Fluros in the Workshop

**ChrisH** · 4th August 2003, 12:50 AM

This may be a bit off topic but...

In the dark recesses of my memory I vaguely recall reading warnings about using fluoro lights in a workshop with machinery.
The fluoro tubes are actually flickering on and off with the power supply, 50Hz. Your eyes can't detect such flickering but it is real. The danger is that the flickering can coincide with certain moving bits of machinery, to make it appear stationary. (like a strobe light can do.) So the author recommended either NOT using flouro's over table saws, lathes, etc, or if you must, then install a regular incandescent globe too. I suspect that compact fluoro's might not have this problem as they work at much higher frequencies, but don't take my word for it.
People have lost their hands when gripping an apparently stationary bit of machinery that turned out to be moving fast...

Chris.

q9 · 4th August 2003, 01:33 AM

Actually you CAN detect 50Hz. But it is a nonsense as the gas is FLUORESCENT - that is it gives of light when excited. The gas stays excited for a short amount of time even after the charge is gone. If it didn't, the fluro's would drive you insane with the flickering, and fluro's would be very unpopular and probably not much used. When you notice it flickering, generally it is time to change the tube (gas needs to get really, REALLY excited to produce light), or very, very cold (gas absorbs more energy as it heats up). Ever notice they are brighter after they've been on for a few minutes? (more noticeble when cold)

Anyway, getting back on topic, ratwire is quite cheap, comes in about 600mm- 800mm wide roll can be bent into shape etc and is readily available.

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