not know what frequency they operate on.

What I need it a good small battery powered inverter that will efficiently
light this bulb, and preferably run on 6 volts or so. The use is
intermittent; a few minutes at a time. Not knowing a lot about fluorescent
lights, I don't know if you can damage the bulb by overpowering it a little,
but understand that underpowering it will turn the ends black.

Can anyone lead me to a design or maybe a kit to do the job?

Thanks


Here's a fairly simple and efficient inverter
http://www.siliconchip.com.au/cms/A_102473/article.html which should
do the job.

Oatley Electronics in Australia have a kit
http://www.oatleyelectronics.com/kits/k111b.html for AUD24 (USD18.50)
if you don't want to find all the bits locally.

Note that it will run all ballast type flouro tubes but not CFL lamps
designed for the US, so disregard that part of the title if you are in
that country.
 
R

Ross Herbert

Jan 1, 1970
0
Here's a fairly simple and efficient inverter
http://www.siliconchip.com.au/cms/A_102473/article.html which should
do the job.

Oatley Electronics in Australia have a kit
http://www.oatleyelectronics.com/kits/k111b.html for AUD24 (USD18.50)
if you don't want to find all the bits locally.

Note that it will run all ballast type flouro tubes but not CFL lamps
designed for the US, so disregard that part of the title if you are in
that country.


Boo-boo. Shame on you Ross. The Oatley kit is only for CFL's and not
standard ballast type flouro tubes.

The article I meant to point to was
http://www.siliconchip.com.au/cms/A_30504/article.html however that is
probably and overkill for an 8W tube.
 
J

Joel Kolstad

Jan 1, 1970
0
Jim said:
I've looked at these app notes, but except for some interesting general
design info, they aren't too useful to me. They don't have info on
component values or coil info.

If you really want to get into this (design something yourself), Abraham
Pressman's book on switching power supply design is easy to follow, will teach
you all you need to know about the magnetics, and has a section on driving
fluorescent lamps (although it's aimed at those making electronic ballasts for
standard overhead office lights, but still...).

Winding coils yourself is -- at least for me -- really a lot of fun. Coils
are one of the few areas left where you generally really can't just buy
something better and cheaper off the shelf (in onesies/twosies)... well, coils
and maybe stuff like the homemade high power capacitors you see in peoples'
homebrew 1.5kW HF antenna tuners... :)
 
J

Jim

Jan 1, 1970
0
I've looked at these app notes, but except for some interesting general
design info, they aren't too useful to me. They don't have info on
component values or coil info.

Jim
 
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