Why is a 120mA transformer better than 200mA ballasts for Cold Cathode Lighting?
A 120mA transformer is designed for Cold Cathode lighting. A cold cathode lamp is 25mm (1″) diameter. There is enough glass surface on a 25mm lamp to dissipate the heat that is generated by a 120mA transformer. A 200-mA ballast over-drives a 25mm cold cathode lamp each and every time. There is not enough glass surface to dissipate the heat and the result is the burning of the lamp phosphors which results in irregularities in illumination and color. Within months, the 25mm cold cathode lamp that is connected to a 200-mA ballast has lost so much illumination that it is actually dimmer than a 25mm cold cathode lamp connected to a 120-mA transformer. The results speak for themselves…
