HIGH OUTPUT OPERATING APPARATUS FOR A FLUORESCENT LAMP

摘要

A high output operating circuit for a fluorescent lamp includes, in one embodiment, a magnetic circuit formed by confronting E-cores and having a pair of outer legs and a center leg. A pair of lamp current control windings are wound on the outer legs, and a cathode preheating compensation winding and a pair of cathode heating windings are wound on the center leg. The flux from the current control windings are in opposition in the center leg. The compensation winding is connected across the lamp between the cathodes by a glow starter. During preheating, the glow starter is closed, and the flux from the compensation winding superposed in the center leg provides optimum cathode preheating. When the lamp is operating, the glow starter is open, and the opposed flux in the center leg provides optimum cathode heating.