10 40W FLUORESCENT INVERTER PROJECT

This 40W fluorescent inverter project is powered by 555 timer IC and use to drive fluorescent tubes, compact fluorescent lamp (CFL) and even defective fluorescent tube.

From a 12V supply voltage, timer IC generates square wave voltage of about 4.8 kHz. The primary winding (16 turns of #22 AWG) will generate current pulses of about 4A, and in return will induce a high voltage at the secondary winding (450 turns of #30 AWG) of the inverter. This voltage is enough to strike the fluorescent tube even if the filament is not heated thus very suitable to tubes with broken filaments (burnt out filaments).

This inverter project is very suitable in lighting defective fluorescent tubes, thus helps in minimizing tubes disposal problems. The inverter also can light two 40W tubes in series.

Transformer Construction:
The core used is a antenna bar or the ferrite rod. First wind 16 turns of #22 AWG magnetic wire, the above its winding, wind the secondary or the high voltage winding using #30AWG magnetic wire.

windings using ferrite rod

Note: The output of the inverter produces very high voltage and can cause electrocution. Avoid touching it.