Homebrew Electronic Fluorescent Starter

[[email protected]]

Could a SIDAC be used instead of the standard mechanical glow bottle
starter? I tried a K1200E sidac (120V breakover) with a 20W preheat
ballast setup on 120VAC, but only the ends of the tube glowed (it
"wants" to start though). Perhaps something needs the be added to the
circuit or use a higher voltage SIDAC? I also tried two K1200E's in
series to make a 240V SIDAC but that didn't do anything. TIA

 

[jasen]

Could a SIDAC be used instead of the standard mechanical glow bottle
starter?

no, they don't conduct for long enough.

I tried a K1200E sidac (120V breakover) with a 20W preheat

 

[Jamie]

Could a SIDAC be used instead of the standard mechanical glow bottle
starter? I tried a K1200E sidac (120V breakover) with a 20W preheat
ballast setup on 120VAC, but only the ends of the tube glowed (it
"wants" to start though). Perhaps something needs the be added to the
circuit or use a higher voltage SIDAC? I also tried two K1200E's in
series to make a 240V SIDAC but that didn't do anything. TIA

you need the full sine wave for the reaction and also, i think you need
more than 120 volts on most? I could be wrong there how ever.
The idea is to heat the ends, while applying the voltage at the same
time. The heaters should can be shut off once the tube is warm enough to
keep it running with the HV>
Then you have the CCFL type.,...

 

[default]

Could a SIDAC be used instead of the standard mechanical glow bottle
starter? I tried a K1200E sidac (120V breakover) with a 20W preheat
ballast setup on 120VAC, but only the ends of the tube glowed (it
"wants" to start though). Perhaps something needs the be added to the
circuit or use a higher voltage SIDAC? I also tried two K1200E's in
series to make a 240V SIDAC but that didn't do anything. TIA

why would you think it would work?

Should breakover and stay conducting in a standard glow tube starter
replacement. It isn't "trying" to start it, it still needs to be
disconnected from the circuit for the lamp to start.

The glow starters use a bimetallic strip that heats up in the presence
of current then open after a TIME DELAY (they don't sense current)
there's a bit of argon gas in the starter to keep the bimetallic
switch open if the lamp is lighted - if not, the cycle repeats.

You'd have to duplicate that function to make a starter - dead short
for a period of time, then open and stay open if current is flowing.

Something like a normally closed (rare) solid state relay might be
hacked to work - at a much higher cost than a lamp starter.