CCFL inverter

CCFLinverterisacircuitthatisusedtopowertheCCFLlamps(CCFL=ColdCathodeFluorescentLamp).These
circuitsusuallyusesimpleconvertersoperatingathighfrequencyandusinghighvoltageminiaturetransformer.Output
currentislimitedcapacitivelyusingahighvoltage(fewkV)capacitorwithasmallcapacitance(tensofpF).Coldcathode
fluorescentlamp(CCFL)hasonlytwooutlets,becauseithasnopreheating.ItisusedmostoftenforbacklightingLCD
panelsinmonitorsandLCDTVsets,andalsoPCtuning,cartuninganddecorativeeffects.Itisalsopossibletousethem
forillumination.Inaddition,therearewhiteaswellascolorandUV(blacklight)CCFLavailable.Capacitivecurrent
limitingispossiblebecausetheoutputvoltageissinusoidal.Theinverteroperatesinresonantmode.Itisancurrentfed
inverter.ThisisensuredbyL1choke.Currentofthefluorescenttubes(andthuspower)canbeadjustedbychangingC1
andC2.Operatingfrequencyisabout50kHz.ItcanbeadjustedbyC3.Bychangingthefrequencythepowerisalso
changed.Thebrightnessoffluorescentlampscanbecontrolledbychangingthesupplyvoltageinrangefrom5Vto12V.
Controlispossibleintherangefromabout5or10%to100%brightness.Withlessvoltagethan5V,itmayhappenthat
onlyapartofthelampswillbelit.Oneendofthelampstartstoglowatcca1.5VandtheentireCCFLlampislitfrom5V.
WhenconnectingCCFLstoTr1transformerobservethecoldandliveend(thecoldendofthetransformersandfluorescent
tubeshavethinnerinsulationthanthoselive).ThecircuitItestedsuccessfullywithtransistors2SC5707,2SC1384and
BD139.Tr1canbeobtainedfromtheLCDmonitor,orotherdevicewithCCFL.Windingyourownwouldbedifficultdue
thelargenumberofturnsofathinwireatsecondary.ItispossibletorewindPRIMARYoftransformersthatoriginallyhad
onlyoneprimary(thoseintendedforconverterswithMOSFETandcontrolintegratedcircuit).Youcanuseanothernumber
oflampsitdependsonthepowerofthetransformer.Itestedthedriveontubes2x350mmof17''monitors.Iidentified
themastypewithparameters:1200Vstartvoltage,850Voperatingvoltage,maximumcurrentof5mA,maxpower4.25
W,Therisetimeofminutes,thedrivefrequencyof20100kHz.Inverterefficiencyisabout8090%,sotheinputpowerof
tubescanbeestimatedas0.85xpowerinputoftheinverter,soPtubes=0.85xUinxIin.Witha12Vpowersupply,
therefore,thesetwotubesshoulddraw833mA.Ifpowerdoesnotmatch,itcanbeadjustedbyvaryingcapacitiesC1and
C2(smallercapacitance=lesspower).ItcanalsobefineadjustedbychangingthefrequencybychangingthevalueofC3.
Warning!There'sadangeroushighvoltageattheoutput!Youdoeverythingonyourownrisk.Authordoesnot
takeanyresponsibilityforanyofyourharm.

SchematicofthesimpleCCFLinverter

TestingthehomemadeCCFLinverterwith2SC5707(C5707)transistors

TransistorC5707,coilTL1andthehighvoltagetransformerTr1

Waveformatthecollectorofonetransistorthehalfsinewavescope.

VariousCCFLfrom17''monitors.

Detailoftheelectrodes

CCFLandtheLCDboard.

CCFLatfullpower.

CCFLatverylowpoweronlyapartislit.

Nowtestingwith2SC1384(C1384)

ThedetailoftheendsofCCFLs

CCFLinverteroparating

Mni pro CCFL a stmvn / Cold cathode Fluorescent lamp invert...

VideoDimmingoftheCCFLinverter.

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