Open Source Electronic Ballast - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: ResR
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: July 06, 2013, 12:00:10 pm
content: Is there any open source schematic for a 2x36W T8 fluorescent lamp electronic ballast? I have a lot of improving ideas, including higher voltage capacitors and bigger heatsinks for 1300x transistors, but i'm little bit worried for getting sued by reverse engineering bad ballast and improving that to make it better. I have seen and taken apart a lot of ballast from all sort of companies where the main capacitor is overvolted, like 385VDC on a 250VDC electrolytic capacitor and t8 bulbs outlived the ballast almost all the time.

author: ddavidebor
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 06, 2013, 12:43:48 pm
content: Sincerely, R.E. Some ballast, next kill them, next found what is dead and inprove it.I think is the easiest way to do it

author: ResR
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: July 06, 2013, 01:48:36 pm
content: Luckily I have one specimen from Far East Electronics to play withBad or overvolted caps at the power source side plus one creepage problem already solved by scraping it off and replacing with 500V 22AWG isolated wire from broken tape recorder. My brother thought it was illegal to R.E. the ballast like that.

author: Unknown
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: July 06, 2013, 02:46:23 pm
content: I love how the silkscreen for the capacitors looks like the astrological symbol for "woman", or "venus".

author: peter.mitchell
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 07, 2013, 08:11:17 am
content: Quote from: duskglow on July 06, 2013, 02:46:23 pm"Theres yer prawblem"

author: westfw
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 27, 2013, 05:08:15 am
content: Chip vendors like International Rectifier will have a bunch of "reference designs":http://www.irf.com/technical-info/refdesigns/lightingkits.htmlYou'll have to figure out what different between a CFL, TL5, T8 or T12 ballast, though. Physics wise, I'd think a 32W ballast designed for a filament-start fluorescent bulb wouldn't care if it were skinny, fat, spiral, or straight. But the app notes are frightfully specific.

author: NiHaoMike
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 17, 2013, 02:52:45 am
content: Linear also has a bunch of app notes on fluorescent lamp inverters. Sadly, fluorescents are slowly on their way out, being replaced with LEDs.

author: HackedFridgeMagnet
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 17, 2013, 03:02:55 am
content: That's a shame Diligent, seems like an interesting tale, is it possible to elaborate? The idea was obviously good, was the patent any good? Why did it expire?

author: ResR
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: September 18, 2013, 07:15:06 pm
content: Investors got greedy, that's a shame, looked like well thought circuit. Thanks for sharing your experience, DilligentMinds.Fluorescent light bulbs are phased out by LED's already, some of the blame can be pointed at manufacturers, who try to minimize the mercury content of the tube, thus making it less reliable and more prone to mercury starvation. Not to mention the shame of the CFL and methods of how it was forced on makes people more resistance to fluorescent lighting in general and LED is way to show it.

author: poorchava
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 23, 2013, 11:00:25 am
content: You're in eastern EU, US patent law doesn't reach there. Do as you pleaseNobody's going to sue you

author: seoiot123,
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: November 20, 2013, 11:15:02 am
content: You'll have to figure out what different between a CFL, TL5, T8 or T12 ballast, though. Physics wise, I'd think a 32W ballast designed for a filament-start fluorescent bulb wouldn't care if it were skinny, fat, spiral, or straight. But the app notes are frightfully specific.