How Fluorescent Lights Work
When you use fluorescent lighting you are conserving energy and the bonus is you help the planet, but there are other benefits from using them instead of incandescent light bulbs. They also do cost more initially but in a short time(3-12months) you will see that they pay for themselves as your electric bill will show an with the newer generation of them the “yellow glow” has been eliminated, don’t flicker and light up quickly.
It is important to know how fluorescent lights work and basically they are made up of a glass tube which is sealed with a phosphor powder covering on the inside walls of the glass tube. The tube also has an electrode located on each end and those electrodes have wires that form an electrical circuit. This is then connected to the AC power supply source.
After the fluorescent lamp is turned on, current will flow through the electrical circuit to the pair of electrodes. The electrons will then start to move through the gas from one end of the tube to the other. Some mercury that is inside the tube then turns from its liquid form into its gaseous state. Electrons and ions move along the tube and as they do so crash into gaseous mercury atoms, which in turn leads to an increase of energy for the atoms’ electrons. As the electrons return to their original energy level light photons are emitted.
However, that process does not always work as it should and if you experience that happening then the following steps will help you to find the problem and solve it.
Step 1: Make sure that the lighting fixture is powered. Check the switch to ensure that it’s on, and also examine the breaker to verify that the area isn’t tripped.
Step 2: Check to see that none of the fluorescent light bulbs are broken, and if still not working, replace the bulbs. When that is done turn on the switch to make sure it is working.
If a multi-bulb fixture has a bulb that is out then you will have to replace all of the them, because replacing just one means that they will be worn out at different rates and that puts unnecessary strain on the newest bulb.
Step 3: Check the light bulb sockets. Examine for breaks that you can see, such as cracks. These can break for a variety of reasons, such as overheating. If the socket is broken then you should consider purchasing a new fixture.
Step 4: The fixtures power needs to be tested with a circuit tester, which your local hardware store will have if you don’t.
Step 5: Replace the ballast if the cost is worthwhile. In other words, if cost is lower than replacing the entire fixture, then replace the ballast. It’s fairly easy if you have some basic knowledge about electrical components.
Fluorescent light fixtures are a good investment, but nonetheless you still will need to perform minor maintenance jobs on them. The above mentioned steps are easy to do and will ensure that you don’t stay in the dark for a long time.
When considering a lighting upgrade for Brodwax Lighting, stop over to this site from Brodwax with more stuff about fluorescent lighting fixtures.
Posted on September 14, 2009
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