Without breaking it~!?
- - - - -
"Very Carefully" is already covered; but now what?
What's a CFL ? ???
Carbonated Flouride Liquid?
Can anyone top this?
Must reed:
http://www.google.de/search?hl=de&sa=X&oi=spell&resnum=0&ct=result&cd=1&q=Carbonated+Fluoride+Liquid&spell=1
Compact Florescent Light
I wouldn't do it at all. I've heard that they have toxic levels of mercury in them which makes them hazardous to dispose of never mind "take apart".
On the one I stripped I wrapped the tube in a dishcloth to protect cutting myself if it broke (it didn´t break).
Then used a junior hacksaw and slowly worked around the mid seam of the plastic case which appeared to be solvent glued together. I went real slow and stopped as soon as I saw I was through in one spot then rotated to do another spot.
I chose not to use a dremel prefering the slower, steadier and safer hacksaw.
After the plastic case was halved I was able to get in it enough to liberate the board and tube using snips.
I think that sawing off the screw end might do the trick, I'm talking about the small twist bulbs with the self contained voltage boosters and starter caps btw.
I have no interest in releasing any gases or mercury for that matter - the point is to maintain the integrity of the chamber and disassemble the starter unit.
So you don't care for the driver circuit and also whats the CFL look like because some look different to others?
- Raui
Quote from: Raui on January 14, 2009, 09:01:43 PM
So you don't care for the driver circuit and also whats the CFL look like because some look different to others?
- Raui
I wish to reclaim all parts. The device: http://ace.imageg.net/graphics/product_images/p1760709dt.jpg (http://ace.imageg.net/graphics/product_images/p1760709dt.jpg)
In the older versions, the CFL was actually soldered to the driver board. In the more rescent versions the CFL part plugs in to the board.
Quote from: jadaro2600 on January 14, 2009, 09:41:17 PM
I wish to reclaim all parts. The device: http://ace.imageg.net/graphics/product_images/p1760709dt.jpg (http://ace.imageg.net/graphics/product_images/p1760709dt.jpg)
Well the method I use just involves carefully prying the cover open with a screw driver. Snip the wires coming from the ballast to the tubes and bobs your uncle. its simple to put back too. The wires snipped from the tubes can be carefully soldered back on. As you might be able to tell a degree of care must be taken if you want to reclaim the device back to a working lightbulb. If you have trouble I might try to find a working video camera lying around (I would use my phone but its being repaired =/).
-Raui
I have no youtube account, otherwise I would make one myself. I'll have to work on it at another time however, so no rush. I'll just keep an eye on this thread.
I also have an easily accessible CFL from a digital scanner. It's supposedly a florescent also. IT puts out quite a bit of light but I have no idea how long it will last.
Quote from: Raui on January 14, 2009, 09:51:17 PM
Well the method I use just involves carefully prying the cover open with a screw driver. Snip the wires coming from the ballast to the tubes and bobs your uncle. its simple to put back too. The wires snipped from the tubes can be carefully soldered back on. As you might be able to tell a degree of care must be taken if you want to reclaim the device back to a working lightbulb. If you have trouble I might try to find a working video camera lying around (I would use my phone but its being repaired =/).
-Raui
I agree with the above. I have taken apart 4 of these stupid devices and salvaged the parts. There are some great parts in there. I used a very small jeweler's screwdriver on the seam and worked it around, carefully! There was no cutting involved, well except for the wire leads once open. There are now at least 3 versions of the cfl floating around out there that I have seen and this method works with the 2 types I took apart. Just be careful.
Bill
If you can pry round the join with a driver as Bill says, then that'll be the easiest way.
On the noname tubes that I've stripped I had to cut, as the seam was welded solid. In all 3 that I've stripped so far the heating filaments at each end of the tube had blown open circuit, the tubes are still ok to light with SEC or highV blocking oscillator though.
Below is a photo of one I opened last night. The glass tube itself is securely attached to the top of the plastic with some kind of resin, it looks like plaster but it's very solid.
Hi Guys,
Perhaps could you check:
Imhoteps Radiant Oscillator lite cfl alteration
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PieslrbZ_O4&NR=1 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PieslrbZ_O4&NR=1)
Very Best
Quote from: NerzhDishual on January 15, 2009, 03:47:37 PM
Hi Guys,
Perhaps could you check:
Imhoteps Radiant Oscillator lite cfl alteration
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PieslrbZ_O4&NR=1 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PieslrbZ_O4&NR=1)
Very Best
You know, this seems like ridiculous amount of circuitry is required to light a CFL.
Quote from: jadaro2600 on January 15, 2009, 06:46:42 PM
You know, this seems like ridiculous amount of circuitry is required to light a CFL.
Hey, check our Joule Thief topic on here. We have folks lighting cfls (and many other things) with an AA battery using this very simple circuit. Check my video on youtube where I light 400 leds using this circuit.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_RVvdCovYDY
Bill
Quote from: Yucca on January 15, 2009, 02:00:16 PM
If you can pry round the join with a driver as Bill says, then that'll be the easiest way.
Yeah, everyone's doing it. No problem.
@jadaro2600: You had a question. I just proposed an answer.
------------------------------------------------
Actually, to paraphrase some Pirate, we obviously have folks here who are doing magic (= OU?)
with no so complicated circuits and mere AA batteries!
May I propose Pirate88179 for the most crazy experimenter of the year with his
"Joule Thief Lights 400 Leds On Single AA Battery"
Are you serious? Did you do some maths? Come on! It is impossible. ;D
Are you aware that it could disturb some skeptics? :P
Very Best
Quote from: NerzhDishual on January 15, 2009, 09:49:06 PM
@jadaro2600: You had a question. I just proposed an answer.
------------------------------------------------
Actually, to paraphrase some Pirate, we obviously have folks here who are doing magic (= OU?)
with no so complicated circuits and mere AA batteries!
May I propose Pirate88179 for the most crazy experimenter of the year with his
"Joule Thief Lights 400 Leds On Single AA Battery"
Are you serious? Did you do some maths? Come on! It is impossible. ;D
Are you aware that it could disturb some skeptics? :P
Very Best
Thank you, I was simply commenting on the amount of circuitry already present in a CFL.
Is his light powered by a single AA battery? :P
Yes it is,,,,single, old AA battery...very used one.
Bill