Pulse starter for T5

[BarraCudaTM]

T5 tubes requires a warm start ballast to warm the cathode ends before igniting the tube. Failure to do so will reduce the life of the tube drastically due to the thin cathode and rapid/instant start ballast will cause the phosphorus ends to burn out.

However T5 ballast is not cheap and getting the wattage required maybe difficult. Here's a electronic pulse starter that uses a warm start technology to ignite lamps.

[BarraCudaTM]

Here's a video clip of the pulse starter in operation.

Tube - Deltec deepocean 39watts

ballast - Atco ironcore ballast 40watts

starter - 4-125watts electronic pulsestarter

The pulse starter cost abt $14 and the ballast is about $4.

MOV01030.MPG

[BarraCudaTM]

The elbiru eballast is a instant start ballast that will ignite the tube on the first strike with a very high voltage thats why it can start without blinking. However this excessive voltage will burn the ends of the tube. If you look carefully in my videoclip, the tube is already damaged by the elbiru eballast. This same tube was on a elbiru eballast for abt 1month before I took it out.

[19percula]

thanks for the info

great news for pple who want to diy their own light

cheers

[BarraCudaTM]

Here's the wiring diagram

[KingFish]

Interesting ... I don't mind giving it a go.

Bawater will be jumping up and down when he reads this

Not too sure on electrical jargon, so bear with me.

Having witnessed an OSRAM+T5 in action, I observe that it uses a pre-heating sequence which actually light the entire T5 tube slightly before pushing it to full brightness.

This electronic pulse starter seem to light up the ends first and only before full brightness.

[boxfish]

Hi,

Where can I get the ballast and the starter?

if not convenient, pls PM me.

[boxfish]

btw, is there a ballast for 2 tubes? if not, then it will be 18*2....

and...does Osram T5 eballast work thee same way as elbiru (the one for PL?)

[BarraCudaTM]

Interesting ... I don't mind giving it a go.

Bawater will be jumping up and down when he reads this

Not too sure on electrical jargon, so bear with me.

Having witnessed an OSRAM+T5 in action, I observe that it uses a pre-heating sequence which actually light the entire T5 tube slightly before pushing it to full brightness.

This electronic pulse starter seem to light up the ends first and only before full brightness.

Not sure whether which method is better but here's my understanding.

In order to produce light, the mecury vapour needs to be "excited" enough to produce UV. What the osram eballast does maybe by striking the tube with a voltage surge, lowers the voltage and slowly ram it up.

This pulsestarter will provide a slowly increasing voltage to warm the cathode first before striking the tube 2secs later. You can see it clearly from videoclip.

I'm not really sure which method is the best but this is the best bang for $. This pulsestarter can be used on any FL, PL, T5 from 4watts to 125watts, just that you need to match the ballast with a suitable wattage.

[KingFish]

You got that right about the it being better value for money.

The principle of pre-heating sounds consistent, guess its just a difference in method of execution.

WM, PM me on where to get these ya? Thanks.

[Kenji80]

Can PM me where to get it 2?

Thanks

[FuEl]

Just wondering, would this help to lengthen the working life of such tubes if we were to use them to overdrive tubes?

[hammerhd]

pm me too thanks

[BarraCudaTM]

how many are interested for a bulk order? it will cost $15 each, some cents for my handling charges

Btw, this is made in england

[BarraCudaTM]

Just wondering, would this help to lengthen the working life of such tubes if we were to use them to overdrive tubes?

Yes, extend the useful life by reducing the darkening of ends and cathode damage.

[sinner]

barra how many would i need for my powerlux 3*39watts? or in the first instance can i replace them?

[BarraCudaTM]

barra how many would i need for my powerlux 3*39watts? or in the first instance can i replace them?

It doesnt make sense to use this pulsestarter to replace the T5 eballast. This pulsestarter will only work on normal ironcore ballast, mostly to reduce cost and extend tube life.

[sinner]

hi bara that means i can't use this neat gadget?

[BarraCudaTM]

hi bara that means i can't use this neat gadget?

not advisable and not cost effective lah .. maybe if yr ballast spoiled then you can consider using it.

[sinner]

thanks bara!

[patgohch]

Ok...I am a cheapo...here's what I did to get my T5.

1) Went to Rai*bow near Far*mart. Saw this small no frills light (T4, 16W). Nice slim plastic casing with cover (splahproof somemore...) but came with only Green colour tube. Bought it. $10.

2) Went to Lighting shop opposite Sim Lim Towers (cos Sinster don't have T5 tube that size mah...), found a T5 tube that fits into the light case! 16W! $8.

3) Went home and glued the whole thing on top of my tank hood (2ft). connected it. yes! my T5 tube. Used together with 2 x 55W PL tubes. Awesome...

Total spent = $18.

Apparently, you can connect 5 of these light in series and use all of then at one go.

Just want to share my happiness...

[BarraCudaTM]

what is the tube length?

[nicky30092002]

i think he refer to brand: Mikasaki type .. 3ft 21watts, presume his is less than 3..

Sheng Song sellin 3ft less than 20sgd .. wif 6500k tube ..

[patgohch]

18" or 46cm

[patgohch]

Rainbow house brand