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Energy saving lamps - detailed information. How does a modern energy-saving lamp work?

Hello! Now in everyday life energy-saving lamps began to gain increasing popularity among simple lamps incandescent All this, of course, is caused primarily by economic reasons.

Nobody wants to pay extra money for electricity. And an energy-saving lamp allows you to get a much higher luminous flux for the same unit of consumed electrical energy as an incandescent lamp, but with less power consumption.

An energy-saving lamp consists of two main parts: a gas-discharge bulb and a ballast.
The gas discharge flask is made in various shapes (U-shaped, spiral). The inside of the flask is coated with a phosphor; two spirals are soldered into the ends of the flask.
The ballast is made of semiconductor elements and is pulse converter AC voltage 220 volts to AC voltage about 400 volts.

The diagram of an energy-saving lamp is shown in the figure below.

Operating principle of an energy-saving lamp

As mentioned above, an energy-saving economy lamp has a bulb with spirals soldered at both ends. They are coated with a special oxide layer. This layer is needed to create thermoelectrode emission.

When supply voltage is applied to the coils, they begin to heat up due to the current flowing through them. When the coils are heated to certain temperature they begin to emit electrons. This process is called thermoelectrode emission. The bulb of an economy lamp is filled with mercury vapor. Electrons colliding with mercury atoms result in the formation of invisible ultraviolet radiation. When the phosphor is exposed to ultraviolet radiation, it causes a bright glow in the already visible spectrum for the human eye, and we see the bright glow of the bulb of an energy-saving lamp.

As mentioned above, alternating voltage is used to power the lamp. Why not permanent? This is done in order to increase the life of the lamp. When the lamp is powered with constant voltage, the following occurs. In the flask, electrons will move from one spiral to another, since one electrode will be the cathode and the other the anode. The anode will be constantly bombarded by a flow of electrons and will become very hot. In this case, the oxide layer deposited on the spiral will inevitably be destroyed.

The oxide layer on the spiral significantly reduces the resistance of the electrode, and if it is destroyed, its resistance will be several times greater. This in turn will lead to a decrease in the number of emitted electrons and a decrease in the luminous flux of the lamp. This will also lead to failure of the electronic ballast.

Therefore, the use of alternating voltage significantly increases the service life of the lamp electrodes.
When the electrodes are destroyed, the energy-saving lamp begins to start up with the electrodes flickering, the luminous flux increases and after a while it burns out. This is the final result of any energy-saving lamp.

Repair of energy saving lamp

Repair of an energy-saving lamp is carried out if there are spare parts or burnt-out donors, from which we can extract serviceable elements.

All you need to do is read carefully of this material and applying the information obtained in practice. You can also use the insides of an energy-saving lamp in some other homemade products.

Malfunctions of energy-saving lamps are divided into two categories:
1. Electronic ballast burns out
2. The filament filaments burn out (most often one)

Before starting repairs, you need to find out the cause of the lamp malfunction. To do this, we need to disassemble the housing of the economy light bulb. The photo below shows the places where you need to pry with a screwdriver.


The lamp will then look like this.


Disconnect the four wires on the board coming from the bulb, as shown in the photo.

Cut off the two power wires that go to the lamp base.

Using digital pliers, we will ring the spirals of the bulb of an energy-saving lamp.

If at least one filament coil burns out, the flask can be discarded. Nothing can be done with it anymore. The lamp starting circuit must be working properly.

If the spirals on the flask are intact, then put the flask to the side while waiting for the donor lamp with a faulty flask.

Inspect the electrical circuit carefully, pay attention to the condition of the elements. Are there any burnt or scorched parts? Often the output transistor of the converter, diode bridge, electrolytic capacitor. Purchase new parts from a radio parts store to replace the burnt ones. If the markings are not visible, disassemble the work lamp if present and write down their markings.

The main reasons for the rapid failure of energy-saving lamps

First of all, this is primarily poor-quality assembly of the lamp, the use of low-quality radio components by the lamp manufacturer, as well as the absence of some parts on the printed circuit board.

The second factor is systematic overheating of the lamp components as a result of poor cooling.

Lifespan of an energy-saving lamp

The service life depends on the quality of the lamp and the frequency of switching on and off. Some manufacturers claim a service life of up to 7000 hours. In practice this time is much lower. Mostly, lamps of average quality burn out within six months.

How to increase the service life of an energy-saving lamp

To increase the service life of an energy-saving lamp, it is proposed to make some modifications to the lamp. It consists of installing an NTC thermistor bulb in series with the filament coil and making ventilation holes in the plastic housing of the lamp base.

The thermistor ensures that the lamp's inrush current is limited and prevents the filament from burning out.

Holes in the base improve operating temperature electronic circuit due to incoming air.

Upgrading an energy-saving lamp

To open the lamp, unsolder the wire on the base, as shown in the photo below

Bend the edge of the base where the wire is pressed

Divide the lamp body into two parts. Inside there will be an electronic ballast board.

We will need an NTC thermistor with a resistance of 20 to 40 Ohms.

This is the resistance of the cold thermistor. When heated, its resistance decreases greatly and it does not affect the operation of the lamp.

The thermistor is connected to the filament break.

It gets hot during operation, so do not install it near ballast.

Before assembling the case, make ventilation holes in it in a circle.

They will improve the operating temperature of the ballast elements and lamp bulb. But you should not use this lamp in places of high humidity. That's all for me. Good luck with your renovation!


In the context of the ever-increasing price of electricity, we strive to save money and at the same time use normal lighting that does not hurt the eyes, is bright enough and does not cause irritation. That is why energy-efficient devices are the best solution for those who want to use high-quality light economically. From this material you will learn which lamps are the most energy-saving, what types currently exist, the better a particular type is, and whether their cost is really fully worth it.

Energy saving lamps: which ones are better

To understand which lamps are the most energy-saving, let’s compare them with the usual incandescent light bulbs that are already familiar to us all, or, as they were also called, “Ilyich light bulbs.” By purchasing one such device, in just a month you will understand how profitable it is, how pleasing to the eye and how economical it is. Compared to a conventional incandescent lamp they:

  1. They consume less energy but give the same light output. That is, the efficiency is of this device much higher. Unlike an incandescent light bulb, which produces an efficiency of no more than 18–20%, such a product achieves maximum performance of no less than 70–80%. Speaking more in simple language, out of every hundred watts, an ordinary lamp, working at full power and heating the spiral, produces only eighteen to twenty percent of the light.
  2. They last longer and have a longer warranty period. Any store that sells energy-saving light bulbs will provide you with a guarantee. certain period services. In some varieties it can be about twenty years. Considering how often ordinary lamps burn out, this is very beneficial, because the burnt energy saving device you can always replace it under warranty.
  3. Quite safe. All energy-saving lamps (except the halogen type) do not have direct contact connections, while the Ilyich light bulb has all contacts connected by a spiral. Therefore, in this case, a short circuit is practically impossible.
  4. They do not carry such a load on the general apartment network as conventional ones. This is also one of the safety indicators; thanks to the non-overloaded network, other household appliances will not be affected.
To understand which products are better, it is worth considering the standard comparison table for energy-saving lamps. It compares light bulbs in terms of heating, power, anti-vandalism, luminous flux, service life and economic benefits. A comparison of energy-saving lamps with conventional lamps clearly speaks in favor of the former. And if you overpay when purchasing, you definitely save when using it.


If we consider all these devices regarding their effect on human vision, energy-saving lamps, incandescent lamps, daylight, then they all flicker with a certain periodicity during their operation. This is due to the way the electron pulse passes through them. This is not noticeable to the naked eye, but upon detailed study, scientists discovered that:
  • The cold spectrum affects vision more than usual and because of this, the retina is destroyed.
  • Brightness and increased flicker in fluorescent lamps affect the brain and the stability of the nerve ganglia. People who work in an office with such lighting are 30 times more likely to seek help from psychoanalysts.
  • According to the latest data from ophthalmologists, the optimal brightness is considered to be 2700–3100 K. This is good for both the living room and the children's room. Therefore, when choosing a light bulb, take this into account.
  • If the lamp is located opposite the mirror, it affects vision an order of magnitude higher. It is best to install energy-saving light bulbs near mirror surfaces and glass doors. By paying attention to your appearance, putting yourself in order before going out to the store or for a walk, your eyes and brain will not be so tired.
When comparing economical light bulbs with each other, it is worth paying attention Special attention heating. Your LED device will hardly heat up, the luminescent one will become warm, and you can even burn your fingers on the halogen one. In terms of warranty service life, they are also very different from each other, and if the halogen one will work for 2000 hours, then the LED one is ready to provide its factory warranty for at least 50 thousand hours.

If we talk in more detail about what they are and what they are, then let's move on to the next point of our material.

What types of energy-saving lamps are there?


By definition, an energy-efficient lamp is a special device for uniform light distribution, powered by electricity. In comparison with its analogues, this product has increased level light output and significantly saves electricity.

Such economical devices are linear (LL) and compact (CFL). They all contain mercury and LED substances. Common feature Linear and compact fluorescent lamps can result in significant savings in electrical energy consumption. And at the same time, they fill the space with much more light than conventional incandescent lamps. The latter are gradually falling out of use, as many countries around the world have recently set a course for the operation of energy-efficient devices due to their overall safety and cost-effectiveness.

Which lamps are energy-saving?


Energy-saving fluorescent lamps include compact and linear lamps, which differ from each other in technical indicators and functions. Let's take a closer look at them to understand which energy-saving lamps are better for the home:
  1. CFL (compact fluorescent lamps) It is characterized by an arched shape, which allows it to be placed in small lamps. They are almost always used at home, being an optimal replacement for conventional incandescent lamps. They are often included in the package of non-standard lighting fixtures. Such a light bulb contains inert gases (argon and neon, known to many), as well as mercury vapor. The outer casing is finished with phosphor. Due to the collision of electrons with mercury components, outwardly imperceptible UV radiation is released, which turns into scattered light (this is facilitated by the phosphor coating). Compact lamps consist of three parts: a base for connecting to the mains, an electronic control device for igniting and maintaining the light bulb. It makes the transition from a 220 W power supply to that required for stable operation of the lamp without flickering. The third component of the device is the bulb, which is the outer shell of the lamp. Due to the differences in these elements, the type of CFL is also determined: for example, by the color of the radiation, the features of the base (there are 2D categories, often installed in shower stalls, E27 - for a regular cartridge, E14 - for a smaller cartridge, E40 - for a large cartridge).
  2. Linear fluorescent lamps (LFL) They can be circular, straight, or a specific U-variation. Straight-line devices have the shape of long glass tubes, at the ends of which there are glass legs, where, in turn, electrodes are fixed. There is a phosphor coating on the inner surface of the lamp, and the tube cavity itself is filled with inert gases and mercury. The safety of people from the harmful evaporation of mercury is guaranteed by hermetically sealing the lamp. Linear lamps differ in terms of the diameter and length of the tube, and the width of the base element. As a rule, the larger the dimensions of the LL, the greater the electricity consumption. Often, such luminaires are used in manufacturing plants and enterprises, in offices and places of public importance. Compact fluorescent lamps have become most popular among consumers, and their linear alternative is slowly going out of production.

Proven benefits of energy efficient lamps


Summarizing all of the above, I would like to emphasize that the use of energy-saving lighting devices in everyday life or at work has many advantages, among which the following are especially noticeable:
  1. According to manufacturers of lighting devices, the use of energy-saving lamps can reduce electricity costs by up to 80%. The luminous flux of these devices is much higher than that of conventional incandescent lamps.
  2. Energy efficient lamps have a long service life. This is more than 10 times longer than ordinary light bulbs last. So long time work is also a big plus for placing energy-saving lamps in places where frequent changes of light bulbs are very difficult (on high ceilings, between flights of stairs, etc.).
  3. Produce less heat compared to conventional lamps. Due to this, it is advisable to install small CFLs with a high power rating, especially in complex designs: sconces, chandeliers and twisted forms of lamps. Economical lamps will not melt the wires and plastic elements of the socket, which sometimes happens when using ordinary lamps.
  4. The light from energy-saving lamps is much healthier for vision because it is distributed evenly. A uniform glow is obtained due to the design of the lamp: the area of ​​​​their body is larger than that of the spiral of conventional light bulbs.
  5. A choice of different color temperatures is possible. 2700K lamps give White color, 6400K - cold whiteness, 4200K - daylight. The specified data is measured on the Kelvin scale.
When choosing an energy-saving light bulb, you need to not only look at all the indicators and price, but also pay attention to the manufacturer, how reliably the base is made and the quality of the glass in the product. Only if you are satisfied with the whole set of factors, the product is worth buying. Otherwise, you may well be uncomfortable with such lighting; the lamp may quickly fail, cause a short circuit throughout the apartment, or turn out to be not as economical as you would like.

For more information about choosing energy-saving lamps, watch the video:

The design of an energy-saving lamp depends on the specific type of light source. In most cases, compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs) equipped with a threaded base and characterized by a power of 7 W and above are called energy-saving.

Their popularity compared to linear products is due to their compactness, the presence of a standard base (E27 or E14 for night lamps) and the absence of the need for ballasts (ballasts).

Types of energy saving lamps

There are several criteria by which energy-saving lamps are classified. The most common of them are base and glow temperature.

A socket is an element used to fix the product in a lighting fixture and supply electricity. Its main types are threaded and pin.

Most often in the domestic sphere, threaded sockets are used, screwed into ordinary cartridges. They are designated by the letter E and a numerical value indicating the diameter in millimeters. E27 is considered standard, while E14 is used in table lamps or sconces. And yet, threaded sockets are more often installed in DRL and sodium lamps intended for street lighting.

The pin type is used for specific luminaires. They are available with two or four pins, and the connectors themselves are marked with the letter G and a numerical value. Relevant for powerful lighting devices.

Depending on the glow temperature, an energy-saving lamp emits light of a certain shade (measured in Kelvin):

  1. Warm light (yellow) - 2700 K. The shade is similar to the glow of conventional lamps (incandescent).
  2. Natural white light - 4200 K. Fluorescent lamps, neutral shade.
  3. Cold light (white) - 6400 K. Close to the blue spectrum, therefore it is characterized by a bluish tint. Typically used in industrial facilities in lamps of 65 W and above.

Energy-saving lamps also come in different shapes - tubular, spiral, arc-shaped. In the first case, there are no protective elements.

Operating principle and design of an energy-saving lamp

The CFL consists of a hollow type glass bulb, inner part which is filled with mercury vapor. When submitting electric current an arc discharge is formed between the electrodes, associated with starting capacitor. Due to this, ultraviolet radiation is formed, the spectrum of which is invisible to the human eye. To convert the glow to visible light, the inner walls are coated with a phosphor, guaranteeing a bright glow. If compared with an incandescent lamp of the same energy consumption, the luminous efficiency will be significantly higher. The cost of the device depends on what the phosphor consists of.

The disadvantage of energy-saving lamps is the fact that they cannot be directly connected to a 220 V power supply. The mercury vapor present in them when turned off has high resistance, therefore, to form a discharge, a pulse with a high voltage is needed. After the discharge is formed, the resistance becomes negative. If there are no protective elements in the circuit, this will lead to a short circuit. In tubular devices, an electromagnetic ballast is used, installed directly in the lamp.

Components of the circuit

In addition to standard structural elements, such as a bulb and a base, an electronic circuit is hidden under the housing (electronic ballast - ballast). Not every “housekeeper” has it (for example, it is absent in CFLs). Today, ballasts remain the most reliable product for the operation of fluorescent lamps, the quality of which determines their service life.

The electronic circuit consists of the following components:

  • starting capacitor - generates a powerful impulse necessary to start the lamp;
  • filters - needed to eliminate radio frequency interference and electromagnetic radiation that enter the circuit along with the current (reduce flicker);
  • capacitive filter - an additional element that smoothes out the remaining ripples;
  • current limiting choke - to protect the circuit from high current (maintains the current at a given level);
  • bipolar transistors;
  • driver - to limit current;
  • fuse - prevents the lamp from failing, prevents the circuit from igniting during voltage surges.

How does ignition occur?

The voltage falling across the dinistor leads to the formation of a pulse that enters the transistor and leads to the opening of the element. As soon as the start is completed, the circuit is blocked by the diode bridge. At the moment the transistor opens, the capacitor is charged, which prevents the dinistor from opening again.

The transistor acts on a transformer made of a ferrite ring with three windings in several rows. Voltage is applied to the filaments through a resonant circuit and a capacitor.

As soon as a glow appears in the tube, it is characterized by a resonant frequency determined by a capacitive capacitor. When igniting, the voltage reaches 600 V (at the moment of starting, the value is 4–5 times higher than the average), so it is necessary to monitor the integrity and tightness of the bulb. If this is ignored, the transistors will be damaged.

When the gas in the flask is completely ionized, the capacitor with the largest capacity is bypassed. The frequency decreases, control passes to the second capacitor. The voltage is reduced to a value sufficient to maintain the lamp glow. The cathode and anode are swapped, which ensures uninterrupted operation of the electronic circuit and simplifies repairs if necessary.

How repairs are made

To find the cause of the malfunction, you should disassemble the lamp into its component parts. Detach the top and bottom parts and turn off the flask. Using an ohmmeter, check the filament coils on the bulb itself. If one of them burns out, repair the bulb. To complete the helix, use a 10 ohm high power resistor. In addition, remove the diode that shunts this spiral (if there is one in the circuit).

If a resistor burns out in lamps with a power exceeding 30 W (inclusive), there is a high probability of transistor failure, which is associated with a breakdown of the capacitor. To correct the situation, a new resistor is installed to act as a fuse, and the transistors are also replaced.

Modernization is also possible. Drill the holes necessary for ventilation in the base. Some models of energy-saving lamps are already produced with them, but there are unscrupulous manufacturers who do not think about cooling.

Important! Never use lamps with a drilled base in rooms with high level humidity. This can lead to failure of the capacitor or the entire device.

Conclusion

Before execution repair work think carefully: you can disassemble a fluorescent lamp only if you have necessary knowledge and work experience.

It is strictly forbidden to repair energy-saving lamps with damaged bulbs, because the tube contains mercury or other dangerous elements, and if depressurized, the product becomes extremely unsafe for human health.

The circuits are almost the same, regardless of the manufacturer. Differences may concern diodes and shunt coils, but if you know the design principles of one product, then you can figure out the rest without any problems.

The designation “energy saving lamp” (EL) refers more to compact fluorescent lamps with threaded base any power (7, 20 W and above). Due to their more compact dimensions, the standard Edison base in the design and the absence of the need to use a remote ballast, such light bulbs are more popular than linear designs of the same type.

Nuances of operation and device

It consists of several main components: built-in, gas-filled flask, base. The operating principle of EL is based on a phenomenon called luminescence. The inner surface of the flask is coated with phosphor. This substance may have a different composition, which will determine the quality of lighting and, accordingly, the intended purpose of the light source.

The design of such a lamp involves the presence of two electrodes that are installed in the tube. Under voltage, an arc discharge occurs between them. The flask contains a small concentration of mercury and an inert gas.

Thanks to this content, low-temperature plasma is formed, which is subsequently converted into UV radiation, invisible to the human eye. At this stage main role plays the phosphor with which the flask is coated from the inside. This substance absorbs ultraviolet radiation, resulting in the lamp producing visible light.

The circuit of an 11 W energy saving lamp is as follows:

In the figure you can see the supply circuits driving inductor L2, fuse F1, filter capacitor C4 and diode bridge (4 1N4007 diodes). The launch involves the dinistor and elements D1, C2, R6. Protective functions are implemented through elements R1, R3, D2, D3.

To turn on the lamp, it is necessary to ensure the opening of transistor Q2, which occurs with the help of R6, C2, as well as the dinistor: these elements form a pulse. Blocking of this section of the circuit is performed with the participation of diode D1. The transformer is excited by transistors. The voltage comes from the boost resonant circuit (L1, C3, C6, TR1).

Types of energy saving lamps

The choice of light source is made based on differences in shape, type of holder, and power. The brand of the product also plays a role. The most popular manufacturers: Navigator, Philips, General Electric, Osram.

The EL device can be different, which is determined by the type of base:

  • E14, E27, E40 – Edison socket, thanks to which a light source of this type can be installed instead of analogues with an incandescent filament;
  • pin holders (G53, 2 D, G23, G24Q1-G24Q3).

Based on color temperature, the following EL versions are distinguished:

  • with a warm white glow (2,700 K);
  • with cold light (6,400 K);
  • daylight source (4,200 K).

There are also different flasks: U-shaped, spiral-shaped, spherical and pear-shaped. Energy-saving light bulbs also differ in tube diameter: 7, 9, 12, 17 mm.

Technical characteristics overview

When choosing, you should take into account all the main parameters of light sources:

  1. Power (from 7 to 105 W). For home use, it is recommended to choose versions of no more than 20 W. The fact is that the luminous flux of EL directly depends on the power: what more value of this parameter, the brighter the light. For comparison, a 100 W incandescent lamp and a 20 W compact fluorescent lamp produce the same luminous flux.
  2. Base type. Selected based on features lighting fixture, in which the lamp will be installed.
  3. Flask shape. This parameter does not affect the quality of work.
  4. Colorful temperature. If the light source was chosen incorrectly, such light will cause discomfort regardless of the power (7, 20 W and above) and other parameters.

In addition, when choosing EL, you need to pay attention to the service life. On average, a lamp of this type operates for 6,000-12,000 hours.

Pros and cons of operation

The popularity of such light sources is due to a considerable number of advantages:

  • reduction in energy consumption (by 80%), respectively, a 20 W lamp works no less efficiently than an analogue with a 100 W incandescent filament;
  • longer working life;
  • low heating intensity;
  • uniform light;
  • wide choice of designs, different in color temperature.

The disadvantages include the relatively high cost, the presence of substances hazardous to health in the flask, reduced efficiency at low temperatures, negative impact on the mechanism of frequent switching operations.

Besides, electrical diagram This light source does not require the use of a dimmer.

Thus, energy-saving light bulbs are in many ways superior to other analogues (halogen and incandescent lamps). This is primarily due to lower electricity costs, since a 20 W light source can replace a 100 W incandescent filament option.

Compact fluorescent light bulbs also emit less thermal energy and are reliable and compact in size. The shape of the flask does not affect the efficiency of operation, except that the cost differs: spiral versions are offered at a higher price.

Energy-saving light bulbs (ESL) have become firmly established among modern consumers, as they have many advantages over outdated incandescent lamps. First of all, they allow you to save energy due to lower power, while the light output will be 4-5 times greater than that of the “Ilyich bulb”. Lighting devices of this type are a type of linear fluorescent lamps, but they are technically more advanced and have a compact form for installation in lamps. Let's look at how they are designed and how they work.

What does ESL consist of?

The device is quite simple. It consists of two main parts: a glass bulb and a body. These elements are connected to each other by special wires that are wound to four pins located in pairs at the edges of the board. On some models they may be soldered. An electronic circuit is installed in the housing; it is also called ballast.

A distinctive feature of compact fluorescent lighting devices is that they already have an electronic ballast; it does not have to be connected separately.

The housing, which houses all the electronics, can be made of infusible plastic or ceramic. It ends with a base or pins, with which the light bulb can be screwed into a socket or lamp. Modern ESLs are adapted for Russian users; they have the following bases:

  • E27 (standard Edison base with a diameter of 27 mm);
  • E14 (reduced minion base, mainly found in chandeliers, lamps, sconces);
  • E40 (large base with a diameter of 40 mm, which is most often used in industrial production).

To understand the principle of operation of an energy-saving lamp, you need to understand how each of its components works. Let's take a closer look internal structure device, features of its elements.

Glass flask

The tube of an energy-saving lamp is made of glass, so it is quite easy to break its integrity. Its inner layer is covered with a phosphor, this is a special coating that is responsible for the transformation of ultraviolet radiation into light visible to humans. The flask can have a variety of shapes:

  • U-shaped;
  • F-shaped;
  • spiral and many others.

By twisting the gas-discharge bulb, manufacturers were able to reduce the size of the lamp while maintaining acceptable light output parameters. It is sealed on both sides, all the air is pumped out of it, and a special inert gas (argon, xenon, creon, etc.) and mercury or its alloys are pumped inside.

At the edges of the tube there are incandescent spirals; they are covered with a layer of oxides, which is necessary to create thermoelectrode emission.

Housing design

The housing itself contains an electronic circuit that is responsible for starting the lamp and turning it off. The ballast is a pulse converter that turns an alternating voltage of 200 W into an alternating voltage of 440 W. The high-frequency converter in this type of lighting fixture eliminates flicker that occurs when an electromagnetic choke operates at a frequency of 50 Hz.

The circuit itself has a noise filter; it is necessary to eliminate interference in the power supply network when the light bulbs turn on and the voltage becomes higher than standard.

Also important element The ballast is a fuse; it is this that protects all electronics from burning out during power surges. In some devices, the fuse is replaced with a limiting resistor. The resistor has two outputs, one connected to the threaded contact of the base, and the second to the board itself.

Mechanism of action

Energy-saving lamps, the design and operating principle of which we are considering, do not flicker or make noise during operation, like their linear counterparts, since the electronic trigger circuit is already built into the device. Let's look at how the lighting device works.

When the converted voltage enters the filament coils, they begin to heat up. Due to the presence of an oxide layer on them, thermoelectrode emission occurs. A large number of electrons are produced in the flask, which collide with mercury atoms.

The process results in the formation of a low-temperature mercury amalgam, which produces ultraviolet radiation. However, a person cannot perceive these rays; they are converted into visible light by a phosphor, which is applied to the inner surface of the bulb.

It is worth noting that the cathode and anode in fluorescent lamp change places. If this did not happen, the anode would constantly overheat from a continuous flow of electrons, and this would very quickly destroy the oxide layer of the heating coil.

How to disassemble a lamp

The energy saving lamp is very easy to disassemble. All models have a similar mount. The bulb is connected to the body using special latches or glued. To separate the segments from each other, you need to find a thin joint on the plastic part and carefully insert a thin screwdriver or blade into it. Next you will see the wires with which the circuit is connected to the tube itself. These wires must be disconnected, sometimes they are simply wound, in which case you will need to remove the winding. If the wire is solid, you need to cut it, but only so that you can then reconnect it.

Disassembly is carried out to inspect the lamps and determine the reasons for their failure. This must be done with extreme caution so as not to damage the tube, as it contains mercury, which is hazardous to health.

In some cases, parts of the electronic circuit can be replaced, as well as filament coils. However, this should only be done by a qualified specialist who understands how the housekeeper works and what exactly is broken in it.

In conclusion

The principle of operation of energy-saving compact lamps is similar to the principle of operation of fluorescent linear lighting devices. However, the compact version has certain advantages. First of all, an electronic ballast is already built into it, the electronic ballast is equipped with high-quality parts that prevent flicker and noise during operation. Manufacturers also managed to significantly reduce the size of the lighting fixture by bending it into a spiral or arc.

Housekeepers have high efficiency and allow you to consume less electricity, but be careful with their use, there is mercury inside the gas discharge tube, so these products require special disposal.

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