METHOD OF USING GAS-DISCHARGE SOURCES OF LIGHT Russian patent published in 1994 - IPC

FIELD: electrical engineering. SUBSTANCE: to decrease the temperature of electrodes and increase their service life it is necessary after expiration of 70 % of the initial service life to reverse the polarity of the electrode outputs. The pins that were connected to the main terminals and to the ballast are switched with the pins connected to the starter on other circuit members that perform heating of the electrodes at the moment of switching. The reversal of polarity is performed when the illuminating part of the electrode spiral accounts for 35 to 50 % of the total number of its turns. The reversal of polarity may be performed several times within the service life. EFFECT: longer service life. 1 cl, 4 dwg