Energy-saving lamps are becoming very popular among the population. The fact that the price for them is constantly, although not too fast, is decreasing, increases demand for them. Compared with a conventional lamp, energy-saving not only save energy, but also last longer. Unfortunately, they are imperfect and can fail. Should I throw them away right away?
Lamp components
Although energy-saving lamps are a recent phenomenon, there were already masters who disassembled, examined, found the main weak points and the ability to fix them. If the lamp stops shining, first of all it should be examined for mechanical damage. A visual inspection shows that it consists of a bulb that looks more like a tube, inside of which there are incandescent filaments, ballast, in which there is a mechanism to help straighten and stabilize the tension of the filaments, and a cap. The latter is considered the most important part in the lamp, since it is it that is screwed into the cartridge to connect the device to electric current.
The principle of operation of an energy-saving lamp
When the energy-saving lamp is working, complex processes occur that lead to the supply of light. To begin with, the voltage heats the electrodes. This effect leads to the release of electrons. An inert gas is located inside the flask, namely mercury vapor (because of which it is not recommended to dispose of energy-saving lamps as ordinary waste). In the process of combining released electrons with atoms of mercury vapor, 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 supplies us with light, which is several times cheaper than what Ilyich’s bulbs give.
In what conditions is it impossible to repair an energy-saving lamp?
Energy-saving lamps work for a long time. Judging by the advertising, it is almost endless. However, on each product the number of hours is declared during which it will regularly illuminate the room. Then the light will fade until it goes out completely. This is no longer being corrected, since phosphor reserves have been depleted. It is not possible to repair the device if it is broken or if two incandescent filaments burned out in it at once. In other cases, you can try to repair the energy-saving lamp with your own hands.
What will be needed for repair
Inspection and repair of energy-saving lamps are as follows. It is worth remembering that repairing any equipment is not a business for amateurs. It is also worth considering if there is sufficient skill to work with similar 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, it will not work to repair it without replacing the old parts. It is worth creating a certain fund of unusable 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 supplies from old devices yet, and the need for repair has already arisen, you can buy spare parts, the 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 this reason that you should do the repair of an energy-saving lamp with your own hands.
Mains voltage
What could be the reasons for premature lamp failure? First of all, voltage drops in the electric network. This is the main enemy of energy-saving lamps, which in their design have a board with electronic ballast. That is what prevents her from unpleasantly flickering or overheating. Power surges also have causes that can be eliminated. If power surges are observed in your area, and energy-saving lamps are installed at home, you should install a voltage monitor 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 issued at an amplitude voltage of 220 V. Repair of an energy-saving lamp can be avoided if there are no sudden surges in the network. If everything works properly, it is worth checking the contacts in the cartridge or switch. In the cold season, increased load on the power lines can lead to subsidence, which also leads to power surges.
Lamp disassembly
So, having examined the device, armed with a tester, a soldering iron and a set of screwdrivers, you can start repairing the energy-saving lamp. To begin with, it is worth disassembling. What is the difficulty of disassembling? The lamp is fixed with latches, which will have to be gently squeezed out with a flat, wide screwdriver or knife, and then simply removed. If part of the case breaks off during separation, this is not the worst thing - at the end of the work it can be glued into place. When the base and the bulb are successfully disconnected, you need to carefully disconnect the wire that connects the bulb and ballast. To tear it off sharply means to reduce all your efforts to nothing. It is not difficult to disconnect the wires, as they are not soldered, but simply wound.
Spiral problems
A tester will help us detect a breakdown. They should check the filament and their performance. If the spiral burns out, the repair of an energy-saving lamp should begin 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 burnt spiral occurs by replacing it with an identical one. This is where the 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 idle flask with a resistor with a resistance of 5 ohms. If this is not done, the flask will not work. Of course, such a repair will significantly reduce the lamp life, but without it, it will definitely go to the scrap. In addition, the brightness will not be up to par.
When the problem is ballast
If the incandescent filament is in order, then most likely the problem is ballast. Do-it-yourself ballast repair of energy-saving lamps should be started if you have a clear action plan and the necessary skills for this. Sometimes a visual inspection can show exactly where the malfunction is, since the place of burnout is usually visible. If no visual problems are found, again it is worth resorting to the help of a tester. First you need to ring the fuse. It is he who takes on all the surges of electricity. With a multimeter, we check diode bridges that rectify the voltage. The next filter capacitor is checked. Its malfunction is visible without additional meters. Swelling or sagging indicates failure. A high voltage capacitor can also cause lamp failure. In order to check the operability of the transistor, it will have to be pulled out and resistance measurements checked. Detected defective parts need to be unsoldered and replaced with working ones. You can detect them in spare lamps by doing the same operations with them. If possible, this should be done immediately, as soon as the lamp became unusable - remove all suitable parts from it, dispose of the rest.
Lamp assembly
When the lamp has already been repaired, you can start assembling. However, first, having connected all the wires, it is worth checking it: screw the disassembled lamp into the lampholder and apply electricity. If the lamp is lit without flickering, assembly can continue. If there are flaws, you can fix them right away. It is worth noting that when replacing some parts with others, it may well happen that it will be difficult to put everything in its place. Therefore, you need to move all newly installed parts to the center, carefully observing so that there are no creases that can lead to a short circuit. In some cases, care must also be taken to ensure that the soldered parts do not touch. Typically, devices have power from 6 to 55 watts. Repair of energy-saving lamps at 55 W or 30 is carried out equally, regardless of power.
Avoidable Difficulties
When disassembling an energy-saving lamp, do not rush and use force. Accuracy and perseverance will help to avoid a lot of mistakes that will not only push the desired result, but also bring significant harm. If in the process of repairing an energy-saving lamp, a piece of the housing breaks off, the wire comes off, do not be upset, all this is quite possible to glue, solder, repair. Of course, this will take extra time, but earlier it was said that strength and haste in this situation is only a hindrance. For many, it is important that there is an instruction at hand. Getting it is easy. Manufacturers usually post detailed instructions in PDF format on their official websites. An energy-saving lamp can be repaired according to this guide. If the manufacturer did not provide such information, then you can use the general tips that are described in this article.
Discard or dispose of
As it turned out, repairing an energy-saving lamp is not only difficult, but also unsafe. Everyone knows that mercury is a hazard to human health. Her couples are no less poisonous. During repair, a person leans over the device. Therefore, if the lamp was broken due to negligence, a very high concentration of mercury in the air will be obtained, directly in the breathing area of the repairing person. Ventilating the room, of course, will help, but the fragments must be quickly removed and disposed of so that they are not able to 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. Consequently, the problem will only worsen.
If you are not sure that the repair will be successful, you probably should not take it for yourself, because health that can be ruined in a few minutes is much more expensive than 100 rubles that you have to spend on a new lamp. Throwing away the old one, however, is not worth it. It must be disposed of at special collection points. In large cities there are such points. You can find them by contacting your local SES branch. Previously, these stations were involved in the reception of mercury wastes. Now, not all Sanitary Inspection services take such responsibility.
In connection with all these difficulties, it is worth considering whether it is necessary to acquire such dangerous lamps at all. Is it worth saving them at home for spare parts, or simply because they have nowhere to turn in? Is it necessary to extend the life of such a dangerous neighbor? And is it not better to switch to LED lamps, which are a little more expensive, but do not have such terrifying qualities?