TLE 9 ELECTRICAL INSTALLATION & MAINTENANCE NC II

ELECTRIC DISCHARGE LIGHTING SYSTEM

FLUORESCENT LAMP
Electric Discharge current/ electricity that does not flow in a conductor.
THEORIES / PRINCIPLE:
A fluorescent lamp is a form of electric discharge lighting source. It consist of a glass tube containing
mercury vapor at a low pressure and inert gases like argon and krypton. The interior is coated with
phosphor, which glows or fluoresces when exposed to ultra violet light. Coating the inner surface of the
glass tube with different phosphors make it possible to obtain light corresponding to the type of the
phosphor coating. There are several types of electric discharge lamps which are classified according to the
kind of electrode used.
1. Cold Cathode Lamp - requires high voltage in its operation. This lamp has electrode made of thin type
iron. It is not pre- heated and does not require a starter for starting. It is operated by a special high voltage
transformer.
Examples of Cold Cathode lamps: Neon lamps and Mercury lamps
2. Hot Cathode Lamp requires starter ( glow switch ) and is preheated during starting. It uses a ballast
to produce high voltage to start the lamp into operation and to limit the flow of current. This fluorescent
lamp which is commonly used for general lighting system is one of the hot cathode type.
A fluorescent lamp fixture consist of several parts which are listed and describe below:
1. Fluorescent tube is a circular or tubular tube containing mercury vapor and inert gas with phosphor
coating inside.
Types of fluorescent lamp : tubular & circular
Wattage Rating ( Tubular ):
8 watts lamp & 10 watts lamp --- use 10 watts ballast
18 watts lamp & 20 watts lamp ----use 20
watts ballast
36 watts lamp , 40 watts lamp & 38 watts lamp ----- use 40 watts ballast
2. Ballast is an induction coil which produces high voltage to start the lamp into operation. It also limits
the flow of current during the operation of the lamp. It also consumes power which is about 10% 20% of
the power consumed by the lamp itself.
Induce process of increasing voltage.
3. Starter - is a glow switch that opened and closed the circuit so as to produce high voltage or inductive
kick across the filament during the starting period. It has a bi metallic element that when it feels heat, it
will open.
Two Types of Fluorescent Starter
FS 20 for 20 W fluorescent lamp & FS 40 for 40 W fluorescent lamp
4. Lamp Holder & Starter Socket are points of connection of the fluorescent tube and the starter.
5. Frame is the metal housing of the whole fixture.
PRINCIPLE OF OPERATION
The first step in the ballast starting sequence of a fluorescent lamp is to preheat the cathodes. The
current heats the cathodes until they boil off clouds of electrons. Initially, the starter is at close position
to allow complete circuit for current to flow.
When the cathode had heated up, the starter opens. The magnetic field of the ballast collapses. This action
generated an inductive voltage kick which strikes an arc across the lamp, causing it to light.
Characteristics of Fluorescent Lighting
Advantages:
1. Highly efficient supplies four times as much light as incandescent lamp of the same wattage.
2. Available in types to supply variety of colors
3. Produce cooler illumination. It is possible to keep a hand on the tube during normal operation.
4. Produces distributed light which is less injurious to the eye.
5. Expected life is up to seven times more than incandescent lamps.
Disadvantages:
1. Initial cost is greater.
2. Starts with flickering light.
3. Operates at low power factor.

IDENTIFYING GOOD OR BAD FLUORESCENT STARTER

INDICATOR
CAUSES
REMARKS
No Light
Open circuit
Bad
Dim light / steady
Short circuit
Bad
Flickering light
Conditioned
Good

INDICATOR
No Light
Normal Light
Dimmed Light

IDENTIFYING GOOD OR BAD BALLAST

CAUSES
Open circuit
Short circuit
Conditioned

IDENTIFYING GOOD OR BAD FLUORESCENT TUBE

INDICATOR
CAUSES
No deflection
Open cathode
Full deflection
Short circuit
30 ohms 50 ohms
Conditioned

REMARKS
Bad
Bad
Good

REMARKS
Bad
Bad
Good

TROUBLESHOOTING CHART FOR FLUORESCENT LAMPS

SYMPTOMS
CAUSES
REMEDIES
1. Flashing On & OFF
- End of Life ( If old Lamp )
- Replace lamp
- Possible fault of lamp holder
- Replace lamp holders. If blinking
continues, investigate further
- Faulty starter
- Replace starter
- Low ballast rating
- Check ballast and replace
ballast if necessary
- Low circuit voltage
- Check voltage and correct if
- Loose contacts
possible
- See that lamps are securely
fitted and holders rigidly mounted
2. No Starting Effort or Slow
Starting

- End of life
- Defective starter
- Incorrect wiring
-

Low line voltage

Air leak in lamp
Low ballast rating
Open electrode circuit
Possible open circuit

- Replace lamp
- Replace starter
- Check wiring and make proper
connection
- Check voltage and correct if
possible
- Replace lamp
- Check ballast and replace
- Replace lamp
- Test lamp in other circuit

3. End of lamp remain lighted

- Faulty starter
- Incorrect wiring
- Low ballast rating

- Replace starter
- Make proper connections
- Replace ballast

4. Flicker, swirl, flutter

- New lamps may flicker when

first placed in service
- End of life if old lamps
- Defective starter
- High voltage

- Usually clears after short

operation

5. End blackening dense at one

end or
both

End of life
Defective starter
High or low voltage
Loose circuit

- Improper ballast

- Replace lamp
- Replace starter
- Check voltage and correct if
possible
- Replace lamp
- Replace starter
- Check voltage and correct if
possible
- See that lamps are securely
fitted and holders rigidly mounted
- Use approved ballast of correct
rating

6. Decrease light output

- Low circuit voltage

- Dust , dirt on lamps, fixtures,
walls

- Check voltage and correct if

possible
- Clean

7. Radio Interference

- radio too close to lamp

- Move radio 9 10 ft. from lamp

8. Noise from ballast

- Slight hum is inherent

- If objectionable, mount ballast in

soft rubber
- Replace ballast if too noisy