A fluorescent light bulb can be found in almost any room today. It is a source of daylight and makes it possible to save energy. Therefore, such lamps are also called housekeepers.

Appearance fluorescent lamp

But such products have one significant drawback - they burn out. And the reason for this is the combustion of the electronic filling - the throttle or starter. This article will tell you whether there is a way to connect fluorescent lamps without using a choke in the electrical circuit.

How does a housekeeper work?

The appearance of fluorescent lamps may vary. Despite this, they have the same operating principle, which is implemented thanks to the following elements that the device circuit usually contains:

• electrodes;
• phosphor - a special luminescent coating;
• glass flask with an inert gas and mercury vapor inside.

The structure of a fluorescent light bulb

This fluorescent lamp is a gas-discharge device with a sealed glass bulb. The gas mixture inside the flask is selected in such a way as to reduce the energy costs required to support the ionization process.

Note! For such lamps, in order to maintain the glow, you need to create a glow discharge.

To do this, a voltage of a specific value is applied to the electrodes of the fluorescent lamp. They are located on opposite sides of the glass flask. Each electrode has two contacts that connect to a current source. In this way, the space near the electrodes is heated.
Actual connection diagram this source light consists of a series of sequential actions:

• heating of electrodes;
• then a high-voltage pulse is supplied to them;
• the optimal voltage is maintained in the electrical circuit to create a glow discharge.

As a result, an ultraviolet invisible glow is formed in the flask, which, passing through the phosphor, becomes visible to the human eye.
To maintain the voltage to create a glow discharge, the operating diagram of fluorescent lamps involves connecting the following devices:

• throttle. It acts as a ballast and is designed to limit the current flowing through the device to an optimal level;

Choke for fluorescent light bulbs

• starter. It is designed to protect the fluorescent lamp from overheating. At the same time, it regulates the intensity of the electrodes.

Very often, the cause of breakdown of the housekeepers is the failure of the electronic ballast filling or the burnout of the starter. To avoid this, you can avoid using burnt-out parts in the connection.

Standard connection diagram

The standard circuit used for connecting fluorescent lamps can be modified (go without a choke). This will minimize the risk of failure of the lighting fixture.

Switching option without ballast

As we found out, ballast plays an important role in the design of a fluorescent lamp. At the same time, today there is a scheme in which it is possible to avoid the inclusion of this element, which very often fails. You can avoid turning on both the ballast and the starter.

Pay attention! This connection method can also be used for burnt-out daylight tubes.

As you can see, this circuit does not contain a filament. In this case, the lamps/tubes will be powered through a diode bridge, which will create an increased constant pressure. But in such a situation, it is necessary to remember that with this method of power supply, the lighting product may darken on one side.
In implementation, the above scheme is quite simple. It can be implemented using old components. For this type of connection you can use the following elements:

• 18 W tube/light source;
• GBU 408 assembly. It will act as a diode bridge;

Diode bridge

• capacitors with an operating voltage not exceeding 1000 V, having a capacity of 2 and 3 nF.

Note! When using more powerful light sources, it is necessary to increase the capacitance of the capacitors used in the circuit.

Assembled circuit

It must be remembered that the selection of diodes for the diode bridge, as well as capacitors, must be carried out with a voltage reserve.
A lighting device assembled in this way will produce a glow slightly less bright than when using the standard connection option using a choke and starter.

What a non-standard connection option can achieve

Changing the usual method of connecting electrical components in fluorescent lamps is carried out in order to minimize the risk of device failure. Fluorescent lamps, despite having impressive advantages, such as excellent luminous flux and low energy consumption, also have some disadvantages. These should include:

• during their operation they produce a certain noise (hum), which is due to the functioning of the ballast element;
• high risk of starter burnout;
• possibility of filament overheating.

The above diagram for connecting the components of the electrical circuit will avoid all these disadvantages. When using it you will receive:

• a light bulb that will light up instantly;

What does the assembly look like?

• the device will operate silently;
• there is no starter, which burns out more often than other parts when the lighting system is used frequently;
• It becomes possible to use a lamp with a burnt-out filament.

Here the role of a choke will be performed by a regular incandescent light bulb. Therefore, in such a situation there is no need to use expensive and rather bulky ballast.

Another connection option

There is also a slightly different suitable scheme:

Another connection option

It also uses a standard light source with a power approximately equal to a fluorescent lamp. In this case, the device itself must be connected to the power supply via a rectifier. It is assembled according to the classical scheme, used to double the voltage: VD1, VD2, C1 and C2.
This connection option occurs as follows:

• at the moment of switching on, there is no discharge inside the glass bulb;
• then double the network voltage drops on it. Thanks to this, the light is ignited;
• the device is activated without preheating the cathodes;
• after starting the electrical circuit, the current-limiting lamp (HL1) is turned on;
• at the same time, HL2 establishes the operating voltage and current. As a result, the incandescent lamp will barely glow.

To make the start reliable, you need to connect the phase output of the network to the current-limiting lamp HL1.
Except this method, you can use other variations of the standard switching circuit.

Conclusion

Using modifications to the usual method of connecting fluorescent lamps, it is possible to exclude an element such as a choke from the electrical circuit. In this case, it is possible to minimize the negative effects (for example, noise) that are observed when operating a standard lighting installation of this type.

Choosing a box for LED strips, correct installation

We offer two options for connecting fluorescent lamps, without using a choke.

Option 1.

All fluorescent lamps operating from the mains alternating current(except for lamps with high-frequency converters), emit a pulsating (with a frequency of 100 pulsations per second) light flux. This has a tiring effect on people's vision and distorts the perception of rotating components in mechanisms.
The proposed lamp is assembled according to the well-known circuit for powering a fluorescent lamp with rectified current, characterized by the introduction of a capacitor into it large capacity brand K50-7 to smooth out pulsations.

When you press the common key (see diagram 1), push-button switch 5B1 is activated, connecting the lamp to the mains, and button 5B2, which closes the filament circuit of the LD40 fluorescent lamp with its contacts. When the keys are released, switch 5B1 remains on, and button SB2 opens its contacts, and the lamp lights up from the resulting self-induction EMF. When the key is pressed a second time, switch SB1 opens its contacts and the lamp goes out.

I do not provide a description of the switching device because of its simplicity. To ensure uniform wear of the lamp filaments, the polarity of the lamp should be changed after approximately 6000 hours of operation. The light flux emitted by the lamp has virtually no pulsations.

Scheme 1. Connections of a fluorescent lamp with a burnt-out filament (option 1.)

In such a lamp you can even use lamps with one burnt-out filament. To do this, its terminals are closed on the base with a spring made of a thin steel string, and the lamp is inserted into the lamp so that the “plus” of the rectified voltage is supplied to the closed legs (the top thread in the diagram).
Instead of a KSO-12 capacitor of 10,000 pF, 1000 V, a capacitor from a failed starter for LDS can be used.

Option 2.

The main reason for the failure of fluorescent lamps is the same as for incandescent lamps - burnout of the filament. For a standard lamp, a fluorescent lamp with this kind of malfunction is, of course, unsuitable and has to be thrown away. Meanwhile, according to other parameters, the resource of a lamp with a burnt-out filament often remains far from exhausted.
One of the ways to “reanimate” fluorescent lamps is to use cold (instant) ignition. To do this, at least one of the cathodes must be
control emission activity (see diagram implementing this method).

The device is a diode-capacitor multiplier with a factor of 4 (see diagram 2). The load is a circuit of a gas-discharge lamp and an incandescent lamp connected in series. Their powers are the same (40 W), the rated supply voltages are also close in value (103 and 127 V, respectively). Initially, when an alternating voltage of 220 V is supplied, the device operates as a multiplier. As a result, a high voltage is applied to the lamp, which ensures “cold” ignition.

Scheme 2. Another option for connecting a fluorescent lamp with a burnt-out filament.

After the occurrence of a stable glow discharge, the device switches to the mode of a full-wave rectifier loaded with active resistance. The effective voltage at the output of the bridge circuit is almost equal to the mains voltage. It is distributed between lamps E1.1 and E1.2. The incandescent lamp functions as a current-limiting resistor (ballast) and at the same time it is used as a lighting lamp, which increases the efficiency of the installation.

Note that a fluorescent lamp is actually a kind of powerful zener diode, so changes in the supply voltage affect mainly the glow (brightness) of the incandescent lamp. Therefore, when the network voltage is highly unstable, the E1_2 lamp must be taken with a power of 100 W at a voltage of 220 V.
The combined use of two different types of light sources, complementary to each other, leads to improved light technical characteristics: pulsations of the light flux are reduced, the spectral composition of the radiation is closer to natural.

The device does not exclude the possibility of being used as a ballast and a standard choke. It is connected in series at the input of the diode bridge, for example, in an open circuit instead of a fuse. When replacing D226 diodes with more powerful ones - the KD202 series or KD205 and KTs402 (KTs405) blocks, the multiplier allows you to power fluorescent lamps with a power of 65 and 80 W.

A correctly assembled device does not require adjustment. In case of unclear ignition of the glow discharge or in its absence at all at the rated mains voltage, the polarity of the fluorescent lamp connection should be changed. It is first necessary to select burnt-out lamps to determine the possibility of working in this lamp.

One of the given circuits allows you to power the LDS without using an expensive and bulky choke, the role of which is played by a conventional incandescent lamp; another design will help ignite the lamp without the help of a starter.

In the circuit below, the role of a current-limiting choke is performed by a conventional incandescent lamp, the power of which is equal to the power of the LDS used.

The LDS itself is connected to the network through a rectifier assembled according to the classic voltage doubling circuit (VD1, VD2, C1, C2). At the moment of switching on, while there is no discharge inside the fluorescent lamp, it is supplied with double the mains voltage, which ignites the lamp without preheating the cathodes. After starting the LDS, the current-limiting lamp HL1 is switched on, and the operating voltage and operating current are set on HL2. In this mode, the incandescent lamp barely glows. To reliably start the lamp, it is necessary to connect the phase output of the network as shown in the diagram - to the current-limiting lamp HL1.

The following circuit allows you to start a fluorescent lamp with burnt-out starting coils with a power of up to 40 W (when using a lamp of lower power, the inductor L1 will have to be replaced with one corresponding to the lamp used).

Let's consider the operation of the circuit. The supply voltage is supplied through a standard inductor L1 to the rectifier VD3, the role of which is performed by the KTs405A diode assembly, and then to the lamp EL1. While the lamp is off, the voltage at the doubler VD1, VD2, C2, C3 is sufficient to open the zener diodes, so twice the mains voltage is present at the lamp electrodes. As soon as the lamp starts, the voltage across it will drop and become insufficient for the doubler to operate. The zener diodes close and the operating voltage is established on the lamp electrodes, limited by current by inductor L1. Capacitor C1 is necessary for compensation reactive power, R1 removes residual voltage from the circuit when it is turned off, which will ensure safe replacement of the lamp.

The following circuit for connecting the lamp eliminates its flickering at the mains frequency, which becomes very noticeable as the lamp ages. As can be seen from the figure below, in addition to the throttle and starter, the circuit contains a conventional diode bridge.

And one more circuit in which neither a choke nor a starter is used: An incandescent lamp is used as a ballast resistance in the circuit (for an 80 W LDS its power must be increased to 200-250 W). The capacitors operate in multiplier mode and ignite the lamp without preheating the electrodes. Using LDS power DC, we should not forget that when switched on in this way, due to the constant movement of mercury ions to the cathode, one end of the lamp darkens (from the anode side). This phenomenon is called cataphoresis and can be partially combated by regularly (once every 1-2 months) switching the polarity of the LDS power supply.

The fluorescent lamp was invented in the 1930s as a light source and became famous and widespread in the late 1950s.

Its advantages are undeniable:

• Durability.
• Maintainability
• Economical.
• Warm, cold and colored shade of glow.

A long service life is ensured by a properly designed start-up and operation control device by the developers.

Industrial fluorescent lamp

LDS (fluorescent lamp) is much more economical than a conventional incandescent light bulb, however, an LED device of similar power is superior to a fluorescent one in this indicator.

Over time, the lamp stops starting, blinks, “buzzes”, in a word, does not return to normal mode. Staying and working indoors becomes dangerous to a person’s vision.

To correct the situation, they try to turn on a known good LDS.

If easy replacement did not give positive results, a person who does not know how a fluorescent lamp works comes to a dead end: “What to do next?” We will look at what spare parts to buy in the article.

Briefly about the features of the lamp

LDS refers to gas-discharge light sources of low internal pressure.

The operating principle is as follows: the sealed glass case of the device is filled with inert gas and mercury vapor, the pressure of which is low. The inner walls of the flask are coated with phosphor. Under the influence of an electrical discharge occurring between the electrodes, the mercury composition of the gas begins to glow, generating ultraviolet radiation invisible to the eye. It, having an effect on the phosphor, causes a glow in the visible range. By changing the active composition of the phosphor, cold or warm white and colored light is obtained.

Operating principle of LDS

Expert opinion

Alexey Bartosh

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Bactericidal devices are designed in the same way as LDS, but the inner surface of the flask, made of quartz sand, is not coated with a phosphor. Ultraviolet light is emitted unhindered into the surrounding space.

Connection using electromagnetic ballast or electronic ballast

The structural features do not allow connecting the LDS directly to a 220 V network - operation from this voltage level is impossible. To start, a voltage of at least 600V is required.

By using electronic circuits it is necessary to provide sequentially one after another required modes work, each of which requires a certain level of stress.

Operating modes:

• ignition;
• glow.

Startup consists of sending impulses high voltage(up to 1 kV) to the electrodes, resulting in a discharge between them.

Certain types of ballasts, before starting, heat the spiral of electrodes. Incandescence makes it easier to start the discharge, while the filament overheats less and lasts longer.

After the lamp lights up, power is supplied by alternating voltage, and the energy-saving mode is activated.

Connection using electronic ballasts
connection diagram

In devices produced by industry, two types of ballasts (ballasts) are used:

• electromagnetic ballast control device EmPRA;
• electronic ballast - electronic ballast.

The schemes provide different connection, it is presented below.

Scheme with electronic ballasts

Connection using electronic ballasts

Part electrical diagram A lamp with electromagnetic ballasts (EMP) includes the following elements:

• throttle;
• starter;
• compensation capacitor;
• Fluorescent Lamp.

connection diagram

When power is supplied through the circuit: throttle – LDS electrodes, voltage appears at the starter contacts.

The bimetallic contacts of the starter, located in a gaseous environment, heat up and close. Because of this, a closed circuit is created in the lamp circuit: 220 V contact – choke – starter electrodes – lamp electrodes – 220 V contact.

The electrode threads, when heated, emit electrons, which create a glow discharge. Part of the current begins to flow through the circuit: 220V – choke – 1st electrode – 2nd electrode – 220V. The current in the starter drops, the bimetallic contacts open. According to the laws of physics, at this moment a self-induction EMF appears at the inductor contacts, which leads to the appearance of a high-voltage pulse at the electrodes. A breakdown of the gaseous medium occurs, and an electric arc occurs between opposite electrodes. The LDS begins to glow with an even light.

Subsequently, a choke connected in line ensures a low level of current flowing through the electrodes.

A choke connected to an alternating current circuit acts as an inductive reactance, reducing the efficiency of the lamp by up to 30%.

Attention! In order to reduce energy losses, a compensating capacitor is included in the circuit; without it, the lamp will work, but power consumption will increase.

Circuit with electronic ballasts

Attention! In retail, electronic ballasts are often found under the name electronic ballast. Sellers use the name driver to designate power supplies for LED strips.

Appearance and design of electronic ballasts

Appearance and design of an electronic ballast designed to turn on two lamps with a power of 36 watts each.

Expert opinion

Alexey Bartosh

Specialist in repair and maintenance of electrical equipment and industrial electronics.

Ask a question to an expert

Important! It is forbidden to turn on electronic ballasts without a load in the form of fluorescent lamps. If the device is designed to connect two LDS, it cannot be used in a circuit with one.

In circuits with electronic ballasts, the physical processes remain the same. Some models provide pre-heating of the electrodes, which increases the life of the lamp.

Electronic ballast type

The picture shows appearance Electronic ballasts for devices of various power levels.

The dimensions allow the electronic ballast to be placed even in an E27 base.

Electronic ballasts in the base of an energy-saving lamp

Compact ESLs - one of the types of fluorescent ones - can have a g23 base.

Desk lamp with G23 base
Functional diagram of electronic ballasts

The figure shows a simplified functional diagram of electronic ballasts.

Circuit for connecting two lamps in series

There are lamps that are designed to connect two lamps.

In case of replacement of parts, assembly is carried out according to schemes that are different for electronic ballasts and electronic ballasts.

Attention! Schematic diagrams Ballasts are designed to operate with a certain load power. This indicator is always available in product passports. If you connect lamps of a higher rating, the inductor or ballast may burn out.

Connection diagram for two lamps with one choke

If the device body has the inscription 2X18, the ballast is designed to connect two lamps with a power of 18 watts each. 1X36 - such a choke or ballast is capable of turning on one LDS with a power of 36 W.

In cases where a choke is used, the lamps must be connected in series.

Two starters will start their glow. These parts are connected in parallel with the LDS.

Connection without starter

The electronic ballast circuit does not initially include a starter.

Button instead of starter

However, in circuits with a choke you can do without it. A spring-loaded switch connected in series - in other words, a button - will help you assemble a working circuit. Briefly turning on and releasing the button will provide a connection similar in effect to the starter.

Important! This starterless option will turn on only with intact filaments.

A throttleless version, which also lacks a starter, can be implemented different ways. One of them is shown below.

Luminescent What to do if a fluorescent lamp breaks

Fluorescent lamps from the very first releases and are partially still lit using electromagnetic ballasts - EMP. The classic version of the lamp is made in the form of a sealed glass tube with pins at the ends.

What do fluorescent lamps look like?

Inside it is filled with an inert gas with mercury vapor. It is installed in cartridges through which voltage is supplied to the electrodes. An electric discharge is created between them, causing an ultraviolet glow, which acts on the phosphor layer applied to the inner surface of the glass tube. The result is a bright glow. The switching circuit for fluorescent lamps (LL) is provided by two main elements: electromagnetic ballast L1 and glow discharge lamp SF1.

LL connection diagram with electromagnetic choke and starter

Ignition circuits with electronic ballasts

A device with a throttle and starter works according to the following principle:

1. Supplying voltage to the electrodes. The current does not pass through the gaseous medium of the lamp at first due to its high resistance. It enters through the starter (St) (Fig. below), in which a glow discharge is formed. In this case, a current passes through the spirals of the electrodes (2) and begins to heat them up.
2. The starter contacts heat up, and one of them closes, since it is made of bimetal. The current passes through them and the discharge stops.
3. The starter contacts stop heating up, and after cooling, the bimetallic contact opens again. A voltage pulse occurs in the inductor (D) due to self-induction, which is sufficient to ignite the LL.
4. A current passes through the gaseous medium of the lamp; after starting the lamp, it decreases along with the voltage drop across the inductor. The starter remains disconnected, since this current is not enough to start it.

Fluorescent lamp connection diagram

Capacitors (C 1) and (C 2) in the circuit are designed to reduce the level of interference. A capacitance (C 1) connected in parallel to the lamp helps reduce the amplitude of the voltage pulse and increase its duration. As a result, the service life of the starter and LL increases. The capacitor (C 2) at the input provides a significant reduction in the reactive component of the load (cos φ increases from 0.6 to 0.9).

If you know how to connect a fluorescent lamp with burnt-out filaments, it can be used in an electronic ballast circuit after a slight modification of the circuit itself. To do this, the spirals are short-circuited and a capacitor is connected in series to the starter. According to this scheme, the light source will be able to work for some more time.

A widely used switching method is with one choke and two fluorescent lamps.

Switching on two fluorescent lamps with a common choke

2 lamps are connected in series between each other and the choke. Each of them requires the installation of a parallel connected starter. To do this, use one output pin at the ends of the lamp.

For LLs, it is necessary to use special switches so that their contacts do not stick due to high inrush current.

Ignition without electromagnetic ballast

To extend the life of burnt-out fluorescent lamps, you can install one of the switching circuits without a choke and starter. For this purpose, voltage multipliers are used.

Diagram for switching on fluorescent lamps without a choke

The filaments are short-circuited and voltage is applied to the circuit. After straightening, it increases 2 times, and this is enough for the lamp to light up. Capacitors (C 1), (C 2) are selected for a voltage of 600 V, and (C 3), (C 4) - for a voltage of 1000 V.

The method is also suitable for working LLs, but they should not operate with DC power. After some time, mercury accumulates around one of the electrodes, and the brightness of the glow decreases. To restore it, you need to turn the lamp over, thereby changing the polarity.

Connection without starter

Using a starter increases the heating time of the lamp. However, its service life is short. Electrodes can be heated without it if secondary transformer windings are installed for this purpose.

Connection diagram for a fluorescent lamp without a starter

Where the starter is not used, there is a symbol on the lamp quick start– RS. If you install such a lamp with a starter, its coils can quickly burn out, since they have a longer warm-up time.

Electronic ballast

Electronic ballast control circuitry has replaced older daylight sources to eliminate their inherent shortcomings. Electromagnetic ballast consumes excess energy, often makes noise, breaks down and damages the lamp. In addition, the lamps flicker due to the low frequency of the supply voltage.

Electronic ballast is the electronic unit, which takes up little space. Fluorescent lamps are easy and quick to start, without creating noise and providing uniform illumination. The circuit provides several ways to protect the lamp, which increases its service life and makes its operation safer.

The electronic ballast works as follows:

1. Warming up the LL electrodes. Start-up is quick and smooth, which increases lamp life.
2. Ignition is the generation of a high voltage pulse that pierces the gas in the flask.
3. Combustion is the maintenance of a small voltage on the lamp electrodes, which is sufficient for a stable process.

Electronic throttle circuit

First, the alternating voltage is rectified using a diode bridge and smoothed by a capacitor (C 2). Next, a half-bridge high-frequency voltage generator using two transistors is installed. The load is a toroidal transformer with windings (W1), (W2), (W3), two of them are connected in antiphase. They alternately open the transistor switches. The third winding (W3) supplies resonant voltage to the LL.

A capacitor (C 4) is connected in parallel to the lamp. Resonant voltage is supplied to the electrodes and penetrates the gaseous environment. By this time the filaments have already warmed up. Once ignited, the lamp's resistance drops sharply, causing the voltage to drop sufficiently to maintain combustion. The startup process lasts less than 1 second.

Electronic circuits have the following advantages:

• start with any specified time delay;
• installation of a starter and a massive throttle is not required;
• the lamp does not blink or hum;
• high-quality light output;
• compactness of the device.

The use of electronic ballasts makes it possible to install it in the base of a lamp, which is also reduced to the size of an incandescent lamp. This gave rise to new ones energy saving lamps, which can be screwed into a regular standard cartridge.

During operation, fluorescent lamps age and require an increase in operating voltage. In the electronic ballast circuit, the ignition voltage of the glow discharge at the starter decreases. In this case, its electrodes may open, which will trigger the starter and turn off the LL. Then it starts again. Such blinking of the lamp leads to its failure along with the inductor. In an electronic ballast circuit, a similar phenomenon does not occur, since the electronic ballast automatically adjusts to changes in the parameters of the lamp, selecting a favorable mode for it.

Lamp repair. Video

Tips for repairing a fluorescent lamp can be obtained from this video.

LL devices and their connection circuits are constantly being developed in the direction of improving technical characteristics. It is important to be able to choose suitable models and use them correctly.