Sharp preheat FML27 CFL desk lamp that I imported from Japan

Have you ever known that FML27 CFL fixtures were made with preheat ballasts from the factory? What you see here is a Japanese preheat FML27 CFL desk lamp that I imported from Japan that uses a 100V 50Hz ballast and a screw in E17 base FG-1E glowbottle starter instead of a manual push button switch that is used on most preheat fluorescent desk lamps.

[@kenytha5]

Despite the ballast being given "too much voltage," it actually isn't because of the 50hz. How does that work?

[@worldwidehidcollectorusa3519]

As far as I know, if you increase the applied frequency on an inductive load, it will draw less current if you run it on the same voltage due to the increased AC resistance, which results in lamps being underdriven somewhat. In order to compensate for that, you would need to increase the applied voltage in order for the fluorescent lamp to run properly like from 100V to 110V in order to compensate for the lamp being underdriven on a 100V 60Hz supply. In that case, it essentially acts like a 110V 60Hz ballast. But when it runs at 120V 60Hz, there is a slight overload but it is within a tolerable level since the difference between 110V and 120V is so neglibible that the ballast should experience very little reduction in its service life.

[@Yanyan_isnothere]

Nice

[@RWCTY452-5]

Is this a 2 pin pl light bulb

[@worldwidehidcollectorusa3519]

The lamp is actually a 4 pin FML27 CFL lamp hooked up to an external replaceable starter installed in the desk lamp. A fun fact about the starter is that it is a screw in type that uses an intermediate base like you see on C9 Christmas lights. They are unique to Japan and this desk lamp is made for the Japanese market. The starter can be seen at the 5:03 timestamp of this video.