Energy-saving lamps are becoming very popular with the population. The fact that the price of them constantly, although not too quickly, decreases, increases the demand for them. Compared to a conventional lamp, energy-saving lamps not only save energy, but also last longer. Unfortunately, they are not perfect and can fail. Should I throw them out right away?
Components of a lamp
Although energy-saving lamps are a recent phenomenon, there have already been masters who dismantled them, examined them, found the main weaknesses and the ability to fix them. If the lamp has ceased to shine, first of all it should be inspected for mechanical damage. A visual inspection shows that it consists of a bulb, more like a tube, inside of which there are filaments, a ballast, in which there is a mechanism that helps straighten and stabilize the tension of the filaments, and a base. The latter is considered the most important part in the lamp, sinceit is he who is screwed into the cartridge to connect the device with an electric current.
The principle of operation of an energy-saving lamp
During the operation of an energy-saving lamp, complex processes occur that lead to the supply of light. To begin with, electrical voltage heats the electrodes. This action leads to the release of electrons. Inside the flask is an inert gas, namely mercury vapor (because of which it is not recommended to dispose of energy-saving lamps as ordinary waste). In the process of combining the released electrons with mercury vapor atoms, a plasma is formed. It produces an ultraviolet glow invisible to the human eye. Therefore, in the lamp on the walls of the glass there is another substance - a phosphor, which gives us visible light. This complex process provides us with light, which is several times cheaper than what Ilyich's light bulbs give.
Under what conditions is it impossible to repair an energy-saving lamp
Energy-saving lamps last a long time. Judging by advertising, it is almost infinite. However, on each product, the number of hours is declared during which it will properly illuminate the room. Then the light will dim until it goes out completely. This is no longer corrected, as the reserves of the phosphor have been depleted. It is impossible to repair the device if it is broken or if two filaments have burned out in it at once. In other cases, you can try to repair an energy-saving lamp with your own hands.
What you need for repairs
Inspection and repair of energy-saving lamps are as follows. It is worth remembering that the repair of any equipment is not a matter for amateurs. In this case, it is also worth considering whether there is sufficient skill in working with such devices. It is good to have a radio engineering education in order to understand the circuits, since the principle of operation of such lamps is based on such knowledge. In addition, the tools used in such work will not interfere. And, of course, the availability of spare parts, because even if you disassemble the lamp and understand why it stopped shining ahead of time, you won’t be able to fix it without replacing the used parts with working ones. It is worth creating a fund of unusable light bulbs so that the repair of an energy-saving lamp is successful and does not burden the family budget too much. If there are no stocks from old devices yet, and the need for repairs has already arisen, you can buy spare parts, a set of which costs no more than a new light bulb. According to the masters, a repair kit will cost about 40 rubles. In any case, this is cheaper than a new product, the cost of which still varies from 80 to 150 rubles. In this situation, the savings are obvious - after all, it is for the sake of this that it is worth doing the repair of an energy-saving lamp with your own hands.
Network voltage
What could be the reasons for the premature failure of the lamp? First of all - voltage drops in the electrical network. This is the main enemy of energy-saving lamps, which in their design have a circuit board with electronic ballast. This is what keeps her fromit is unpleasant to flicker or get too hot. Voltage drops also have causes that can be eliminated. If there are power surges in your area, and there are energy-saving lamps at home, it is worth installing a voltage controller in the network after the meter. Thus, you protect your expensive energy-saving lamps from power surges and surges. When checking the voltage, it should give a reading of 310 V, since it is this value that is output at an amplitude voltage of 220 V. Repair of an energy-saving lamp can be avoided if there are no sudden jumps in the network. If everything is working properly, it is worth checking the contacts in the cartridge or switch. In the cold season, an increased load on power lines can lead to drawdowns, which also leads to power surges.
Disassembly of the lamp
So, having examined the device, armed with a tester, a soldering iron and a set of screwdrivers, you can start repairing an energy-saving lamp. To begin with, it is worth disassembling. What is the complexity of disassembly? The lamp is secured with latches, which will have to be carefully squeezed out with a wide flat screwdriver or knife, and then simply removed. If, during separation, a part of the body broke off, this is not the worst thing - at the end of the work it can be glued into place. When the base and bulb are successfully disconnected, you need to carefully disconnect the wire that connects the bulbs and ballast. To tear it off sharply means to nullify all your efforts. Disconnecting the wires is not difficult, as they are not soldered, but simply taped.
Problems withspiral
A tester will help us detect a breakdown. They should check the filaments and their performance. If the spiral burns out, the repair of an energy-saving lamp should be started with this action. If the resistance of each thread is 10-15 ohms, then they are quite suitable and ready to serve further. If the indicator is lower, then this indicates the unsuitability of the device. Repair of an energy-saving lamp with a burned-out spiral occurs by replacing it with an identical one. This is where an arsenal of spare parts comes in handy, among which you can find something suitable. If spare parts are not found, it is worth shunting the non-working flask with a resistor with a resistance of 5 ohms. If this is not done, the bulb will not work. Of course, such a repair will significantly reduce the life of the lamp, but without it, it will definitely go to waste. In addition, the brightness will not be up to par.
When the problem is in the ballast
If the filaments are OK, then the problem is most likely in the ballast. Repairing the ballast of energy-saving lamps with your own hands is worth starting if you have a clear action plan and the skills necessary for this. Sometimes a visual inspection can show exactly where the problem is, as the burnout is usually visible. If visual problems are not found, again it is worth resorting to the help of a tester. First you need to ring the fuse. It is he who takes over all the surges of electricity. With a multimeter, we check the diode bridges that rectify the voltage. The filter capacitor is checked next. Its malfunction is visible without additionalmeters. Swelling or streaks indicate its failure. A high voltage capacitor can also cause lamp failure. In order to check the performance of the transistor, you will have to unsolder it and check the resistance measurements. Faulty parts found must be soldered and replaced with working ones. You can find them in spare lamps by doing the same operations with them. If possible, this should be done immediately, as soon as the lamp has become unusable - remove all usable parts from it, dispose of the rest.
Lamp assembly
When the lamp is already repaired, you can start assembling. However, after connecting all the wires, it is worth checking it: screw the disassembled lamp into the cartridge and apply electricity. If the lamp is lit without flickering, you can continue with the assembly. If there are shortcomings, you can eliminate them immediately. It is worth noting that when replacing one spare part with another, it may well happen that it will be difficult to put everything in its place. Therefore, it is necessary to move all newly installed spare parts to the center, carefully observing that there are no creases that can lead to a short circuit. In some cases, it is also necessary to ensure that the soldered parts of the parts do not touch. Typically, devices have a power of 6 to 55 watts. Repair of energy-saving lamps for 55 W or 30 is carried out the same way, regardless of power.
Difficulties that can be avoided
When disassembling an energy-saving lamp, do not rush andapply force. Accuracy and perseverance will help to avoid many mistakes that will not only delay the desired result, but also bring significant harm. If in the process of repairing an energy-saving lamp a piece of the body broke off, a wire came off, you should not be upset, all this is quite possible to glue, solder, repair. Of course, this will take extra time, but it was said earlier that strength and haste in this situation is only a hindrance. For many, it is important to have instructions at hand. It's easy to get it. Product manufacturers usually post detailed instructions in PDF format on their official websites. Repair of an energy-saving lamp can be carried out according to this guide. If the manufacturer has not provided such information, then you can use the general tips that are described in this article.
Discard or recycle
As it turned out, repairing an energy-saving lamp is not only difficult, but also unsafe. Everyone knows that mercury is an element hazardous to human he alth. Its vapors are no less poisonous. When repairing, a person leans over the device. Therefore, if the lamp was broken by negligence, a very high concentration of mercury in the air will result, directly in the breathing zone of the repairer. Ventilating the room will certainly help, but the fragments must be quickly removed and disposed of so that they cannot continue to poison the air. It is not recommended to bury them, since mercury will continue to exude its poison for a long time, not only in the air, but also in the soil. Therefore, the problem is onlyget worse.
If you are not sure that the repair will go well, perhaps you should not take it on, because he alth, which can be ruined in a few minutes, is much more expensive than 100 rubles, which will have to be spent on a new lamp. Throwing out the old one, however, is not worth it. It must be disposed of at special collection points. In large cities there are such points. They can be found by contacting the local branch of the SES. Previously, these stations were engaged in the reception of mercury waste. Now, not all Sanitary Supervision services take on such responsibility.
In connection with all the above difficulties, it is worth considering whether it is necessary to purchase such dangerous lamps at all. Is it worth saving them at home for spare parts, or simply because there is nowhere to turn them in? Is it necessary to prolong the life of such a dangerous neighbor? And wouldn't it be better to switch to LED bulbs, which are a bit more expensive but don't have the same intimidating qualities?
