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Compact Fluorescent Schematic

H
Has anyone ever autopsied a compact fluorescent bulb (CFL) and derived
the schematic? I have a failed GE 13 watt - 180 ma CFL in front of me
that has about 25 components including what appears to be a full-wave
bridge rectifier, and capacitor (5 components), a choke, a
transformer, two three-terminal devices that I assume must be
transistors driving the transformer, and several resistors and
capacitors. There also appears to be a mini-fuse in the hot lead
coming from the base of the lamp. I know that is good, also the
bridge rectifier is working. No signs of any oscillation from the
rest of the circuit. No markings whatsoever on either of the
transistors. A schematic, even a generic, would make looking at this
thing reasonable when I get some spare time, otherwise it is into the
garbage in a plastic bag to contain any mercury in the lamp.

Bob Hofmann
 
F

Franc Zabkar

Has anyone ever autopsied a compact fluorescent bulb (CFL) and derived
the schematic? I have a failed GE 13 watt - 180 ma CFL in front of me
that has about 25 components including what appears to be a full-wave
bridge rectifier, and capacitor (5 components), a choke, a
transformer, two three-terminal devices that I assume must be
transistors driving the transformer, and several resistors and
capacitors. There also appears to be a mini-fuse in the hot lead
coming from the base of the lamp. I know that is good, also the
bridge rectifier is working. No signs of any oscillation from the
rest of the circuit. No markings whatsoever on either of the
transistors. A schematic, even a generic, would make looking at this
thing reasonable when I get some spare time, otherwise it is into the
garbage in a plastic bag to contain any mercury in the lamp.

Bob Hofmann

This page has several reverse engineered CFL circuits:
http://www.pavouk.org/hw/lamp/en_index.html

- Franc Zabkar
 
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