Need CCFL help!

[Timothybil]

I have the (apparently discontinued) red Energizer with the LED main beam and CCFL along one side. I got it because I really like the CCFL as a small area light. Lately, it has been exhibiting some really weird behavior - the main LED will come on whenever it is switched on, but the CCFL will either not come on at all or light up a minute or two after being switched on. I have tried changing batteries but no difference. Any ideas what may be going on here? It doesn't get used much since it is mainly an emergency preparedness light. I have my trusty G2 and Microstream for EDCs and general use.

Any help appreciated!

 

[roadie]

is the following yr light ??? CFL420WBE ??


it might be time to change a new fluorescent tude ...

 

[Timothybil]

That's the one. Did Energizer dump the Weather Radio line? I didn't see any on their website yesterday before I posted.

I don't know about a new tube. When it does come on it doesn't flicker or anything, and seems to be as bright as it always was. I am tempted to get some tuner cleaner and work on the switch, if I could find some way to get at it.

 

[Lynx_Arc]

The tubes are rated something like 10k hours and if not blackened on the ends bad is probably fine. All the energizer CCFL lights can be finicky at times when they haven't been used for months. I have found most of the time taking the battery cover off and putting it back on and flipping the switch off/on a few times gets them going again. It is a slight hassle but the light output quality rivals LED lights IMO on the tubes. I am thinking the CCFL has a higher surge current to ignite the tubes and there gets to be a slight corrosion on the terminals inside the light perhaps. I haven't figured it out really.

 

[Lynx_Arc]

That's the one. Did Energizer dump the Weather Radio line? I didn't see any on their website yesterday before I posted.

I don't know about a new tube. When it does come on it doesn't flicker or anything, and seems to be as bright as it always was. I am tempted to get some tuner cleaner and work on the switch, if I could find some way to get at it.

The tubes are not replaceable and neither are they serviceable. I tore a red doublebright apart and put the tube/ballast in a 4AA incan lantern and made a mini fluorescent lantern out of it awhile back that I still love to use. 6 hours of wonderful flood off LSD nimh. The lantern has 4 5mm LEDs for lower power level usage, a red blinking findme light and a multicolor flashing light feature

 

[PhotonWrangler]

Jameco carries a few sizes of tiny CCFL lamps.