Homemade choke for a gas discharge lamp. Correct connection of the lamp drl. Physical parameters and connection diagram of the choke

The needs of society for lighting devices with high luminescence power and at the same time economical in electricity consumption, as well as durable in operation are satisfied by manufacturers of DRL lamps and other gas-discharge lamps. They are used to illuminate a large area, storage facilities, and factory buildings. The DRL lamp can have a power range from 50 to 2,000 watts, and is connected to a single-phase electrical network with a voltage of 220 volts and a frequency of 50 hertz.

What is a choke for?

A choke for DRL lamps is used for starting, there are different types of lighting devices on the market in which it is used:

All lighting devices differ in the principle of obtaining a luminous flux, there are other differences:

different materials are used in their device;
differ in the presence of chemical elements;
pressure inside the flasks according to the own parameters of each lighting device;
they are different in power and brightness of the luminous flux.

These types of lamps are united by the inconsistent value of the starting current and resistance during the start-up and further work.

In order to limit the magnitude of the operating current, lighting devices of this type are used different kind ballast: electronic ballast, ballast and electronic ballast, which are inductors (chokes). At the moment of start-up, each device of this type has a high resistance value; when the lighting device is ignited, an electrical breakdown process occurs in an inert gas medium with which the lamp is filled (mercury or sodium vapor), and an arc discharge occurs.

Connection diagram:

Lamp ignition:

In the process, when the lamp is ignited, the ionized gas loses its resistance from the arc discharge by several tens of times, and for this reason the current increases, heat is released. If you do not limit the amount of current, it will instantly create an overheated gas environment, which will lead to breakdown of the lighting device, damage from the inside. To prevent this, a resistance (choke) is included in the lighting device circuit.

Physical parameters and connection diagram of the choke

A series-connected choke DRL has a reactance, the value of which depends on the inductor: one henry passes one ampere of current when the voltage is one volt.

The parameters of the inductor include:

the square of the copper wire used;
number of turns;
what is the core and the size of the cross-section of the magnetic circuit;
what is the electromagnetic saturation.

The inductor has an active resistance, which is always taken into account when calculating the ballast for each type of lighting device of this type, taking into account its power, the overall dimensions of the choke depend on this.

Let us consider a simple circuit for switching on the ballast, when electrodes (additional) are provided in the design of the DRL lamp for the process of the appearance of a glow discharge, which turns into an electric arc.

In this case, the inductance limits the amount of operating current in the lighting device.

Ballast for fluorescent lamps

Structurally, a fluorescent lighting device for starting uses a ballast choke, in new types of this lighting device, an electronic ballast is used, this is an electronic type of ballast. The purpose of this device is to keep the increasing current value at one level, which maintains the required voltage across the electrodes inside the lighting fixture.

Let's take a look at how ballast for fluorescent luminaires works. When it is connected, a phase shift occurs in the circuit between the voltage and current parameters, the lag is characterized by the power factor, cos φ. When calculating the active load, this value must be taken into account, since with a small value of this parameter, the load increases, for this reason a capacitor is also included in the starting circuit, which performs a compensation function.

Specialists in power loss parameters distinguish several versions of these lighting devices:

the usual type of execution, with the letter D;
reduced type of execution, with the letter B;
low type of execution, with the letter C.

The use of ballast has its positive aspects:

the lighting device operates in a safe mode, you must also use a starter to start;
the ability to restrain the current value at a set level appears;
the luminous flux becomes much more stable, although it is not possible to completely remove the flicker;
the cost of such a version of the luminaire is affordable for general consumption.

Connecting lamps using a capacitor with a compensation function

There is a way to connect a fluorescent lighting device without using ballast, but for this it is necessary to double the mains voltage with rectified current, and instead of ballast use a lamp with an incandescent filament. Scheme of such an inclusion:

How to make a choke yourself?

Due to their parameters, arc lighting devices with a power of 250 or 125 watts are used by society to illuminate the following premises:

garage cooperatives;
summer cottages;
Vacation home.

You can buy a lighting device of this type in a store or on the market, there is often a problem of how to find a choke for DRL lamps, the cost of the choke can be higher than the lamp itself due to the design features and the presence of copper wire.

Popular ideas for making ballast for a DRL 250 lamp from other materials will help to solve this issue: three chokes for a fluorescent lamp with a lamp power of 40 watts or two chokes from a fluorescent lamp with a power of 80 watts. In our case, in order to light the DRL lamp using a homemade ballast made by hand, it is recommended to use two 80-watt chokes and one 40-watt ballast, the connection is shown in the photo.

It can be seen from the diagram that all ballasts form one choke, it is possible to collect the starting ballast in a common box. Important! Particular attention must be paid to the contacts on the chokes, they must be reliable so that they do not heat up and do not spark.

How can you start a DRL lamp without a choke?

There is a possibility of starting an arc lighting device of 250 watts without ballast, but for this it is necessary to apply a different technology for switching on the device. Experts recommend the option of buying a special DRL 250 lamp, which has the ability to turn on without ballast (choke), when a spiral is added to the lamp design, the task of which is to dilute the luminous flux.

Even folk craftsmen use the method of starting lamps of this type using a set of capacitors, but in this case it is necessary to know exactly the value of the current received. They also use the start of DRL lamps using a simple lamp, but only on the condition that it has the same power as the DRL lamp.

The word choke has been heard by many. However, few people know what it means. What device is called a choke? What does it look like? What functions does it perform?

Throttle usually invisible to humans. That is why very few people know about its existence. And this despite the fact that at present, none of the varieties of mercury lamps can work without it. A choke is a device that can rightfully be called the main part of ballasts installed in modern lighting devices.

From German, the word choke can be translated as a limiter. This is its first task - to limit the amount of voltage that goes to the electrodes of the lamp when it is working. The second function is to create a high voltage for a short period of time, which will be needed to turn on the lamp.

The principle of operation of the choke is the process of a short-term appearance of voltage in the coil at the moment an electric current passes through it. The values of current and voltage are carefully calculated and differ for certain models of these devices. These parameters help to break through the gaseous medium using the discharge of electrical energy. After the lamp is turned on, the choke becomes a limiter. A working lamp no longer needs a high voltage value. This feature made it more economical than other types of lamps.

Different lamps need different chokes. For example, the choke to the HPS lamp will not function with mercury lamps... This is due to the difference in the magnitude of the current and voltage required for starting, which ensures the full operation of the lamp. But MGL lamps will work with both types of chokes. True, in each individual version, the brightness and temperature of the lamp color will change.

An interesting fact is that the service life of the choke is much longer than the service life of the lamp itself (if you follow all the rules of operation). Over time, the lamp "gets old". As a result, the control gear begins to heat up strongly and even overheat. This leads to the fact that the system is simply turned off or a short circuit occurs. Therefore, it is important to change when their service life ends. To avoid problems, you can sometimes measure the voltage in the lamp. This way you can avoid failure. PRA which is much more expensive than a lamp. Nowadays, lamps with a built-in automatic fuse are becoming more and more popular.

According to their purpose, chokes are divided into several types. They can be single-phase and three-phase. They can work with 220V and 380V networks. Due to their design, which provides for special protection, some types of chokes can be used outdoors or in extreme conditions.

For a long and high-quality operation of the throttle, it is important that it fully meets all the requirements stated for it.

An arc mercury lamp (DRL) has another name - an arc mercury phosphor. They belong to the category of light bulbs high pressure and are mainly used as general illumination of areas with large volumes: streets, sites, industrial premises, etc. The DRL lamp circuit allows you to obtain high light output. Power ranges from 50 to 2000 watts, they operate at 220 volts and a frequency of 50 hertz.

In order to reconcile specifications with a power source, in all types of mercury lamps, ballasts are used, which make it possible to correctly connect the DRL lamp. Most lighting devices are triggered by a choke, which is sequentially included in the circuit along with the light bulb.

DRL device and principle of operation

The classic DRL lamp consists of main electrodes, ignition or additional electrodes, lead-in parts of electrodes, special gas, posistors and mercury. Argon is used as a gas, producing initial ionization and contributing to an arc discharge. Argon is also called a buffer gas. With the help of posistors, the current of the ignition electrodes is limited. Mercury is used to change the magnitude of the potential during discharge.

The main functional parts of a conventional DRL

A base that directly receives electricity from the network. Its contacts are point and threaded, they are connected to the contacts of the cartridge. Thus, an alternating current is supplied to the lamp electrodes.
The quartz burner is the main part. It is made in the form of a flask with four electrodes located on the sides, including two of them - the main ones, and the other two - additional ones. The space inside the burner is filled with argon to prevent heat exchange, as well as a small amount of mercury.
The glass bulb is the outer part. It has a quartz burner inside it, to which conductors are fed from the base. Instead of air, nitrogen is pumped into the flask. Inner side the flask is covered with a phosphor.

Pretty basic. Power is supplied from the mains voltage. After the DRL lamp has been connected, the electric current begins to reach the gap between both pairs of electrodes located at opposite ends of the lamp. The small distance between them contributes to the rapid ionization of the gas. First, the gas is ionized between the ignition electrodes, then the current flows to the main electrodes, and at the end of this process, the lamp begins to emit light.

The full glow of the lamp starts in about 7-10 minutes. This period of time is required to warm up the mercury located in the form of a plaque or clot on the inner walls of the flask. During operation, the life of the lamps is gradually reduced, and the period required to fully turn on is increased.

The burner is made of a transparent material - quartz glass, filled with inert gases in strictly defined doses. The mercury introduced into the burner can have the form of a small ball, and it also settles on the walls and electrodes in the form of a deposit. The light source is an electric arc discharge.

The DRL lamp circuit is included in the general connection diagram through the choke. The choke brand must match the lamp wattage. The main purpose of the choke is to limit the current supplied to the light bulb. In the absence of a choke, the lamp will instantly burn out, since the external electric current is too large for it. Usually, a capacitor is also added to the circuit, which affects the reactive power at start-up, which allows you to almost twice save electricity.

The greatest glow occurs after about 6-7 minutes. This time is necessary to convert the mercury into a gaseous state, which improves the discharge between the electrodes. After that, the lamp goes into normal operating mode with the highest luminous efficiency. After turning off the light bulb, it cannot be turned on until it has completely cooled down.

DRL lamp connection diagram through a choke

There are many objects where high power lighting devices are required. At the same time, they must be economical and have a long service life. DRL lamps fully comply with these requirements. The power of the DRL lamps is in the range of 50-2000 W; for their operation, a single-phase network of 220 V and a frequency of 50 Hz is required.

The most important part of the DRL is the throttle, without which they simply cannot work. The fact is that in the process of starting and subsequent work, these lighting devices come under the influence of non-constant starting currents and resistances. Therefore, to limit the operating current, the DRL is connected through a choke, which is a heterogeneous ballast in the form. At the moment of launch, they have high resistance. When the lamp is ignited in a gas environment, an electrical breakdown occurs, leading to an arc discharge.

During the ignition of the lamp, the ionized gas under the action of the arc discharge loses its resistance many times over. For this reason, an increase in current occurs with a simultaneous release of heat. If the magnitude of the current is not limited, an overheated gas medium will instantly appear under its action. Internal parts will be damaged and the lighting fixture will be completely damaged. To prevent negative consequences, a DRL lamp connection diagram is used together with a choke that creates the necessary resistance.

Connecting a DRL lamp through a choke, it is connected in series with the lamp. Its reactance is closely related to the parameters of the inductor. That is, 1 henry of inductance is capable of passing 1 A of current at a voltage of 1 V. The main characteristics of the coil are the cross-sectional area of the copper conductor and the number of its turns, as well as the core material and the cross-section of the magnetic circuit. The magnitude of the electromagnetic saturation is of great importance.

It should be borne in mind that the inductor also has an active resistance. This must be taken into account when calculating the ballast for each type of DRL bulbs, since the dimensions of the choke itself will depend on the power of the luminaire. For a more correct connection of the choke to the DRL, you should consider the simplest scheme providing the appearance of a glow discharge and its further transition into an electric arc. Such a connection makes it possible, using the inductance of the inductor, to limit the operating current in the luminaire to the desired value. In this case, long-term stable operation of the lamp is guaranteed, without any failures.

Such a scheme for turning on the DRL lamp is considered the simplest. It includes the lamp itself and the choke, connected in series with each other. The resulting circuit is connected to a 220 V electrical network with a standard frequency of 50 Hz. Thus, DRL lamps can be used at home without any problems. The choke for DRL lamps in this circuit performs the functions of a stabilizer and a work spotter. Its use allows you to accurately answer the question of why DRL lamps blink without a choke, since it is this device that provides an even and stable light. Without it, normal connection and start of the workflow is impossible.

Connecting a DRL lamp without a choke

Sometimes a DRL without a throttle can be launched using a special technology. This is done in cases where the device is out of order, and replace it in this moment nothing. Instead of a choke, you can use a conventional incandescent lamp with the same power as the DRL and providing the required resistance. Another option involves installing one or more. This will require accurate calculations of their output current, which fully corresponds to the required voltage for operation.

Recently, special DRL-250 lamps have appeared that work without a choke. In their design there is a spiral of a certain type, which serves as a stabilizer and additionally dilutes the emitted luminous flux.

Sometimes the lamp refuses to work or does not work properly after connecting. In this case, the lamp must be tested to ensure that it works. For this, an ohmmeter or tester is used, with the help of which all windings are checked for breakage or short circuit. If detected, the instrument will display an abnormal value.

Since high-pressure lamps DRL 250 have a rather long service life and high efficiency compared to incandescent lamps, they are successfully used to illuminate summer cottages, the courtyard of a private house, and sometimes even garages inside.

They have proven their reliability over the years, the quality of lighting, and all this for a small amount. It will not be difficult to purchase a DRL 250 lamp. It is available in both specialized stores and markets.

The problem may be a choke that is included in the lamp power circuit. Since it consists of copper wire, its cost, even used, is quite high. Therefore, this article will describe how to make a choke for this lamp from other commonly found materials. For example, of the three chokes of the once common daylight lamps. Such chokes were used in lamps for lamps LD 40, respectively, they had a choke of 40 watts. Also, lamps for lamps LD 80 in which the chokes are designed for 80 watts. To replace the choke for a 250-watt DRL lamp, you will need two 80-watt chokes and one 40-watt choke. Their connection diagrams can be seen in the figure.

It can be seen here that all the chokes are connected in parallel, that is, the chokes connected in parallel form one common ballast.

One wire from the 220 socket connects to one end of the chokes, and the other wire from the 220 socket goes straight to the lamp. The wire from the output of the chokes goes to the second contact of the lamp. The option of mounting chokes on the luminaire body can be seen in the photographs.

It also shows how the wires are connected. It is very important to ensure that the contacts on the choke terminals are well connected, otherwise they will spark and heat. In the photo you can see how such a choke works and starts the DRL 250 lamp.

This design has been made and tested, showing nice results... In addition to mounting chokes on lamps, you can make a separate box in which they will be located, and lead the wires from it to the lamp. This assembly option will be much cheaper than buying a special choke. I would like to remind you that according to the rules for installing DRL lamps, they must be at a height of at least three meters. Since it is believed that they emit a lot of ultraviolet radiation, which is undesirable for human skin.
That's all. Try it and you will succeed.

For lighting streets, industrial and architectural facilities, agricultural complexes that do not require high quality color rendering, a DRL lamp (high pressure mercury arc lamp) is used. The peculiarity of the device is high efficiency, economy, long-term operation.

There are many types of lighting devices: daylight, ultraviolet light, tungsten, sodium options. All gas-discharge products are united by the inconstancy of resistance (respectively, current). An electronic (electronic ballast) or electromagnetic (electronic ballast) ballast, made in the form of an inductor - a choke, helps to limit the operating current of light sources.

Working diagram for connecting the DRL lamp

The main advantage of a fluorescent lamp is its high luminous efficiency compared to typical lamps. If a mercury DRL 250 provides a luminous flux of 12000 lm at a power consumption of 250 W, a conventional device will consume 1000 W. The dimensions of powerful bulbs (over 400 W) differ from standard devices in compactness. The radiation spectrum of the device is natural, the light is intense, it is emitted far away.

Mercury lamp 250 W

The negative characteristics of high pressure devices are:

Emission of ozone during operation, it is important to take care of the ventilation of the room.
The cost of fluorescent lamps is 5-7 times more expensive than conventional high-power lamps.
The dimensions of individual modifications (for example, DRL 125 E40) exceed similar devices with a tungsten filament.
After 2-3 months of operation, a change in the radiation spectrum is inevitable. The disadvantage is caused by the technical characteristics of the phosphor.
The DRL luminaire is sensitive to voltage drops and requires connection through a ballast.
Unpleasant buzzing and blinking of light beams determines perceptible inconveniences in living quarters. It is undesirable to use high-pressure devices in workshops with rotating objects due to the stroboscopic effect (moving devices seem to be stationary).
The normal working height for a DLR luminaire is four meters.

Comparison of DRL luminaires during operation

Important to remember! The mercury composition of the burner requires a separate disposal of the device.

Specifications

Working parameters of DRL lamps:

The power of the bulbs is 80-1000 W. Determined by the number of electrodes: two electrodes - 250 ... 1000 W, four electrodes - 80 ... 1000 W. The most popular are devices with a power of 250 watts.
Base / plinth. Depends on power: devices up to 250 W are equipped with an e27 base, over 250 W, the e40 option is suitable.
The mains clock load reaches 8 amperes. The indicator is interrelated with the power of the lighting device.
The luminous flux of mercury devices is a minimum of 3,200 lumens. The value is typical for an 80 W light source. Choke street lamps with a maximum power of 1 kW emit a luminous flux of close to 52,000 lumens.

Interesting! The service life of the throttle luminaire reaches 20,000 hours. However, the light bulb stops working earlier by 30-50%.

Parameters of a 150 W mercury lamp

Scope of use

Fluorescent lamps are effectively used on roads, streets and squares, production workshops and facilities technical purpose(Gas station, parking lots, warehouses). They are often found as decorative sources of lighting for architectural structures and office buildings. The variety of design features of DRL products allows you to choose the best option for attracting schools of fish and plankton in the process of fishing, to provide medical equipment for disinfecting premises with cold light.

Varieties of lamps

Luminaires of the DRL type are characterized by a wide variety. The differences are the scope (internal, external), types of structures and the power of the devices.

Sizes of indoor mercury lamps

Internal

Luminaires with fluorescent lamps recommended for lighting production facilities with elevated level dust and moisture, as well as laundries, car washes, closed warehouses, garages. The devices operate from an alternating current with a frequency of 50 Hz and a rated voltage of 220 V. Ambient temperature during operation is -20 ° C to + 50 ° C.

Street

Outdoor lamps are used for direct, diffuse, local lighting, and are successfully combined with symmetrical or asymmetric reflectors. The DRL type street lamp is enclosed in a waterproof durable case, capable of withstanding strong winds, frosts and showers.

Classification of luminaires by type of lamps:

DRL. Products are characterized by a small color rendering index, heat release, 5-minute output to the required level of luminous flux. When choosing mercury products, it is also worth considering the need for a stable energy source and heat-resistant conductors.

Plant light source

DRLF. Focused light bulbs are known for their ability to stimulate photosynthesis in plants.
DRVED. The series of arc mercury erythemal tungsten lamps does not require a control gear. The activation takes place under the action of ballast, similar to conventional incandescent lamps. The design is based on metal iodides to ensure the desired level of color. The lamps emit UV (erythemal) radiation and work efficiently with alternating current. They work without ballasts, reaching the maximum luminous efficiency index and a long period of operation. The power of the lamps is in the range of 125-1000 W.

Sodium arc lamp sample

HPS. The principle of operation of the sodium arc tube lamp is similar to that of DRL lamps. However, DNaT lamps are characterized by a specific glow and light of an orange-yellow or golden-white hue. The devices consume 70-400 W of power and are considered the most economical light sources.

Important! The most popular and widely used are DRL lamps with a power of 250 and 400 watts.

Design

The arc lamp is represented by a glass bottle 1 with a threaded base 2. A mercury-quartz burner (tube) 3 filled with argon and one drop of mercury is located in the center of the bulb. Four electrode lamps have main cathodes 4 and additional electrodes 5. The electrodes are connected to the cathode of opposite polarity by means of an additional carbon resistor 6.

Design features of a mercury lamp

A detailed description of the elements allows you to highlight the following features of the throttle lamp:

The base is the simplest device that receives energy from the mains due to the contact of the current-carrying part of the DRL lamp (threaded and point) with the contacts of the cartridge. The resulting energy is fed to the burner electrodes.
The burner serves as the main functional element of the DRL lamp. Externally, the detail is represented by a quartz flask equipped on both sides with two electrodes (main and additional). The inner space of the burner is filled with argon gas to isolate heat exchange between the burner and the medium, as well as one drop of mercury.
The outer bulb contains a luminaire quartz burner connected to the conductors from the contact base. Also, the glass container contains nitrogen and two resistance limiters (connected to additional electrodes), coated from the inside with a phosphor.

Sectional arc light source

The first DRL lamps were equipped with two electrodes. To ignite the lamp, it was necessary to additionally include a starting element in the circuit (high-voltage pulse breakdown of the burner gap). The more expensive version of the DRL was discontinued and replaced with a 4-electrode version. A choke is sufficient for smooth operation.

Principle of operation

The principle of operation of the electrical device is based on the use of a luminous body as an arc discharge column. The feature is achieved by a special technology for launching the device:

When electricity is supplied to the lamp, a discharge is formed between the electrodes, immediately takes an arc shape.
Within 10 minutes after the discharge, the technical parameters of the device reach their nominal values. The start-up time is determined by the external temperature - in warm conditions, the lamp flares up faster.
From the discharge inside the bulb, a blue (violet) glow and ultraviolet rays are formed, which make the phosphor glow. The streams are mixed, the lamp turns out to be white.

Putting the lamp into operation

Note! The mains voltage in the process of burning the lamp contributes to fluctuations in the luminous flux in the range of 20-30%. The devices heat up, it becomes necessary to use heat-resistant conductors and reliable contacts for cartridges.

What is a choke in a lamp for?

The choke stabilizes the work of the DRL. It is not recommended to start the lamp directly, without an additional device - the lamp will burn out. The reason is the starting current, which is 2.5 times higher than the rated one. Ignition of the lamp is accompanied by an electrical breakdown in an atmosphere of inert gases filled with mercury or sodium vapors, followed by a glow or arc discharge. The resistance of the gas decreases tenfold, the current increases. The absence of restrictions for the current threatens to generate excessive heat, in a fraction of seconds the gases inside the lamp will burn out, the lamp will fail. To avoid breakdowns, resistance is added in series to the system.

Connecting the choke in the fluorescent lamp

It is impractical to use active resistance, due to the increased energy losses for heat transfer. A more efficient solution would be to add electronic circuitry or chokes. The limiter has no active resistance, does not consume power, accumulates energy and gives it to the circuit.

How to connect correctly

With a choke. The circuit provides for a serial connection of a choke with a DRL lamp connected to a ~ 220 volt variable network. The polarity of the connection does not matter.

No choke. Operation of the arc lamp without additional devices is possible subject to a number of conditions:

Using a light source type DRV. Lamps that can operate without a choke are equipped with an additional tungsten coil that acts as a starter. The spiral characteristics correspond to those of the burner.
Triggering the DRL lamp by means of a voltage pulse emanating from a capacitor.
Ignition of the DRL lamp when the incandescent lamp is connected in series.

Scheme of economical connection of a lamp for lighting utility rooms

Important! When the DRL is turned on, it does not immediately light up - the process takes about 5 minutes, when the operating lamp is restarted, the lamp must cool down (5 - 15 minutes).

Knowledge of the parameters and the principle of operation of mercury lamps allows you to choose the right lamp and connect it.