Design and operation of a starter and throttle as they light a lamp

Starter and throttle - are the two most important components in the design of a fluorescent lamp ballast. In this article I will discuss how to construct and how these elements work.

And the throttle device starter

Structurally, the starter consists of a glass flask having an inner volume of which is filled with inert gas. In this sealed area is also mounted two electrodes, one of them or both are special bimetallic plate and the whole structure is placed in a protective housing (mostly from plastic).

Thus, these products are produced at 110 V and 220 V.

Also, any starter binding element is a capacitor that provides a pulse reduction which is produced during contact separation, and increases its duration.

A throttle, in essence, the most common coil with a ferromagnetic core.

How to run a fluorescent lamp

So now let's analyze in detail the algorithm bulb turn on, and what role is played by the choke and starter.

Immediately upon energizing the lamp starts starter, that is, all the tension goes to his contacts.

Therefore there is an effect on the plates of the glow discharge (the value of current in the 30 to 50 mA), which heats the bimetallic material of the electrodes and under the influence of the temperature they are bent.

Curved plate closes the circuit and is now on it a current flows novice reheat electrodes located in the lamp. The magnitude of this current is limited to the throttle.

This occurs until the moment until they will warm up to 800 - 900 degrees Celsius. In this process, electron emission is increased, which greatly facilitates the breakdown of gas gap.

At the same time the starter electrodes cool (because now there is no glow, heat them before) and the bimetal plate begins to return to its original state.

And at the very moment when the contacts are broken in the throttle there is self-induced EMF with high voltage up to 1 kV, which is in the form of a pulse is applied to the lamp.

And as before that the electrodes are preheated, the gas sample occurs, and the bulb illuminates.

Now, when the lamp is lit, the starter goes through only half of the original voltage level, which is not enough to re-start the operation of the starter.

Thus, knowing how the whole process takes place, you can tell exactly which tasks are performed by a starter and a choke.

What tasks are performed by a starter and a choke

Thus, the starter used to:

1. Closures circuit for preheating the lamp electrodes to ensure an easier ignition process of the lamp.

2. Breaks the circuit after a successful warm-up of the electrodes and thereby provokes the formation of self-induced EMF in the inductor with a high voltage, which triggers the lamp glow process.

And the throttle has three functions:

1. It performs the function of current limiter circuit when the starter contacts.

2. It acts as a high voltage pulse generator (at the time of opening the starter contacts).

3. Stabilizer function and plays an arc discharge in the combustion period of the fluorescent lamp lighting.

conclusion

That's all I wanted to tell you about the appointment of a starter and throttle, as well as how they start the process of glow in the fluorescent lamp. If the article has been helpful, you will appreciate it. Thank you for your attention!