Designing light sources for solar-powered systems

The design of a fluorescent lamp power circuit for (portable) light sources, using a photovoltaic-supplied battery as an intermediate energy buffer, is documented. The described driver circuit, which is based on a class-E resonant inverter, operates on a high frequency (125 kHz), requires low-cost components and simple design and exhibits high efficiency (over 85%). The circuit provides resonance ignition, sinusoidal lamp current and illumination intensity control. These operating conditions are optimal, and they yield a long tube life. Experimental results from a 7 W lamp are included.<
>