INFORMATION SHEET
5.1
FLUORESCENT
LIGHTING
FIXTURES
FLUORESCENT LAMP
• a form of electric discharge light source. It
consists of a glass tube containing mercury
vapor at a low pressure and inert gas like
argon and krypton. The interior is coated
with phosphor, which glows or fluoresces
when exposed to ultraviolet light.
PEC Rules on Wire Dressing and
Termination:
Article 6.3.1.3 Live Parts. Fixtures,
lamps, rosettes,
lamp and receptacles shall have no live parts
holders,
normally exposed to contact. Exposed accessible
terminals in lamp holders, receptacles, and switches shall
not be installed in metal fixture canopies or in open
bases of portable table or floor lamps.
All joints/splices to be done must be properly
insulated with spaghetti sleeving, wrapped with electrical
tape having a similar thickness of the conductor
used.
TYPES OF
ELECTRIC
DISCHARGE
FLUORESCENT
LAMPS
Pre-heat
starting, hot-
cathode
requires starter (glow
switch) and is pre-heated
during starting. It uses a
ballast to produce high
voltage to start the lamp
into operation and to limit
the flow of current.
Operation of pre-heat type fluorescent
lamp
The tube filaments, starter (glow switch), and ballast are all in
series, which constitute a complete circuit once the switch, is
closed. As a current flow through, the gas (inert) inside the starter
glows and the electrodes are heated. Since one of the electrodes is
bi-metal, it bends and makes contact with the other. At this
instant, the circuit is metallically complete. The filaments of the
fluorescent tube are then heated and partial ionization takes place.
The bi- in the starter cools and the contacts open. The magnetic
field in the ballast collapses rapidly producing an inductive kick,
which establishes a current between the filaments and fires the
tube into operation.
Cold
cathode
Requires high voltage in its
operation. This lamp has
electrodes made of thimble-type
iron. It is not pre-heated and does
not require a starter for starting.
Special high voltage transformers
operate it.
Neon and mercury lamps
are classified under cold
cathode lamps.
Instant-
starting, hot-
cathode
The lamp cathode in the instant-
start is not pre-heated. Sufficient
voltage is applied across the
cathodes to create an
instantaneous arc. As in preheat
circuit; the cathodes are heated
during lamp operation by the arc.
The instant-start requir
lamp single-pin e
bases,are called slim line generall
lamps. y
Hot-
cathode,
rapid-start
These are similar in construction to
the preheat lamps; the basic
difference is in the circuitry. This
circuit eliminates the delay inherent
in preheat circuits by keeping the
lamp cathodes constantly
energized (preheated). When the
lamp circuit is energized, the arc is
struck immediately.
Classifications
of
Fluorescent
Lamp
Regular
Fluoresce
nt Lamp
Compact
Fluoresce
nt Lamp
Parts and functions of fluorescent
lamp
C:\Users\HP\Desktop\CLIFFORD\less
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Function of a
Starter
Current moves in utilizing the rare gas as
conducting means and the rare gas produces
a “glow”. The glow generates heat and causes
the bimetallic blade to expand.
When the bimetallic blade is heated, it
changes shape and touches the fixed contact.
The close contacts of the two starter contacts
produce an path for the current to flow.
In common with all gaseous discharge lamps, the
fluorescent must be provided with some device for
limiting the current drawn by the discharge.
Without a limiting device, the current would rise to
a value that would destroy the lamp. A device or
auxiliary called ballast can best meet this
requirement.
The ballast for operating lamps on an alternating
current consists of a small choke coil woven on
an iron core.
Important Functions of a
Ballast:
1.It preheats the electrodes to make available
a large supply of the electron.
2.It provides a surge of relatively large
potential start the arc between the electrodes.
3.It prevents the arc current to increase
beyond the limit set for each size and lamp.
THE LIFE SPAN OF FLUORESCENT
LAMP
The life of fluorescent lamp is affected not only in the
fluctuation of voltage and current but also by the of
times it is started. Electron emission material is
“sputtered off” from the electrodes continuously during
the operation of the lamp and in larger quantities each
time the lamp starts.
Many fluorescent lamps have a rated average life span
to 30,000 continuous burning hours but with an average
of 3 hours burning per start, it could only last for
12,000 hours.
