Tube lights primarily operate using alternating current (AC) rather than direct current (DC). The design of traditional fluorescent tube lights is based on the principles of gas discharge and relies on the characteristics of AC power.
In a fluorescent tube light, there is a gas, typically mercury vapor, contained within the glass tube. When an AC voltage is applied across the electrodes at each end of the tube, the gas inside ionizes, creating a plasma. This ionization process releases ultraviolet (UV) photons.
The phosphor coating on the interior surface of the tube then absorbs the UV photons and re-emits visible light. This is the process that produces the illumination in a fluorescent tube light. Because AC power alternates direction periodically, the ionization and deionization processes occur at a high frequency, typically 50 or 60 hertz, depending on the region’s power grid.
It’s worth noting that while traditional fluorescent tube lights operate on AC, modern LED tube lights are more versatile and can work with both AC and DC power sources. LEDs (Light Emitting Diodes) are semiconductor devices that directly convert electrical energy into light and do not rely on gas discharge like fluorescent tubes. As a result, LEDs can be designed to operate with both AC and DC power supplies, providing flexibility in their applications.
In summary, traditional fluorescent tube lights are designed to work with AC power due to the ionization process that occurs within the gas-filled tube. However, modern LED tube lights can operate on both AC and DC power sources, offering increased versatility and energy efficiency.
