Hello all,

It is no secret that many of us love blinkiness with preheat fluorescent light fixtures. Many people, such as Dave, take it to an awesome science, fitting a fixture with the perfect ballast, starter, and lamp combination for the most blinkiness. Of course, it's an undesired trait in the real world, but fun for us, and if you're using expendable lamps, then why not?

I've come up with another idea, and I'm curious if anyone has ever tried it. What if one were to insert a current limiter, say a light bulb, in series with the starter, such that the filaments get reduced power during starting, thus increasing blinkiness?

Any thoughts?

Trent

That could work rather well since the blinking is caused by failing to preheat completely on start attempts. Another way is to reduce the input voltage for a short period during startup and then when you want the lamp to run (after X seconds) allow the voltage to jump to normal. Dropping the voltage to a certain point (depends on lamp, starter, and ballast) can cause infinite blinkage. Also note that applying too high of a voltage can cause a starter to remain stuck until the voltage is dropped. Both can sometimes be achieved with a standard Variac.

Yes, without a doubt. My idea is that my trick, assuming it works, could be implemented seamlessly without any further human intervention, and it doesn't interfere with the normal running of the lamp.

The voltage reduction may bring a side effect: The starter won't trigger...
So the curent limitting un series with the starter wouldwork better.
But be sure to not use fluorescents you would miss when they fail - the "blink-happiness" cost quite some reduction in life out of the fluorescent...

The voltage reduction may bring a side effect: The starter won't trigger...
So the curent limitting un series with the starter wouldwork better.
But be sure to not use fluorescents you would miss when they fail - the "blink-happiness" cost quite some reduction in life out of the fluorescent...

That is correct. The way I found the spot was to bring the voltage to the point where the starter operated, but the lamp was unable to start.

That is correct. The way I found the spot was to bring the voltage to the point where the starter operated, but the lamp was unable to start.

But such spot will be quite unstable, the starters have frequently problems even at full mains voltage (mainly at 120V)...

I think preheating the tube externally while using a gls bulb in series with the starter will not only spare the tube it can be made blink happy.

I think preheating the tube externally while using a gls bulb in series with the starter will not only spare the tube it can be made blink happy.

Not really. When the electrodes are sufficiently preheated, it will immediately ignite, so no blinking.
The blinking you may get only, when the electrodes are not sufficiently heated during the ignition attempts, but that wear the electrodes.

And by the way to generate really intense flashes, you need full ballast current into them as well, so no ballast current restriction at all. The incandescent in series with the starter will make the flashes less intense...

Perhaps he meant because the cathodes won't be given the full lamp current during preheating? Because an arc striking across the cathode depletes the emitter, doesn't it?

What depletes the cathode is the discharge mainly, when the cathode have insufficient emission.
But the insufficient emission you need in order to get those flashes for the "blink happiness"...

The discharge could strike across the cathode, but for that the emission have to be really strong, as the voltage is there really low (below 15V peak). But that low voltage can not accelerate the ions to too high energy to cause any sputter.