Compact Fluorescent Lamp - switch on current ? - sci.electronics.repair

Message from discussion Compact Fluorescent Lamp - switch on current ?

Peter Dettmann

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More options Jul 25, 4:28 am

Newsgroups: sci.electronics.repair

From: Peter Dettmann <pe...@aardvark.net.au>

Date: Fri, 25 Jul 2008 09:28:35 +1000

Local: Fri, Jul 25 2008 4:28 am

Subject: Re: Compact Fluorescent Lamp - switch on current ?

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On Thu, 24 Jul 2008 16:23:51 +0100, "N_Cook" <dive...@tcp.co.uk>
wrote:

>15W filament lamp controlled by a tiny reed relay, on for a total of a
>couple of hours a day. Been in use for 20 years or so. Decided to replace
>the working 15 filament one with a 11W CFL but on first switch on, the
>contacts ,presumably only 0.5A rating or so, held on at switch off.

>A slight tap releases them but of course no good with continued CFL use
>unless uprating the relay. Previously stuck contacts occured 10 years or so
>back when the first 15W bulb blew, plasma arc current at failing switch-on
>presumably.

>What is the switch on current of CFLs compared to conventional just out of
>interest ?

Only proerly designed "power reed" contacts are suitable, a the normal
reeds are not any good for currents at amp levels. Having said
that, most CFL's have a limiting resistor input, so the input will not
be more than a few amps.

Peter

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