I am quite sure I read a thread explaining this but I cannot find it. Is it me or is the search function really crappy? Does it support boolean expression for poster or words?
Anyway, to get to my question. I notice fluorescent tubes start getting black at one end and later they fail. What causes them to fail? Does the gas inside suffer any changes during its life? What is the black color at one end? Why only one end?
Sailor:
You might want to check out the following:
http://www.misty.com/~don/f-lamp.html#cbb
I was reading bits and pieces of the FAQ and found it quite informative. (It’s funny… like you, I have a fairly good understanding of electrical and electronic theory - except for those damn fluorescent bulbs, of which I know virtually nothing about. I printed the entire FAQ and will finally “educate” myslef on these mysterious beasts.)
Crafter_Man, thanks for the link. I have a deja vu feeling that this same question was asked before and that link was also posted as a response.
At any rate, it is interesting in general and does answer my question.