THE MOST STUPID WAY

There are several ways of putting a high voltage on the electrodes, i.e. permeate the gas in the tube with a strong electric field. By far the most stupid is to take the tube by itself under a high voltage transmission line, which has a strong electric field from the wires to ground, because (you'll never guess!) they have a high voltage with respect to ground. This works and will light up the light naturally and immediately. The method is used by cranks who write books with titles like Power Over People and is meant to prove how diabolically dangerous transmission lines are. But all it demonstrates is that fluorescent lights know their physics.

More convenient ways of initiating the operation of the light usually require a starter and a ballast. The ballast steps up the volt-age to a higher value and also limits the current that flows through the tube. The purpose of the starter is to make the electrodes glow like incandescent light to get the arc started, and to take itself out of the circuit once this job is done. The electrodes then remain in-candescent by the impact of the arc and mercury ions. It is actually a simple switch that closes at first, but when it gets heated by the current flowing through it the contacts bend open again. It is replaceable and comes in a little aluminum cylinder.