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A Power Pack for Fluorescent Lighting

3rd August 1951, Page 54
3rd August 1951
Page 54
Page 54, 3rd August 1951 — A Power Pack for Fluorescent Lighting
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THE power pack of the fluorescent lighting system produced by Barber Medico-Electronic Laboratories, Ltd., Bournville, Birmingham, 30, incorporates a vibratory converter with an average working life of over 1,500 hours. The use of the unit has enabled a simplified installation to be manufactured, of low first cost and high efficiency, and is particularly easy to maintain. The standard range includes sets of 6 to 36 volts.

A particularly valuable feature of the installation for coacti and bus applications is the method of arranging the vibrator, high-efficiency transformer and other power-pack components as a "jack-in unit," which slides on to a steel base fitted with a four-way socket connector to the incoming battery leads and outgoing lamp wiring. The power pack weighs less than 15 lb. and measures 13 ins. by 7 ins. by 41 ins.

The vibrator is of the synchronous split-reed type with a separate drive contact of platinum-iridium and two sets of tungsten pole-changing contacts. Its operating frequency is 110 cycles per second and the character of the circuit is such that the current is at a maximum whenever the pole-changing contacts are being opened or closed. The container is hermetically sealed and gas filled.

The starting delay is less than one second before all lamps are struck and running smoothly. Good operation is provided over a wide variation in battery voltage and over the load range from zero to full load. Lamps may be switched " on" and " off" independently. No phase balancing is required and any combination of lamp voltages up to a total of 90 watts may be connected to the same power pack. Normally, the maximum size of lamp is one of 20 watts.

A contact unit incorporated in each lamp comprises series and parallel chokes and a capacitor. If required, the unit can be supplied as an assembly for installation apart from, but near to, the lamp fitting. This arrangement allows coach builders full scope for flush or surface fitting.

This lamp fitting, complete with control equipment, is particularly useful when a conversion from existing tungsten lighting to fluorescent lighting is undertaken.

The development of the long-life vibrator unit has also been utilized in the adaptation to vehicle use of the Buvan ultra-violet air sterilizer and deodorizer (manufactured by the same company), which has already been widely applied in industrial buildings, hospitals, and so on. Without an A.C. supply, it was formerly impossible to operate the air sterilizer from a battery. The power consumption is 50 watts.

All airborne bacteria are destroyed and the production of ozone neutralizes unpleasant odours from tobacco, smoke, perspiration, and so forth.

The sterilizer is, therefore, particularly valuable for long-distance coaches or buses operating at night, and for refrigerator vans.

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Locations: Birmingham, Bournville

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