Starter for low-pressure fluorescent lamp - has PTC resistor connected to bimetal contacts and to extra contact

摘要

The starter has an extra electrode (4) connected to one end of a PTC resistor (3). Bimetal contacts (1,2) are connected to the other end of the PTC resistor so that the voltage drop across the PTC resistor produced by this resistor's heating up when starting is taking a long time causes a glow discharge between the extra electrode and the closed bimetal electrode. The latter then remains closed or only opens infrequently. A diode (5) in parallel with a resistor (6) is connected into one of the leads to the electrodes of the bimetal contacts.