Fluorescent lamp need high voltage AC to start and keep glowing., so we have designed this 12V Battery Powered Fluorescent Lamp Driver Circuit which uses 12V battery to run fluorescent lamp.
It change low voltage DC from battery to high voltage AC for the tube and it is good for battery device and emergency light.
Also, circuit has oscillator, MOSFET switch and step-up transformer and all work together to power the lamp.
Circuit Working:

Parts List:
| Components | Quantity |
|---|---|
| Resistors | |
| 1k 1/4 watt | 1 |
| 2.7k 1/4 watt | 1 |
| Capacitors | |
| Ceramic 0.01µF | 2 |
| Ceramic 0.01µF 1KV | 1 |
| Electrolytic 100µF 25V | 1 |
| Semiconductors | |
| IC 555 Timer | 1 |
| MOSFET IRF510 | 1 |
| Step-up Transformer 1Amp, 220V to 12V | 1 |
| Fluorescent Tube 4W | 1 |
To begin with, this circuit uses 12V lead acid battery and its main part is IC 555 which is low power timer IC; it works as astable multivibrator and makes square wave signal.
Furthermore, this signal controls IRF510 MOSFET and then MOSFET switch ON/OFF is fast and powers the transformer.
After that, transformer boost voltage and gives high voltage AC for tube and it uses 1A 220V to 12V step-down transformer in reverse.
Then connect 12V side to MOSFET and 220V side to lamp and also capacitor C4 keeps high voltage steady and helps lamp work smooth.
Formulas with Calculations:
IC 555 Frequency:
Formula:
F = 1.44 / ((R1 + 2R2) × C2)
where,
- R1 is 1kΩ
- R2 is 2.7kΩ
- C2 is 0.01µF
Calculations:
F = 1.44 / (6400 × 10^-8)
F = 22.5 kHz
T(on) = R1 × C2 = 1000 × 10^-8 = 10µs
T(off) = (R1 + 2R2) × C2 = 6400 × 10^-8 = 64µs
Transformer Output Voltage:
Formula:
Vout = Vin × (Nsec / Npri)
where,
- Vin is 12V
Step-up ratio is 20
Calculations:
Vout = 12 × 20 = 240V AC approx
How to Build:
To build a 12V Battery Powered Fluorescent Lamp Driver Circuit follow below steps for connection:
- First, collect all parts from circuit diagram.
- Next, pin 1 of IC1 555 go to GND.
- Then pin 2 join to pin 6 and then C2 connect between pin 2 and GND.
- After that, pin 3 connect to GATE of MOSFET Q1.
- Now pin 4 and pin 8 go to +12V.
- Also, R2 connect between pin 6 and pin 7 and then R1 connect from pin 7 to +12V.
- Further, C1 positive side go to +12V and negative go to GND and also one side of C3 go to +12V and other side go to DRAIN of Q1.
- Then SOURCE of MOSFET Q1 go to GND.
- Finally, transformer primary one side go to +12V and other side go between C3 and DRAIN and transformer secondary go one side to tube and other side to other end of tube through C4.
Conclusion:
Overall, this 12V Battery Powered Fluorescent Lamp Driver Circuit run fluorescent tube from 12V battery; it is good for battery light, emergency light and saving power.
Moreover, we can change R1, R2, C2 to match different tube sizes and also, MOSFET make power by using better and low energy loss.