From: Istvan Bibo (bibo969@hotmail.com)
Date: 06/22/01-07:03:24 AM Z
>From: "G.Penate" <penate@home.com>
>Reply-To: alt-photo-process-l@sask.usask.ca
>To: alt-photo-process-l@sask.usask.ca
>Subject: Re: BL bulbs that usually has a problem "coming alive
>Date: Thu, 21 Jun 2001 08:21:51 -0400
>
>
>----- Original Message -----
>From: "Dave Rose" <photo@wir.net>
>
>
> > FWIW - When I built my custom-made light box I used eight 24" BL tubes
>and
> > four ballasts. A large piece of sheet metal (painted flat white) is
>affixed
> > immediately behind the tubes. This metal is grounded. Without it, the
> > light box will not work. With it, no problems! Why? I don't know, I
>can't
> > explain it.
>
>The grounded metal close to the tubes provides an electrical path with less
>"resistance", this helps the lamp start by ionizing the gas in the lamp,
>once the lamp is going, that grounded metal is not really needed.
>
>The electrons of the gas inside the tubes resist to get ionized (charged
>electrically) and therefore moving from one filament at the end of the tube
>to the other filament at the opposite end. The ballast/starter combination
>is not quite enough to take the gas out of its "rest electrical inertia"
>easily. Anything that is connected to earth (grounded) and in close
>proximity of the tube (sheet of metal, your hand or usually the same box in
>which the tubes are installed) will help to start the gas ionization
>process, once it is going, the ballast/starter becomes more than capable to
>keep it going without any help, until the lamp is turned off and the gas
>electrons get "lazy" once again.
>
>Guillermo
>
Hi Everybody,
This was a very useful thread to me, because I also have been having the
problem of getting my BL bulbs started. I took the mystical behaviour of my
bulbs as natural and thought the only thing I can do is to hope very
intensively that after switching them on and off for couple of times all
four will light up finally. Now I am wise an educated. I just wonder why
this seemingly common problem has not come to surface on this List so far?
Anyway,thanks to the contributors.
Istvan Bibo
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