Flourescent lights and magnetic fields

[NotThatOne]

Hi,

My first post, so hello to all.

I've just fitted an Eterna flourescent fitting in my workshop. Electronic ballast driving an Osram T18 tube. The light works, but seems very feeble; certainly nothing like the claimed "equivalent to 2 x 60W bulbs" on the packaging.

Then I realised that sitting in storage on the joists just above the fixture are two 18inch loudspeaker drivers. These create a fairly strong magnetic field, which makes me wonder if this field will affect the ability of a flourescent fitting (or its electronic ballast) to operate properly. Naturally I could find out by moving the drivers elsewhere, but in the meantime, does anyone know if magnetic fields affect flourescents?

Thanks very much!

 

[Qedelec]

Never come across this but a flourecent tube works by exciting the coating on the inside of the tube, is it possible the speaker drivers are dampening the tube.

 

[NotThatOne]

That's what I wondered; whether the tube is being paralysed by the static field from the loudspeakers. I'll try moving the drivers and see if I'm blinded by the light (sorry...).

 

[NotThatOne]

Some wisdom from Don Klipstein in the US: magnetic fields shouldn't affect the fixture in such a way as to reduce the light output (although they do cause other lesser effects). So I guess it's down to the light not being sufficiently powerful for my needs. Time to get a bigger one then.

 

[Spark123]

Did you give the tube plenty of time to warm up?