Compact fluorescent lamp driver IC.

[David Farber]

I have a 30 Watt, Lights of America 2995 CFL ceiling fixture. The light stopped
working and I replaced it with a new one and still didn't work. I opened the
unit and repaired a couple of bad solder joints. It still didn't work. I'm
guessing the power mosfet that drives the lamp is defective because there is
small burn spot on the case. There is no part number on this device, just a "3"
stamped on it. Does anyone know of some generic part that will fit this
application?

Here is a picture of the part:
http://www.pbase.com/image/25248135

Thanks for your reply.

David Farber
David Farber's Service Center
L.A., CA

 

[James Sweet]

I have a 30 Watt, Lights of America 2995 CFL ceiling fixture. The light stopped
working and I replaced it with a new one and still didn't work. I opened the
unit and repaired a couple of bad solder joints. It still didn't work. I'm
guessing the power mosfet that drives the lamp is defective because there is
small burn spot on the case. There is no part number on this device, just a "3"
stamped on it. Does anyone know of some generic part that will fit this
application?

Here is a picture of the part:
http://www.pbase.com/image/25248135

That looks like a custom part that you probably won't be able to source
anywhere, if you knew exactly what it did perhaps you could build something
equivilant. I suggest looking on Ebay until you find a ballast appropriate
to the lamp, or look at your local hardware store, they make name brand
ballasts for CFL bulbs.

That said, that part may well be fine, you can't tell a part is blown just
by looking at it. Have you checked for shorted diodes, open fusible
resistors, etc?

 

[David Farber]

Subject: Re: Compact fluorescent lamp driver IC.

From: "James Sweet" [email protected]
Date: 1/18/2004 1:19 PM Pacific Standard Time
Message-id: <PLCOb.94494$I06.417023@attbi_s01>





That looks like a custom part that you probably won't be able to source
anywhere, if you knew exactly what it did perhaps you could build something
equivilant. I suggest looking on Ebay until you find a ballast appropriate
to the lamp, or look at your local hardware store, they make name brand
ballasts for CFL bulbs.

That said, that part may well be fine, you can't tell a part is blown just
by looking at it. Have you checked for shorted diodes, open fusible
resistors, etc?

I checked all the discrete components. The circuit is similar to what you see
here:
Scroll down to page 12, figure 7.
http://www.semiconductors.philips.com/acrobat/datasheets/UBA2021_3.pdf

I was willing to spend a few bucks to find out if replacing the burnt ic would
have corrected the problem. If you're referring to a ballast that comes in a
metal box, the circuit that operates this fixture is a small pc board.
Here is a pic of the pc board:
http://www.pbase.com/image/25260332

Thanks for your reply.


David Farber
David Farber's Service Center
L.A., CA

 

[James Sweet]

I checked all the discrete components. The circuit is similar to what you see
here:
Scroll down to page 12, figure 7.
http://www.semiconductors.philips.com/acrobat/datasheets/UBA2021_3.pdf

I was willing to spend a few bucks to find out if replacing the burnt ic would
have corrected the problem. If you're referring to a ballast that comes in a
metal box, the circuit that operates this fixture is a small pc board.
Here is a pic of the pc board:
http://www.pbase.com/image/25260332

Thanks for your reply.

That looks remarkably like the ballast used in small CFL spiral bulbs, you
can get the whole bulb for just a few dollars if you'd like to try that. If
there's room in the fixture the ballast that comes in a small metal box
would probably be much higher quality, they make them that are about the
size of a deck of cards, I have a few somewhere.

 

[H. R. Bob Hofmann]

That looks remarkably like the ballast used in small CFL spiral bulbs, you
can get the whole bulb for just a few dollars if you'd like to try that. If
there's room in the fixture the ballast that comes in a small metal box
would probably be much higher quality, they make them that are about the
size of a deck of cards, I have a few somewhere.

WHy not just take the electronics out of the base of an equivalent
cfl? I've done that when I needed a driver for equivalent wattge
lamps and had great results. Only thing is that the cfls and circular
regular lamps are a little harder to start due to the curveature of
the arc that must be struck. But if the wattage of the cfl is
correct, it will start almost anything. You probably don't care if it
only lasts 4000 hours instead of 8000 hours so go for it.

H. R. (Bob) Hofmann

 

[James Sweet]

you
see ic
would comes in
a


That looks remarkably like the ballast used in small CFL spiral bulbs, you
can get the whole bulb for just a few dollars if you'd like to try that. If
there's room in the fixture the ballast that comes in a small metal box
would probably be much higher quality, they make them that are about the
size of a deck of cards, I have a few somewhere.

WHy not just take the electronics out of the base of an equivalent
cfl? I've done that when I needed a driver for equivalent wattge
lamps and had great results. Only thing is that the cfls and circular
regular lamps are a little harder to start due to the curveature of
the arc that must be struck. But if the wattage of the cfl is
correct, it will start almost anything. You probably don't care if it
only lasts 4000 hours instead of 8000 hours so go for it.

H. R. (Bob) Hofmann[/QUOTE]

That's exactly what I just suggested, though many CFL ballasts are not
particularly high quality, they're as good as what was in that fixture
originally, I bet it's the exact part used in LOA CFLs.