Joule Thief

[gadgetmall]

NOP:

I don't disagree with that and let's also consider that, at room temperature as you say, that would also be at atmospheric pressure which in the tube is way, way less so, to me, any out gassing of the mercury vapor would be enhanced by the partial vacuum.  So, I don't really know.  Perhaps we would never see the full light output of a tube no matter how high a voltage and freq. we put into it without those elements?  I assume (bad word) they are there for a reason as it costs money to put them there and if they did not need them, they would not be there.

So, I can see both sides of this just from observations.  But, as Gadget said, you can light a tube without those elements. 

In a nutshell:  I don't know.

Bill

the gas is a catalyst and give off UV invisible rays . the "LIGHT comes from the Phosphor coating . Different Coatings produce different colors .

[Pirate88179]

@ All:

On another note, we just passed another milestone here and are fast approaching another one.  I see we now have over 100,000 views of our topic here.  In just another few posts, we will have over 6,000 replies!

Just a quick note to thank everyone here participating in our topic.  All of you together have made it what it is and I personally thank each and every one of you.

We have made some amazing leaps and discoveries here to this point and I don't see any reason that will not continue.  I also believe we have set a high standard for internet forum behavior here as well, for not only this site, but many others.

If I could express how much I have learned from all of you since we started, I would.  Trust me when I say it is quite a lot.  Most of you are ahead of me in winding JT's and I don't mind.  I am just very happy to be a part of such a wonderful, intelligent, caring and sharing group of individuals here.

Thank you all.

Bill

[gadgetmall]

@all .here is real free light . they run for practically ever . they are small florescent tube coated with a phosphor  for different colors . I have had these for 10 years and they give off light in the dark permanet with a tritium gas that produces an electron release much like 10,000 volts in a tv screen and lights the phosphor . . I got these and they are not available in the US .. I call it Alien Technology of sorts .. very cool . Need no light to recharge cause they stay lit all the time for free . I took the lights in the dark with there own light . They are available in the UK however . The Half Life of Tritium is supposed to be 10 to 15 years . I have a watch with tritium dial from the 50s My grandfather gave me and it is still lighting bright enuff to see under the covers of night .! Others have said the radiation is permanent and will last forever .. I have seen these tubes build for the military that are HUGE . As Big as 12 inches and are used By them for light . they Produce Bright Usable light to read by for the Military oF course containing over 10,000 milli curies . these colored  tube contain over 100 milli curies of trit. . the legal limit is less than 1 millicuri for a us citizen and that is what you see in Glock sights and navy seal watches  . 

[Pirate88179]

Gadget:

Are those filled with tritium?  I had tritium night sites on my old Browning Hi-power 9mm pistol and they were said to last for 10 years as well.  (Not as big as those)  I want to get some for my Glock 40 cal. one day, they were nice.  The sites are about $100.00 or so and, as I said much smaller than those.  Very nice.

Bill

[TheNOP]

that would also be at atmospheric pressure which in the tube is way, way less so, to me, any out gassing of the mercury vapor would be enhanced by the partial vacuum.

yes, atmospheric pressure is a factor.
is far from being a vaccum, the air is replaced by an inert gase.
it is initialy less then atmospheric pressure, yes.
but the purpose of it is only so the tube don't explode when in operation.

if you look at the documentations gadgetmall posted, you will see that the mercury turning into vapor actually create a pressurisation of the tube.

So, I don't really know.  Perhaps we would never see the full light output of a tube no matter how high a voltage and freq. we put into it without those elements?  I assume (bad word) they are there for a reason as it costs money to put them there and if they did not need them, they would not be there.

So, I can see both sides of this just from observations.  But, as Gadget said, you can light a tube without those elements. 

In a nutshell:  I don't know.

you can sleep on both your ears, you will be able to light those cfl fully even without the heaters.
what fully vaporise the mercury are the discharges in the tube.

the process start with the ionisation of the gases.
without enough ionisation the cfl won't light.

at 60Hz it take more mercury vapor to cause the initial discharge then at higher frequencies, that is why heater are used.
in other words, the initial resistance of the tube is too high at 60Hz to start conducting without assistance.