Homemade Fluorescent Light
Made July 2012
I find it hard to believe that it was back in 2012 when I first made this, it doesn't feel that long. When I first made it, it was very messy and untidy with the starter soldered in place and terminal blocks for tube holders but it proved the principle. The principle was to show that a 100W incandescent bulb could act as a ballast for a 15W fluorescent tube. The wiring of this is the same as that in a normal switch start fitting, except the conventional ballast has been swapped for a 100W light bulb.
I find it hard to believe that it was back in 2012 when I first made this, it doesn't feel that long. When I first made it, it was very messy and untidy with the starter soldered in place and terminal blocks for tube holders but it proved the principle. The principle was to show that a 100W incandescent bulb could act as a ballast for a 15W fluorescent tube. The wiring of this is the same as that in a normal switch start fitting, except the conventional ballast has been swapped for a 100W light bulb.
After the principle was proved, things got tidied up a bit. So now it is safe. A switch was added , along with a new BC lamp holder for the incandescent lamp. I also added proper tube holders and starter holder, these came along when our village hall got new lighting, so they are from a twin, 8' Crompton fluorescent fitting. The below picture is the luminaire as it is now and I'm very pleased with it. I have tried to operate with an electronic starter in place of the argon one but it won't work, if any one can help explain why this might be it would be appreciated.