CCFL in old document scanner
FA info icon.svg Angle down icon.svg Project data
Authors Stef Breukel
Location Amsterdam
Status Prototyped
Made Yes
OKH Manifest Download
FA info icon.svg Angle down icon.svg Device data
Hardware license CERN-OHL-S
Certifications Start OSHWA certification

This page shows:

  1. How to use a CCFL and electronic ballast out of an old SCSI document scanner and a fax machine
  2. Advantages and disadvantages of different types of lamps.

How to use a CCFL and electronic ballast out of an old SCSI document scanner[edit | edit source]

You can use a CCFL and electronic ballast out of an old SCSI document scanner. Just so you know a ballast is the same as an Inverter. Also not all scanners have CCFL technology the new ones have LED technology and very old black and white faxes have LED technology. You may be lucky enough to find in some scanners a separated CCFL inverter circuit board.

WARNING the CCFL inverter has a dangerous high voltage output

old scanner with CCFL and inverter

Instructions[edit | edit source]

  • Make a drawing of the electronic schema
  • Some times you can find a circuit board with the CCFL inverter electronics and some scanning electronics.
  • You have to separate the scanning electronic parts
  • Cut of the CCFL ballast unrelated electronic
  • Now it have the right shape to use this inverter to light up the CCFL lamp.
  • It is possible to use a CCFL inverter in combination with a normal fluorescent tube lamp

How to use a CCFL lamp and ballast out of a fax machine[edit | edit source]

CCFL in old FAX

It is possible to use a CCFL and electronic ballast out off an old fax machine, however some fax machines have a colored CCFL tube

  • In some colored CCFL tube faxes it is possible to take the colored film off
  • Some colored CCFL tube faxes have colored glass, then the tube is useless for the lamp cap
  • The CCFL tube is in the paper scanning part of the fax
  • CCFL ballast is connected with the CCFL tube
  • Not all fax machines have CCFL technology
  • New fax machines and the very old fax machines have LED technology

Advantages and disadvantages of different types of lamps[edit | edit source]

Disadvantages Kerosene lamps[edit | edit source]

  • Kerosene lamps pollute the air, which can lead to health problems
  • Kerosene lamps lose a lot of energy while producing heat

Disadvantages Edison light bulb[edit | edit source]

  • Glow bulb lamps lose a lot of energy while producing heat and attracts insects

Disadvantages LED lighting[edit | edit source]

  • LED lighting is very expensive as an alternative to fluorescent tubing though it does offer an increased lamplife of 50,000 run hours (approx 10 years) over a fluorescent tube which is typically 9000 hours. Modern LED alternatives to fluorescent tubing also offer a power saving of about 40-60% though this saving is normally not great enough to pay back the difference in cost between the LED alternative and fluorescent tube over the life of the fitting.

Disadvantages Energy saving fluorescent bulbs lamps[edit | edit source]

  • Energy saving fluorescent bulbs lamps have a short life and cannot handle vibrations and are expensive
  • Many types contains mercury and other dangerous metals

Advantages Standard fluorescent tubes[edit | edit source]

  • Standard fluorescent tubes have a long life and are energy efficient and are cheap.

Disadvantages ballast with thyristor[edit | edit source]

  • Fluorescent bulbs and tubes have a thyristor in the electronic ballast
  • This thyristor spoils a lot of energy producing heat.
  • The base or outlet end of the fluorescent lamp has two filament coils
  • These coils spoil a lot of energy producing heat wen used with a thyristor ballast

Advantages CCFL and EEFL inverter[edit | edit source]

Wikipedia:CCFL inverter

  • have no thyristor that heat up, but has two transistors.
  • CCFL inverter can work on minimum 6 volt power

Advantages CCFL lamp[edit | edit source]

  • Smaller, thinner, and more light weight than a known fluorescent lamp.
  • Have no filament coils that heat up, but Cold cathodes.
  • Have a longer life
  • Can better handle vibrations.
  • This makes the CCFL lamp very use full to use in all areas

Advantages EEFL lamp[edit | edit source]

  • Smaller, thinner and more light weight than a known fluorescent lamp.
  • Have no filament coils that heat up, but External Electrodes.

External Electrodes can easely take lose from the Fluorescent Lamp

  • Have a longer life than CCFL
  • Can better handle vibrations.
  • More EEFL lamps can connect parallel on one EEFL inverter
  • This makes the EEFL lamp very use full to use in poor areas

Advantages CCFL inverter+FL lamp[edit | edit source]

  • you can use the CCFL inverter to light up a old fluorescent lamp.
  • The inverter use the filament coils like Cold cathodes.
  • Does not Matter if these coils are broken.
  • the end of the fluorescent lamp does not heat up.

Disadvantages CCFL and EEFL[edit | edit source]

The mercury in the tubes fluorescent-bulbs

Importance of Lamp Cap with the following benefits[edit | edit source]

Like the 3rd world CCFL lamp (2007 model) the inverter near the CCFL-tubes-lamps

  • Energy efficient
  • Protected against falling from heights
  • Protected against vibrations
  • Protected against impressions
  • Water, air and insect tight
  • Acceptable design
  • Easy to adjust in any direction
  • Inexpensive
  • Can work on low plus and min (DC) voltage
  • can be made partly of recycled materials

Links[edit | edit source]

Inverter for fluorescent lamp 3rd world CCFL lamp (2007 model)

External links[edit | edit source]

FA info icon.svg Angle down icon.svg Page data
Part of 3rd world arm lamp
Keywords ccfl, cold cathode fluorescent lamps, scanner, fax machine, lamps, electronics, 3rd world arm lamp, electric lighting, inverter
SDG SDG11 Sustainable cities and communities
Authors Stef Breukel
License CC-BY-SA-3.0
Organizations Demotech
Language English (en)
Translations Chinese
Related 1 subpages, 35 pages link here
Impact 1,759 page views
Created December 10, 2006 by Stef Breukel
Modified March 8, 2024 by Kathy Nativi
Cookies help us deliver our services. By using our services, you agree to our use of cookies.