Circuit for operating low pressure discharge lamps with a low voltage source

摘要

A circuit arrangement to drive a low pressure discharge lamp from a low voltage source is designed as a single-ended blocking oscillator possessing a transistor and a transformer. The primary winding is in series with the switching path of the transistor. There are two secondary windings, one serving to trigger the transistor's control electrode. One terminal of the primary is connected to one terminal of the same secondary winding. The other primary terminal is connected via a lamp electrode subject to a preheat voltage and via a diode to the other terminal of the secondary. Two other arrangements with different connections of the primary and secondaries are given.