Ballast?

• To: "'Tesla List'" <tesla-at-pupman-dot-com>
• Subject: Ballast?
• From: Tesla List <tesla-at-stic-dot-net>
• Date: Sun, 1 Mar 1998 10:09:10 -0600
• Approved: tesla-at-stic-dot-net

----------
From:  Jim Lux [SMTP:jimlux-at-earthlink-dot-net]
Sent:  Saturday, February 28, 1998 4:57 PM
To:  Tesla List
Subject:  Re: Ballast?


> From:  Moleking [SMTP:moleking-at-concentric-dot-net]
> Sent:  Friday, February 27, 1998 8:37 PM
> To:  tesla-at-pupman-dot-com
> Subject:  Ballast?
> 
> While asking the local sign maker for a neon, he found me a nice 15kV
neon
> which he said was no good, but which works flawlessly.  He also, however,
> had several ballasts lying around, one of which he gave me.  I brought
the
> box home, having no idea of it's purpose.  One end had two red leads, and
* the other had two pairs of wires coming out.


For running fluorescent lamps.  Several varieties exist, but essentially,
they are a 700V (or so) current limited source. The 700V is enough to
ionize the Hg vapor in the tube, then once the discharge is established,
the series inductance limits the current to the rating.  Often, they have
provision for heating the filaments as well... Depends if it is a "rapid
start" or conventional.

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