Hi all,
Need a bit of help from the wizz kids-----
My build garage is not on the mains so have been useing a small suitcase genny but now im being able to spend more time there i do not wish to p*+" the locals off so have got a inverter to run my two 4" tube lights(flouresence) of 36 watts each ,have two very large batts fully charged but it will not start the tubes !!!!!!!! help please------- ps the inverter is 300 watts continuous.

My 200 watt invertor manages to start 2 x 5ft tubes OK . Try starting one at a time?

have you checked them plugged in at home? Might just be the starter things. Or try lighting one at once.

i *think* flourescent tubes take a LOT of power to get them started, then settle down to a more resonable power. the starter is really just a capacitor AFAIK.

maybe the invertor isn't quite up to it... maybe a long extension lead from the house might be a better option?

Assuming you've already tested the inverter, say with a 60W 240V incandescent light, it may be a problem with the output waveform. Most inverters do not give anything like a sine wave.

[Edited on 10/7/07 by Macbeast]