Brinkmeyer
Sun Ray Arc Lamp
SUNLAMP-CIRCUITS
The electric circuit of a sunlamp in its basic form
consisted of two carbon rods or a gas discharge
tube in series with a ballast. The objective of this
serial ballast was to stabilise the current through the
ultraviolet source since, other than incandescent
lamps or Kanthal elements, carbon arc- and gas
discharge ultraviolet radiators were not electrically
stable by themselves.
Over time a number of sunlamp circuits have
become common practice, starting with carbon arc
sunlamps with passive serial ballasts that had no
other use than limiting the current, as with the
Brinkmeyer Sun Ray Arc Lamp on display here
where the ballast is integrated in the base of the
sunlamp.
