Integral compact fluorescent lamp

Description:

When incandescent lamp manufacturers want to make lamps with different ratings, 40 watt and 60 watt lamps for example, they simply alter the length of the coiled tungsten filament. Since the filament is rather small in either case, there's little apparent difference in the two lamps. Compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs) are different.

This lamp is a demonstration triple-tube compact fluorescent lamp made by Philips about 1995. One way to increase the light output from CFLs is to make the tube longer. In this lamp the three tubes are connected by thin glass passages called bridge-welds, creating a continuous path for the electric current to travel. Using bridge-welds allowed the engineers to place the three tubes very close together, reducing the size of the lamp as a whole. The plastic base-skirt that houses the control electronics is clear so that whoever is demonstrating the lamp can show the electronic circuitry.

Lamp characteristics: Nickle-plated, medium-screw base with clear plastic skirt that houses an electronic ballast and a starter. Three fluorescent tubes are connected by bridge-welds. Included are two electrodes, mercury, and a phosphor coating. No external cover is placed over the tubes. Lamp was operational when donated.

Date Made: ca 1995Date Made: ca. 1995

Maker: Philips Lighting Company

See more items in: Work and Industry: Electricity, Energy & Power

Exhibition: Lighting a Revolution

Exhibition Location: National Museum of American History

Related Web Publication: http://americanhistory.si.edu/lighting/

Related Publication: Lighting A Revolution

Credit Line: from Philips Lighting Co.

Data Source: National Museum of American History

Id Number: 1997.0389.30Catalog Number: 1997.0389.30Accession Number: 1997.0389

Object Name: fluorescent lampdischarge lamp

Physical Description: plastic (overall material)glass (overall material)mercury (overall material)metal (overall material)Measurements: overall: 5 1/2 in x 2 1/8 in x 2 1/8 in; 13.97 cm x 5.3975 cm x 5.3975 cm

Guid: http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/ng49ca746a5-6e6b-704b-e053-15f76fa0b4fa

Record Id: nmah_751324

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