Choke in Fluorescent lights a relic from past !!

 Hello and welcome to my blog! Today I'm going to answer a very interesting question that one of my readers asked me: Why is a choke required in a tube light and not in a CFL? This question is related to the physics and engineering of different types of fluorescent lamps, which are widely used for lighting purposes. So let's dive into it!

Choke of a florescent Lamp

First of all, what is a fluorescent lamp? A fluorescent lamp is a type of electric light that uses a low-pressure mercury vapour discharge to produce ultraviolet (UV) radiation. This UV radiation then excites a phosphor coating on the inside of the glass tube, which emits visible light by fluorescence. Fluorescent lamps are more energy-efficient and have a longer lifespan than incandescent lamps, which produce light by heating a filament.

Fluorescent lamp working


There are two main types of fluorescent lamps: conventional fluorescent lamps (CFLs) and compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs). Conventional fluorescent lamps are usually long and thin tubes that require a separate fixture and a starter to operate. Compact fluorescent lamps are smaller and have an integrated electronic ballast that fits into a standard socket. Both types of lamps use the same principle of fluorescence, but they differ in how they initiate and sustain the electric discharge.

CFL working


To understand why a choke is required in a tube light and not in a CFL, we need to know how the electric discharge works. The electric discharge is the flow of electric current through the gas-filled tube. The gas in the tube is initially at low pressure and has high electrical resistance, which means it does not conduct electricity easily. To start the discharge, we need to apply a high voltage across the electrodes at the ends of the tube. This high voltage ionizes some of the gas molecules, creating free electrons and positive ions that can carry the current.

However, once the discharge is started, we need to reduce the voltage to maintain it. This is because the gas becomes more conductive as more ions are created, and if the voltage is too high, it can cause overheating and damage to the electrodes and the tube. Therefore, we need a device that can provide a high voltage to start the discharge and then lower it to sustain it. This device is called a ballast.

A ballast is an electrical component that regulates the current and voltage in a fluorescent lamp circuit. There are two types of ballasts: magnetic ballasts and electronic ballasts. A magnetic ballast is also known as a choke, because it uses an inductor (a coil of wire) to create a magnetic field that opposes changes in current. A choke can produce a high voltage spike when the current is switched on or off, which can help start the discharge. However, a choke also consumes some power and generates heat and noise.

An electronic ballast is a more modern and efficient device that uses an electronic circuit to control the current and voltage in a fluorescent lamp circuit. An electronic ballast can produce high-frequency alternating current (AC) that can start and sustain the discharge without requiring a high voltage spike. An electronic ballast also consumes less power and generates less heat and noise than a choke.

So why is a choke required in a tube light and not in a CFL? The answer lies in the size and shape of the tubes. A conventional tube light has a long and narrow tube that has high electrical resistance. This means it needs a high voltage spike to start the discharge, which can be provided by a choke. A CFL has a short and compact tube that has low electrical resistance. This means it does not need a high voltage spike to start the discharge, which can be provided by an electronic ballast.

Therefore, we can conclude that a choke is required in a tube light and not in a CFL because of the difference in their electrical resistance due to their size and shape. I hope this blog post has answered your question and helped you understand how fluorescent lamps work. If you have any other questions or comments, please feel free to leave them below. Thank you for reading!

Location: Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, India

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