1438

1438 Application Field and Working Principle

The 1438 load current limiter has been used for years in various lighting and power applications. Traditional incandescent lamps and neon lamps, as well as other low wattage lighting devices such as LED Strip Lights can benefit from this device. In this article we will explain how the 1438 works in these two applications.

Incandescent Lamps

Incandescent lamps are devices for converting electrical energy into light. They consist of a thin glass tube and a metal filament wound inside it. An electric current running thought the filament causes it to heat up and emit light. However, the current should not be over the maximum allowed since this can cause damage to the filament.

The 1438 current limiter is a device designed to protect incandescent lamps from exceeding the maximum current they can accept. It is connected in series with the lamp, near the power source. When the lamp current exceeds its maximum, the 1438 is activated and limits the current thus avoiding potential damage to the filament.

Neon Lamps

Neon lamps are thin glass tubes filled with a gas mixture usually composed of neon, argon and mercury vapor. When a high voltage is applied between the electrodes on the tube, it creates an electric discharge which causes the gas to glow with a particular color. The purpose of neon lamps is to emit colored back lit, silhouette, or fluorescent glow for many commercial graphics and contour lighting applications.

The 1438 current limiter is also employed in these applications. The device is connected in series with the lamp and near the power source. It limits the electric current, since too much current can cause overheating of the tube and damage its gas mixture. Unlike incandescent lamps, neon lamps tend to draw an increasing current as they age. Thus, the 1438 has a specially designed “anti aging” circuit to handle these current levels.