Non bike electrical question

  • TexasKZ
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06 Jul 2024 14:08 #901832 by TexasKZ
Non bike electrical question was created by TexasKZ
I have this cheap little fluorescent light fixture that quit working. I opened it up and found this weirdness. As you can see there is a resistor and small light bulb wired inline between the transformer and switch . What the heck are these for?

 

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  • Scirocco
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06 Jul 2024 14:20 - 06 Jul 2024 14:29 #901833 by Scirocco
Replied by Scirocco on topic Non bike electrical question
It looks like a small inductiv coil with a ferrit core ( periodic element Fe = pure iron with no carbon) that excited the glow bulb.
Last edit: 06 Jul 2024 14:29 by Scirocco.

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  • Kelly E
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06 Jul 2024 15:08 #901836 by Kelly E
Replied by Kelly E on topic Non bike electrical question
We skip the florescent tube and replace them with LED tubes and junk the ballast for direct wire. It's way brighter and will use a fraction of the power. We wire in a 1 amp fuse for each pair of LED tubes.

My shop has ten 8' two tube florescent fixtures with two 4' two tube fixtures over tools plus two more 4' two tube fixtures for the wife's garage. We have converted all of them to LED tubes. The shop is much brighter now and the wife doesn't scream about the power bill anymore.

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06 Jul 2024 15:22 #901837 by TexasKZ
Replied by TexasKZ on topic Non bike electrical question
I have done several of those conversions and changed  a fair few bulbs, but never seen that setup before.

1982 KZ1000 LTD parts donor
1981 KZ1000 LTD awaiting resurrection
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06 Jul 2024 16:27 #901839 by urankjj
Replied by urankjj on topic Non bike electrical question
I would just cover it back up and call it good..

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  • gd4now
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06 Jul 2024 18:31 #901843 by gd4now
Replied by gd4now on topic Non bike electrical question
How old of a light is it? I think the little bulb is filled with a gas and works as a preheater so to speak and start the bulb glowing.

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  • slmjim+Z1BEBE
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07 Jul 2024 05:14 #901848 by slmjim+Z1BEBE
Replied by slmjim+Z1BEBE on topic Non bike electrical question

How old of a light is it? I think the little bulb is filled with a gas and works as a preheater so to speak and start the bulb glowing.
 
Have to concur with that.  The neon bulb & other components likely mimic the circuitry of the old-style two-pin 'can' starters that are easily replaced in older fluorescent fixtures.

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  • TexasKZ
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07 Jul 2024 06:13 #901850 by TexasKZ
Replied by TexasKZ on topic Non bike electrical question
It is an old fixture to be sure, but I do not know how old. That those two parts once performed the function of a can starter seems like a reasonable theory. I may look into converting to led, but I suspect the cost may well exceed a new fixture.

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07 Jul 2024 08:01 #901854 by Wookie58
Replied by Wookie58 on topic Non bike electrical question

It is an old fixture to be sure, but I do not know how old. That those two parts once performed the function of a can starter seems like a reasonable theory. I may look into converting to led, but I suspect the cost may well exceed a new fixture.
They aren't expensive at all (or don't have to be) I have the below in my shop which have been up for over 2 yeamrs without issue and they cost penny's to run

 

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