| One of the first things you will want to do using | | | | Since the tube contains mercury never break |
| home automation is to dim all your controlled lights | | | | open a fluorescent lighting tube - mercury is |
| to preset levels to set the so called scene. One | | | | poisonous (but there is only a very small amount |
| problem is that you can't dim a fluorescent light | | | | inside). |
| fixture. | | | | One of the reasons the fluorescent tube is so |
| The main reason is that dimmable home | | | | popular is that it is extremely efficient since once |
| automation modules work by sending signals | | | | the arc is created inside the tube (and it |
| through the bulb and in a fluorescent light there is | | | | generates ultraviolet light) the white coating on |
| a ballast resistor that prevents this also the | | | | the inside fluoresces due to the ultraviolet and |
| fluorescent light is actually similar to a controlled | | | | radiates visible light. This process generates no |
| lightning arc i.e. very high voltage and it will fry any | | | | heat so most of the electric energy is converted |
| digital (low voltage) electronics attached to it. | | | | to light. |
| Some background on fluorescent lights | | | | In comparison a normal light bulb (incandescent |
| A fluorescent tube works by heating liquid | | | | light) is designed to operate by burning a metal in |
| mercury until it becomes a vapour and ionizing a | | | | an inert gas and this generates lots of heat as |
| gas (usually argon). The ballast device produces | | | | well as a little light. |
| extremely high voltage to kick start the ionization | | | | Note: A fluorescent light is about 5 times as |
| process (and once started the voltage falls back | | | | efficient as a normal bulb (this is also why you can |
| to a low level). | | | | buy a 15W flourescent that outputs the same |
| Note: This is why the tube flickers on start up - | | | | light as a normal 60 watt bulb. |
| the automatic switch within the tube electronics | | | | Dimmable fluorescent light |
| detects if current flows and re-tries the start | | | | Because of the way the fluorescent lights work |
| process until it does. | | | | you can not dim them but you can use an |
| Once started the tube settles at its own current | | | | appliance module to turn them on and off. An |
| level limited by the ballast device. This current | | | | appliance module has a relay inside that switches |
| level depends on the design of the ballast device | | | | the power to the fluorescent bulb independently |
| and the AC current frequency 120Hz and the | | | | from the home automation electronics so that the |
| specifics of the tube - all these are fixed. | | | | sensitive electronic circuit is protected. |