Description.

Here is a simple and effective circuit for driving florescent lamps from a 12 V supply.The circuit is nothing but consists of an oscillator, a MOSFET switch and a step-up transformer for driving the florescent lamp.

The IC1 TLC 555 is wired as an astable multivibrator for producing the necessary oscillations.The MOSFET Q1 is used to amplify the oscillations produced by the IC1.The out put of MOSFET is connected to the primary of the step up transformer to produce a ~400 V AC for driving the florescent lamp.

Circuit diagram with Parts list.

12-v-flouroscent-lamp-driver-circuit.JPG

Notes.

  • C3 and C2 must be 25V ceramic capacitors.
  • C2 must be electrolytic.
  • For T1, use a 10W ,230V to10V step down transformer in the inverted configuration.That is 10V winding must be connected to the MOSFET side and 240V winding must be connected to florescent lamp side.
  • Use a 12V lead acid battery for powering the circuit.
  • It is better to fix a heat sink to Q1.
  • The florescent lamp can be of a 4W one.
Author

8 Comments

  1. PATIENCE

    can u replace that fluorescent by an economical lamp?

  2. This is excellent website please update circuits day to day

  3. Seetharaman

    Hi Ashu yes you change the transformer with 10 volt / 230 volt 60VA rating transformer. other circuit is same. battery should be capable of providing 5amps X number of hours required.

  4. I need a12v, 40w florescent tube circuit. will it do if i change the transformer of this circuit?

  5. seetharaman

    Hi Mohammed
    C3 with transformer is a tuned circuit to transfer the energy to tube with high efficiency.