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Ferranti Strobe lamp This Ferranti xenon strobe light is quite chunky. It has two separate xenon flash tubes in the unit, with independent triggers and separate anode / cathode connections on the tube base. It possibly has two tubes so it can achieve an 800Hz flash rate, as each tube has 400Hz at 20W. Shown here testing on a HV supply it appear only one tube is fully functional. I think it dates from the 1960s. Voltage rating at 900V with 2-4kV trigger. I also have a smaller neon strobe light made by Ferranti, I think used in school stroboscopes. Keywords: Lamps

Ferranti Strobe lamp

This Ferranti xenon strobe light is quite chunky. It has two separate xenon flash tubes in the unit, with independent triggers and separate anode / cathode connections on the tube base. It possibly has two tubes so it can achieve an 800Hz flash rate, as each tube has 400Hz at 20W. Shown here testing on a HV supply it appear only one tube is fully functional. I think it dates from the 1960s. Voltage rating at 900V with 2-4kV trigger. I also have a smaller neon strobe light made by Ferranti, I think used in school stroboscopes.

DSC_2302m.jpg DSC_2309m.jpg xenon~0.jpg alvin-book.jpg IMG_E2916.JPG
File information
Filename:xenon~0.jpg
Album name:Tuopeek / Misc
Keywords:Lamps
Filesize:538 KiB
Date added:29 Oct 2026
Dimensions:2033 x 2400 pixels
Displayed:25 times
DateTime Original:2026:10:29 20:05:48
Exposure Time:1/125 sec
FNumber:f/4.8
File Source:Digital Still Camera
Flash:No Flash
Focal length:38 mm
ISO:4000
Model:NIKON D3400
Software:Adobe Photoshop Elements 2.0
White Balance:0
URL:https://trad-lighting.net/gallery/displayimage.php?pid=1437
Favourites:Add to Favourites
Lamp/Fixture Information
Manufacturer:Ferranti
Model Reference:EDN10
Lamp
Lamp Type:Xenon flash

Comment 1 to 3 of 3
Page: 1

Max   [Fri 30 Oct 2026 at 07:10]
Interesting strobe lamp... never seen one that contains two flashtubes in the same envelope before. That's a nice trick to compensate for the limiting effect of the tube's de-ionization time on the maximum flashing frequency. I have some flashtubes with three sealed electrodes instead of two and I always wondered about the benefits of such design. It doesn't look like it's for ignition purposes, so maybe this is also meant to increase the flashing rep rate via the production of two separate discharges (in the same tube this time).
Tuopeek   [Fri 30 Oct 2026 at 12:01]
I'd guess if the three electrodes in your flash tube are spaces with equal distance it could well increasing the pulse rate. I just noticed in mine there is a small getter behind the cathode in each tube and one had expired so that explains the fault on one side. I haven't seen an inductively fired getter in a xenon tube before.
Max   [Fri 30 Oct 2026 at 21:31]
The electrodes are equally spaced in my lamp indeed. As for the barium getter, I've seen this in some small U-shaped strobe lamps (no idea about the manufacturer though), but that's definitely not a common feature.

Comment 1 to 3 of 3
Page: 1