Path: utzoo!dptcdc!jarvis.csri.toronto.edu!mailrus!tut.cis.ohio-state.edu!bloom-beacon!apple!kanner
From: kanner@Apple.COM (Herbert Kanner)
Newsgroups: sci.electronics
Subject: Re: fluorescent vs. incandescent
Keywords: none
Message-ID: <1423@internal.Apple.COM>
Date: 18 Apr 89 02:17:35 GMT
References: <1369@hudson.acc.virginia.edu> <3098@kitty.UUCP> <28809@ucbvax.BERKELEY.EDU>
Distribution: usa
Organization: Development Systems Group, Apple Computer
Lines: 28

>
>Thanks, Larry, for your previous posting on the various circuits and
>principles of fluorescents.  I'm an E.E. too, but of course they don't
>teach that kind of thing in engine school (tho I too had to endure all
>the polyphase rotating machinery as you mentioned).  There ought to be
>a book on "The Way Things Work" written at the level of engineers.
>Like, I didn't get any answer to my earlier question about microwave
>ovens.  Which was that the only magnetrons I know anything about take
>terribly high voltages to operate; and the microwave oven doesn't seem
>heavy enough to contain that kind of power supply.
>

While we are talking about how things work, perhaps someone can
enlighten me about a fluorescent flashlight.  This is an Everready
(made in Hong Kong, I think) flashlight that takes four AA batteries,
has a three-way switch for off, conventional flashlight, and miniature
fluorescent tube.  My question is, what circuit is behind the
operation of the fluorescent tube and how is the discharge started.
It does not look as if it has filaments, but it is hard to be sure.

Thanks.


-- 
Herb Kanner
Apple Computer, Inc.
{idi,nsc}!apple!kanner
kanner@apple.com