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Electronics => Beginners => Topic started by: hl68fx on January 30, 2020, 12:37:49 am

Title: fluorescent tubes and ambient temperature
Post by: hl68fx on January 30, 2020, 12:37:49 am

Hi everyone,

I would like to use fluorescent tubes in some kind of furnace. Can you tell me what happens to these lamps being used in an ambient temperature of 80 to 100 °C?
What happens to light output and lifespan? Will it be possible at all?

Kind regards
Tom

Title: Re: fluorescent tubes and ambient temperature
Post by: Jwillis on January 30, 2020, 01:20:22 am

Fluorescent tubes are very sensitive to ambient temperatures .Light output drops off significantly either direction of 25 to 30 degrees centigrade. For example  exterior lamps go very dim at -20C and again grow dim in very hot  areas.Different Types can be effected differently by ambient temperature.http://www.lamptech.co.uk/Documents/FL%20Temperature.htm (http://www.lamptech.co.uk/Documents/FL%20Temperature.htm) and http://www.lamptech.co.uk/Documents/Journals/Thorn%20Lighting%20Journal%203.pdf (http://www.lamptech.co.uk/Documents/Journals/Thorn%20Lighting%20Journal%203.pdf) do a better job of explaining this.

Title: Re: fluorescent tubes and ambient temperature
Post by: amyk on January 31, 2020, 02:32:03 am

I recommend using incandescent if you need it to withstand high temperatures --- lightbulbs are much hotter than that inside.

Title: Re: fluorescent tubes and ambient temperature
Post by: CatalinaWOW on January 31, 2020, 02:58:30 am

Another choice is to use a light pipe to bring light in from whatever source floats your boat.  Glass fibers and pipes will easily handle the temperatures you mention.