Path: utzoo!attcan!utgpu!jarvis.csri.toronto.edu!clyde.concordia.ca!uunet!psivax!torkil
From: torkil@psivax.UUCP (Torkil Hammer)
Newsgroups: sci.electronics
Subject: Re: Converting a florescent hood
Message-ID: <2980@psivax.UUCP>
Date: 7 Dec 89 19:42:59 GMT
References: <23152@gryphon.COM>
Reply-To: torkil@psivax.UUCP (Torkil Hammer)
Organization: Pacesetter Systems Inc., Sylmar, CA
Lines: 16

[manual start of fluorescent tubes]

It is not a question of ballast but of starter.

The ballast limits the current once the tube is started.  Without ballast
the tube is likely to explode.  Be careful when you experiment.

Starting is an issue of preheating the gas by means of filaments so the
plasma can form.

The starter is usually automatic in light tubes, and usually manual in
UV tubes.  There might be a good reason for this.  There shouldn't be
since the difference between the 2 types is in the coating of the glass
but you never know.

Torkil Hammer