Cold Fluorescent Bulbs


So what is a cold cathode? In most fluorescent bulbs, a cathode is heated to produce light, but with cold cathodes the cathode operates at the ambient room temperature. They offer several advantages over the others like,

• they have a very long life,
  
• they can be dimmed,
  
• they can be used in flashing signs,
• they can be exposed to the elements

But the only problem with them so far is that they're not too bright. This cold cathode fluorescent (CCF) technology is excellent for computer case mods and backlights for flat-panel displays, but barely bright enough to use as lamps. For instance, a 5-watt lamp, one of the brightest ones available, can only put out the equivalent of a 20- to 25-watt incandescent bulb.