Path: utzoo!utgpu!jarvis.csri.toronto.edu!cs.utexas.edu!samsung!uakari.primate.wisc.edu!dogie.macc.wisc.edu!decwrl!ames!haven!mimsy!fe2o3!michael From: michael@fe2o3.UUCP (Michael Katzmann) Newsgroups: sci.electronics Subject: Re: Ballasts Keywords: neon tube displays, Jakob's ladder Message-ID: <302@fe2o3.UUCP> Date: 3 Feb 90 19:30:13 GMT References: <19916@netnews.upenn.edu> <19917@netnews.upenn.edu> Reply-To: michael@fe2o3.UUCP (Michael Katzmann) Distribution: sci.electronics Organization: Rusty's BSD machine at home Lines: 19 In article <19917@netnews.upenn.edu> jliu@eniac.seas.upenn.edu.UUCP (Dear John.) writes: > >Also, does anyone know what the Ballast Coil does in a flourescent light? From what I can remember, the starter interrupts the current through the ballast (an inductor) after it has heated up, (the starter that is). The back EMF in the ballast gives rise to enough voltage so that a breakdown occurs in the gas. After the light is lit the ballast acts to limit the current. --------------------------------------------------------------------- email to UUCP: uunet!mimsy!{arinc,fe203}!vk2bea!michael _ _ _ _ Amateur | VK2BEA (Australia) ' ) ) ) / // Radio | G4NYV (United Kingdom) / / / o _. /_ __. _ // Stations| NV3Z (United States) / ' (_<_(__/ /_(_/|_