STARTER FOR GAS DISCHARGE LAMPS, IN PARTICULAR MOTOR-VEHICULE LIGHTS

摘要

The starter proposed includes a transformer (17) from whose secondary voltage the gas discharge strike voltage is produced and to whose primary coil is fed an alternating current produced from a d.c. supply. Used to generate this alternating current is a closed circuit made up of a capacitor (14), to which a charging current is fed, plus the primary coil of the transformer and a spark gap (16), breakdown of the spark gap (16) occuring at a predetermined capacitor charge level. This design provides a simple, inexpensive and space-saving device for the generation of the voltage necessary to operate the transformer (17), the spark gap being reliable and usable even at relatively high temperatures.