What on earth is this thing???

Zelandeth · #1 07-12-2003, 04:34 PM

No idea where I originally got this from, but I found it rattling around in the bottom of a drawer I was clearing out this morning. Probably been rolling around in there for years.

Internal structure looks vaguely like a normal NE2 bulb, other than that the electrodes curve away from each other at the tips, and there is a neck more similar to that seen normally in incandescent bulbs.

Main difference however is that the sucker's nearly 30mm long, and 10mm in diameter (electrodes are around 10mm by 1mm each). And that it's a perfect cylinder other than the base.

As yet, I haven't had a chance to rig up the relevent equipment since I dug this out to find out what colour it glows, but figured that I'd see if anyone recognised the part here, and could direct me toward the correct running voltage and/or resistance needed to run from a 230V supply. Also it'd ne nice to know whether or not to be scared of it, i.e. whether it's going to pump out lots of UV when in use - I'm still pretty green on the operational characteristics of such lights as this.

I'm pretty sure that someone here will be able to identify it. If anyone wants one as well, I'm sure that I've got a few more of them somewhere...probably in the other drawers that I haven't started clearing out yet.

Pics are below, sorry about the quality - scanning something that's primarly transparent doesn't always work too well!

Chris M. · #2 07-12-2003, 06:11 PM

That looks like part of a flourescent lamp glow starter. Don`t for goodness sake hook it to the mains or it`ll go *boom* more than likely.

If it`s what I think it is, it contains Xenon, Argon and some other funky stuff which glows violet when energized. Also heats up the electrodes too. One (or both) of them is a Bimetal strip which bends and eventually touches the other one as a result of heating up by the current flowing. When it does this, it hooks the heaters at either end of the flourescent tube in series via the ballast to the mains. Being shorted out itsself, it cools and goes open circuit again, but now the electrodes in the tube are hot and it is likely to strike a discharge (light up). If not, lather, rinse, repeat until it does. This is why flourescent tubes often blink and flicker when starting - it`s the glow starter kicking it over and over till it strikes. Some modern fixtures use electronics which mimic the operation of the glow starters (except in a more controlled and gentler way on the tube), and there are solid state electronic retrofits for existing starters too - notice the little round green things poking out of the side of some battens here and there?
As it is, that thing wouldn`t make a good starter. It needs a suppression capacitor as well, in order not to kick out loads of RF noise when switching in and out. That and a housing for it too.

Of course, I could be wrong. It could be a surge/lightening arrestor of some kind out of some bit of telecommunications gear. Similar principle except the electrodes are not bimetallic, and it relies on the fact that a whole load of current can flow through ionized gas - if it gets zapped by a surge the gas fill will be able to conduct and dissipate the excess power, whereas normally it sits there accross the line, essentially an open circuit.

It`s one of those though. Hope that helped.

Zelandeth · #3 07-12-2003, 06:32 PM

Never thought of that one. Will need further investigation.

As for the solid state retrofit, I've got a few of those green ones. Got a blacklight fixture in here that's always been a pain to start (If the room's cold anyway), and used to get through starters more often than any other fixture I've ever encountered (Manual start would be good!), and it seems to have cured the problem more or less (starts a heck of lot more reliably anyway). On a similar note, anyone found that F15T8BLB (I think, will climb on top of the wardrobe to find if I'm right later) are particularly hard to start? Or is this just a dodgy fixture? (it ain't the tube - got a few of them rattling around and all behave the same).

The_LED_Museum · #4 07-12-2003, 06:40 PM

[ QUOTE ]
Chris M. said:
That looks like part of a flourescent lamp glow starter. Don`t for goodness sake hook it to the mains or it`ll go *boom* more than likely.

[/ QUOTE ]
It'll probably just go *pop!* but one can never be too careful around "bulbs" like this. [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img]
You can connect it to mains (230VAC) if you insert a 220K resistor in series with it and the mains voltage. At least you ought to see what color it is supposed to glow anyway.
Or if you're feeling really adventurous, you can connect a 230V 7.5W Christmas bulb in series with it (in place of the resistor) and see what happens. If the thing glows and then the contacts inside start to close after a few seconds (causing the Christmas bulb to glow brightly), it's probably a fluorescent starter.

Zelandeth · #5 07-12-2003, 06:53 PM

Hmm, that would prove pretty interesting - sort of crude flasher unit created there.

I'd have only given it a very brief bit of power before anyway to see what colour it glowed. Worst it would have cost me woild have been a resistor, and fumbling behind the desk for the reset switch on my power supply. Probably fried nerves as well. I tend to think the tube itself would have survived actually, and that the resistor would have gone *pswft* and filled the room with smoke.

Thanks for the suggestion Craig! Wouldn't have thought of that one. (on the same note, you want one? Then you could try that trick woth the christmas light, and come the day you have time, stick it on the misc glowing things page of the site. I just found another five of the suckers in the other drawer, and they're light enough to send places).

And thanks for the info Chris.

Rothrandir · #6 07-13-2003, 09:24 AM

just shove it in an outlet [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif[/img]

Pellidon · #7 07-13-2003, 10:21 AM

Check it carefully for cracks. It looks like a prehistoric level switch with the mercury gone out.

But it probably is some kind of neon light. If you have a static electric generator like those orbs from the 1980's that had the tendrils of plasma that followed your fingers you might excite the gas inside safely and get it to glow if they are strong enough. One of those electric personal safety devices (stun stick) might excite the gas better. Just don't hold it in your hand. Or have Roth hold it. [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img]

Rothrandir · #8 07-13-2003, 10:34 AM

[img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/twak.gif[/img]

Zelandeth · #9 07-13-2003, 04:46 PM

Heh, never thought of that one. Plasma globe should do just fine - if I can find the plug for it in this mess under the desk.

The_LED_Museum · #10 07-15-2003, 10:36 PM

[ QUOTE ]
Zelandeth said:
Thanks for the suggestion Craig! Wouldn't have thought of that one. (on the same note, you want one? Then you could try that trick woth the christmas light, and come the day you have time, stick it on the misc glowing things page of the site. I just found another five of the suckers in the other drawer, and they're light enough to send places).

[/ QUOTE ]
I'd be more than happy to try one of these. And I'd be more than happy to add it to my site as time permits. [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img] [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img] [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img]

If my mouse holds up, I'll PM you with my address; otherwise just go to the bottom of any flashlight page on my site and get it that way. [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img]

Zelandeth · #11 07-17-2003, 05:05 PM

Yep, I spend enough time at your site to know the address is there! Actually have got it scribbled on the "useful info" page in my notepad in case I find anything worthy of the Museum pages - as given the amount of time I spend cannibalising old equipment for parts, and people giving me bits and pieces I might someday.

Should be able to get it (and anything else that I decide to add) sent before the end of the week.

Later,

Zel.

Zelandeth · #12 07-18-2003, 05:01 PM

Just been messing around with one of these, and found that the christmas bulb trick does work. (Okay, I used a 7W nightlight bulb, but it worked all the same). Makes a good random flasher as well! Will get some pics up once I figure out what on earth is going on with my server.

Ray_of_Light · #13 08-18-2003, 12:29 PM

It is a fluorescent tube starter! It could also be a test for the grade of flashaholism...

Anthony

Zelandeth · #14 08-19-2003, 07:02 PM

Hehe, there's an idea. Get a collection of odd glowing things together and see how many can be identified.

Think I'll actually go and get a video of that christmas/nightlight bulb trick. Will put it up on my site at some point in the near future.

electronics4life · #15 09-23-2003, 11:54 PM

[ QUOTE ]
TheProphet said:
It is a fluorescent tube starter! It could also be a test for the grade of flashaholism...

Anthony

[/ QUOTE ]

Doesn't look like any starters I've ever seen... I'm only used to the FS2,4,5 variety. Their insides look more like christmas bulbs.

Double_A · #16 09-28-2003, 11:15 PM

This reminds me of a web site I found a about 4 or 5 years ago and have long lost it's url.

Anyway, this site had pictures of unidentified electronics and mechanical devices people were asked to try to identify them.

I believe the site was owned by a gent in the electronics surplus business.

A ton of curious oddities were posted.

GregR