fluorescent starter

A fluorescent light not have the usual glowing filament of an incadent bulb, but instead contains a mercury vapor that gives off ultraviolet light when ionized. The ultraviolet light makes particles that coat the inside of the tube, and these particles glow or fluoresce.

Fluorescent starters are used in several type of fluorescent lights. The starter is there to help the lamp light. When voltage is applied to the fluorescent lamp, here's what happens:

1. The starter (which is simply a timed switch) allows current to flow through the filaments at the ends of the tube.
2. The current causes the starter's contacts to heat up and open, thus interrupting the flow of current. The tube lights.
3. Since the lighted fluorescent tube has a low resistance, the ballast now serves as a current limiter.

When you turn on a fluorescent tube, the starter is a closed switch. The filaments at the ends of the tube are heated by electricity, and they create a cloud of electrons inside the tube. The fluorescent starter is a time-delay switch that opens after a second or two। When it opens, the voltage across the tube allows a stream of electrons to flow across the tube and ionize the mercury vapor.

Without the starter, a steady stream of electrons is never created between the two filaments, and the lamp flickers। Without the ballast, the arc is a short circuit between the filaments, and this short circuit contains a lot of current. The current either vaporizes the filaments or causes the bulb to explode.

The most common fluorescent starter is called a "glow tube starter" (or just starter) and contains a small gas (neon, etc.) filled tube and an optional radio frequency interference (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 and provide 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, there isn't enough inductive kick and the process repeats.

Tube light requires two things to function . Very high starting voltage , and high voltage to continue the operation . The starter is a circuit which breaks at regular intervals . When you break a circuit and start again , high voltage spark takes place . This voltage is further amplified through the choke which is a transformer . Thus at the beginning the starter gives high voltage sparks . Due to this the current begins to flow through the tube and the tube begins to glow. Once the tube starts , the required voltage to sustain is quite low , which is provided by the choke .

If the starter is bad the tube does not start . If the choke is bad or if the gas is low , the tube does not sustain its light .