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PeLu said:
I remember that time we discussed the use of CCFL lamps there efficiency was pretty poor, the smaller ones even lower than halogen bulbs (especially halogen bulbs with an Willie LVR). So I'm somewhat puzzled reading form NewBie
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The Cold Cathode Fluorescent Lamps I have used typically run from 75-90 lm/w.
[/ QUOTE ] Doug, you probably remember that several cavers wanted to use this CCFL as a caving light and we told them not to do it.
A completly other story are the HCFL. IIRC, I made my first one with a 4W tube somewhen in the 70ies, the circuit for it was published 1970 in Elektor (famous Dutch electronics magazine). I think, I used a germanium AD130 for better efficiency.
Unfortunately I was never able to get one of your 'Awesome Lights' (was it the name?), but there was also the NevTec I almost bought. It was a little bit compareable with your light.
The main problems always were that the smaller tubes have/had lower efficiency and it dropped at lower temp. And many implemantations were fragile.
Sorry for digressing.
NewBie wrote further:
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An interesting company for CCFL bulbs is
http://www.lcdl.com/ultrabrite4_1.html
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I bet these are not CCFL tubes (but I may loose here .-)
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The ones in the picture are HCFL, you can see this by the dual wires on each end, to supply power to the filaments. They also make them in CCFL, and even serpentine. I've used them before (over 20,000 of them).
BTW, you'll find LCDL's bulbs used here:
- Airbus Corporation
- Applied Display Technology
- Astronautics Corporation
- BAE Systems
- Barco View
- B/E Aerospace
- Boeing
- Bruce Industries
- Eaton Corporation
- Elbit Systems Ltd.
- General Dynamics
- Goodrich Avionics
- Honeywell International
- Interstate Electronics
- Kaiser Electronics
- Korry Electronics
- Lowrance
- L-3 Communications
- Meggitt Avionics
- Northrup Grumman
- Parker-Hannifin
- Rockwell Collins
- Rogerson Kratos
- Thales (Sextant)
- Smiths Industries
- Symbolic Displays
- UPS Aviation Technologies
- Universal Avionics Systems Corporation
- White Electronic Designs Company
Commercial Aircraft:
- MD-11
- MD-90
- MD-900
- B-727
- B-737
- B-767
- B-777
Military Fighter Aircraft:
- F-15
- F-16
- F-18E/F
- F-22
- F-111
- EFA-2000
Military Cargo Aircraft:
- P-3
- KC-135
- C-130H
- C-130J
- C-141
Helicopters:
- Bell 412 / 430
- CH-46
- CH-47
- AH-64D
- RAH-66
Army Ground Vehicles:
- Bradley Fighting Vehicle (M2-A3)
Space Shuttle:
- Flight Deck Displays
I've also used these HCFL, which are based off the Candescent and Winsdor lamps:
80W @ 10,000 footLamberts (34260 nits)
http://www.thomaselectronics.com/avionics/10f024_overview.php
FYI, they also do a number of custom sized units, as well as a CCFL version.
Another flat lamp is made by OSRAM/Philips/Sylvannia, but it has some drawbacks (and advantages). The PLANON source generates light using a xenon excimer discharge. The efficacy of PLANON systems is currently on the order of 24-28 lumens per watt (lpw). Long life ? 100,000 hours
http://www.sylvania.com/press/05302001b7.html
http://www.sylvania.com/business/planon/
http://www.sylvania.com/business/news/pdfs/planon_tec.pdf
Also, PeLu:
Take a look at this app. note. I've seen a good 25% loss in the "reflector" interacting with the electrical, and another 20% loss in the inverter, that could be dialed out.
http://www.linear.com/pdf/an65f.pdf
Interesting, here are some really odd looking CCFLs rated for 70.7 lm/W.
http://www.nationalcathode.com/