12VDC Fluorescent Lamp Driver

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A number of people have been unable to find the transformer needed for the Black Light project, so I looked around to see if I could find a fluorescent lamp driver that does not require any special components. I finally found one in Electronics Now. Here it is. It uses a normal 120 to 6V stepdown transformer in reverse to step 12V to about 350V to drive a lamp without the need to warm the filaments.

Schematic

Parts

Part	Total Qty.	Description	Substitutions
C1	1	100uf 25V Electrolytic Capacitor
C2,C3	2	0.01uf 25V Ceramic Disc Capacitor
C4	1	0.01uf 1KV Ceramic Disc Capacitor
R1	1	1K 1/4W Resistor
R2	1	2.7K 1/4W Resistor
Q1	1	IRF510 MOSFET
U1	1	TLC555 Timer IC
T1	1	6V 300mA Transformer
LAMP	1	4W Fluorescent Lamp
MISC	1	Board, Wire, Heatsink For Q1

Notes

Q1 must be installed on a heat sink.

A 240V to 10V transformer will work better then the one in the parts list. The problem is that they are hard to find.

This circuit can give a nasty (but not too dangerous) shock. Be careful around the output leads.

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Comments

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Cableguy 12VDC Fluorescent Lamp Driver Friday, December 30, 2016 5:25:40 AM

This is a wonderful little circuit. I have been very unlucky with other circuits and this one works very well. I have substituted the transformer with a transformer from an old LCD Monitor so I can use the panel for lighting in my workshop, and have also incorporated an adjustable regulator on the transformer side so to use transformers from laptop LCD panels. I do find that if the transformer impedance is less than 0.5ohms, and there is no load connected to the transformer, it tends to blow up in a few seconds.

matt 12VDC Fluorescent Lamp Driver Friday, November 21, 2014 6:03:28 PM

Hi, how long of an arc will this produce?

andikovaci 12VDC Fluorescent Lamp Driver Thursday, January 05, 2012 3:34:19 AM

HI, I don't understand the 6V 300mA Transformer, u mean that 6V should be the output or the input of the transformer? If 6V is the output the input haw should be?

rohit 12VDC Fluorescent Lamp Driver Friday, October 21, 2011 11:39:00 PM

why dont you post a circuit which has a input of 12vdc and out put 240v AC suitable to power any cfl, maximum out of 40watts

Dmax 12VDC Fluorescent Lamp Driver Saturday, April 02, 2011 10:09:51 PM

Thanks for posting this up, I built the driver today , I had to use a NPN power transistor as I thats allI had at hand. works very well ,agin thank you :)

fazle haq 12VDC Fluorescent Lamp Driver Tuesday, March 15, 2011 3:03:21 PM

i have a layout of PCB which has 6 resisters,3 capacitors,4 transistors one of them is 2N3055 and transformer of 220v/9v and 12 or 2A...so any one knows this circuit i can give the page

Sagar 12VDC Fluorescent Lamp Driver Wednesday, July 21, 2010 4:51:24 AM

What does mean of T1,6V 300mA Transformer.Can you provide in detail.Also what about one end of both fillament both are open

anonymous 12VDC Fluorescent Lamp Driver Saturday, March 20, 2010 9:22:03 AM

can I skip C4??

Carmelo 12VDC Fluorescent Lamp Driver for 8w neon Friday, September 25, 2009 3:39:33 PM

Hi, i have 8w 56Volt 145 ma neon, this circuit i good for this one??? Otherwise how can modify this circuit for my neon??? Thanks

hamed 12VDC Fluorescent Lamp Driver Saturday, July 18, 2009 11:18:53 AM

hi i cant use this map!this lampp is 4 w or 40w ?? tanks

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Cableguy	12VDC Fluorescent Lamp Driver	Friday, December 30, 2016 5:25:40 AM
This is a wonderful little circuit. I have been very unlucky with other circuits and this one works very well. I have substituted the transformer with a transformer from an old LCD Monitor so I can use the panel for lighting in my workshop, and have also incorporated an adjustable regulator on the transformer side so to use transformers from laptop LCD panels. I do find that if the transformer impedance is less than 0.5ohms, and there is no load connected to the transformer, it tends to blow up in a few seconds.
matt	12VDC Fluorescent Lamp Driver	Friday, November 21, 2014 6:03:28 PM
Hi, how long of an arc will this produce?
andikovaci	12VDC Fluorescent Lamp Driver	Thursday, January 05, 2012 3:34:19 AM
HI, I don't understand the 6V 300mA Transformer, u mean that 6V should be the output or the input of the transformer? If 6V is the output the input haw should be?
rohit	12VDC Fluorescent Lamp Driver	Friday, October 21, 2011 11:39:00 PM
why dont you post a circuit which has a input of 12vdc and out put 240v AC suitable to power any cfl, maximum out of 40watts
Dmax	12VDC Fluorescent Lamp Driver	Saturday, April 02, 2011 10:09:51 PM
Thanks for posting this up, I built the driver today , I had to use a NPN power transistor as I thats allI had at hand. works very well ,agin thank you :)
fazle haq	12VDC Fluorescent Lamp Driver	Tuesday, March 15, 2011 3:03:21 PM
i have a layout of PCB which has 6 resisters,3 capacitors,4 transistors one of them is 2N3055 and transformer of 220v/9v and 12 or 2A...so any one knows this circuit i can give the page
Sagar	12VDC Fluorescent Lamp Driver	Wednesday, July 21, 2010 4:51:24 AM
What does mean of T1,6V 300mA Transformer.Can you provide in detail.Also what about one end of both fillament both are open
anonymous	12VDC Fluorescent Lamp Driver	Saturday, March 20, 2010 9:22:03 AM
can I skip C4??
Carmelo	12VDC Fluorescent Lamp Driver for 8w neon	Friday, September 25, 2009 3:39:33 PM
Hi, i have 8w 56Volt 145 ma neon, this circuit i good for this one??? Otherwise how can modify this circuit for my neon??? Thanks
hamed	12VDC Fluorescent Lamp Driver	Saturday, July 18, 2009 11:18:53 AM
hi i cant use this map!this lampp is 4 w or 40w ?? tanks