6-46 I E S LIGHTING HANDBOOK

For example, if a condenser capacity of 16 microfarads is required at 110

volts to correct the power factor to a desired value, the capacity can be
reduced to 1 microfarad if 440 volts are applied to the condenser ter-
minals. In new installations high-power-factor transformers should be
used. This type is shown in circuit 3 of Fig. 6-40,6. The primary wind-
ing is extended to a value three to six times the input voltage in order to
reduce the condenser capacity.
Preheat starting switches.
In a preheat circuit a switch completes a series circuit so a preheat cur-
rent can flow through the filament cathodes and heat them, and then breaks
this circuit so that the resulting transient voltage from the ballast will
start the lamp. The ballast permits a limited current to flow through
the cathode filaments, which heats the filaments slowly (usually this takes
about a second, as compared with 0.0001 second for heating an incandes-
cent lamp filament). Several seconds ma}^ elapse before the entire start-
ing operation is complete. A small (0.006 microfarad) condenser across
the switch contacts aids in starting but is primarily useful in shunting out
line-lead harmonics which may cause radio interference. The simplest
concept of a starter switch is a push button which may be held down for a
second or two and released. This type is used for desk-type fluorescent
luminaires and also with the two-14-watt lamp circuit. The starters
described below represent several designs for accomplishing the operation
automatically.
Thermal-switch starter. On starting, the ballast, starter heating ele-
ment, and lamp cathodes are in series across the line. The contacts of
thermal-switch starters normally are closed, as shown in Fig. 6-41a. The
cathode preheating current also heats the bimetallic strip in the starter,
causing the contacts to open. The induced voltage then starts the lamp,
the normal operating current holding the thermal switch open thereafter.
Thermal-switch starters consume some power
(|
to 1^
watts) during
lamp operation, but their design ensures more positive starting by pro-
viding:
(1)
an adequate preheating period,
(2)
a higher induced starting
voltage, and
(3)
characteristics inherently less susceptible to line-voltage
variations. For these reasons they give best all-around performance of
40-watt lamps, being especially useful under adverse conditions such as
direct-current operation, low ambient temperature, and varying voltage.
Glow switch starter. The glass bulb shown in Fig. 6-416 is filled
with neon, helium, or argon, depending on the lamp size. On starting,
when there is practically no voltage drop at the ballast, the voltage at the
starter is sufficient to produce a glow discharge between the U-shaped
bimetallic strip and the fixed contact or center electrode. The heat from
the glow activates the bimetallic strip, the contacts close, and cathode
preheating begins. This short-circuits the glow discharge, so the bimetal
cools and in a very short time the contacts open. The transient voltage
thus induced is sufficient to start the lamp. During normal operation,
there is not enough voltage across the lamp to produce further starter
glow so the contacts remain open and the starter consumes no power.