Smallest flourescent tube

[Richard]

I'm interested in straight flourescent tubes.

I think the smallest avaialable is size T4 at 4/8" (12mm). Does anyone
know of a source of smaller diameter tubes? Are tubes for instance available
at say 7 or 8mm? TIA.

 

[[email protected]]

I think the smallest avaialable is size T4 at 4/8" (12mm). Does anyone
know of a source of smaller diameter tubes?

Cold cathode fluorescent tubes go down a lot smaller than that - like
maybe 4 mm or so. These are used a lot as LCD backlights. JKL is one
well-known manufacturer of such lamps and they claim theirs go down to
2 mm. http://www.jkllamps.com/index.cfm?action=fam&tid=2&fID=31
Typically they are powered from a small inverter module that takes 5 or
12 V DC in and produces a few hundred volts AC at maybe 5 mA for the
lamp.

If you just want one or two to play with, you can get them at vast cost
at your local computer shop, or at slightly lower cost from places like
Digi-Key http://dkc3.digikey.com/PDF/T072/P2149.pdf or All Electronics
http://www.allelectronics.com/cgi-bin/category/320100/Fluorescent.html .

Standard disclaimers apply; I don't get money or other considerations
from any companies mentioned.

Matt Roberds

 

[Mazz]

http://www.bltdirect.co.uk/cat52_1.htm

These are T2 fluorescents and as was said previously, cold cathodes are even
smaller!

 

[Andrew Gabriel]

Cold cathode fluorescent tubes go down a lot smaller than that - like
maybe 4 mm or so. These are used a lot as LCD backlights. JKL is one
well-known manufacturer of such lamps and they claim theirs go down to
2 mm. http://www.jkllamps.com/index.cfm?action=fam&tid=2&fID=31
Typically they are powered from a small inverter module that takes 5 or
12 V DC in and produces a few hundred volts AC at maybe 5 mA for the
lamp.

If you just want one or two to play with, you can get them at vast cost
at your local computer shop, or at slightly lower cost from places like
Digi-Key http://dkc3.digikey.com/PDF/T072/P2149.pdf or All Electronics
http://www.allelectronics.com/cgi-bin/category/320100/Fluorescent.html .

Larger Frys stores stock some too (often mostly broken, sadly).
You can generally only find very cold white (high colour temp)
versions though, which seriously limits their use for things
like domestic lighting.

For standard fluorescent tubes, there are T2. These were introduced
by Osram IIRC. They never really caught on in the UK as they were
very expensive compared with all the T4 tubes which appeared just
afterwards, but they can be found if you search around.

 

[Jeff Waymouth]

OSRAM SYLVANIA sells a fmily of lamps called Fluorescent Miniature about
7mm in diameter (T2 1/4) THeycome in 4 wattages FM6, FM8, FM11, and FM13.

In Europe, OSRAM sells the same type product.


Jeff Waymouth

 

[Jeff Jonas]

I'm interested in straight flourescent tubes.
CCFL (Cold Cathode FLuroescent Lamps) are really thin
and inexpensive now that they are used for
automotive and computer-case decoration,
often in ready to mount platic tubing.

US $4.00 gets a 4 inch Green Do-It-Yourself Cold Cathode Kit
http://directron.com/cathode4gn.html

more are here:
http://directron.com/coldcathode.html

the clearance items are:
http://directron.com/cl.html

I'm not affiliated with directron, I'm just happy with my recent order
for things such as $2.00 for a
12 Volt DC Inverter for 2: Cold Cathode Flourscent Lamps (CCFL)
http://www.directron.com/ccflinverter.html


I've seen night-lights with small fluorescent lamps too:
some were NON-UL listed Chinese lamps backlighting a transparency,
others were brand-name UL listed ones (at Target, etc.)