The ballast burns up.
The answer is possibly. There is no guarantee that the insulation designed for the lower voltage will be adequate at the higher voltage. The danger of electric shock should not be scorned. The cost of a new lamp is not daunting, and if the lamp is an heirloom item, then that value should enable the wiring and switches be upgraded. Don't take chances.
Fluorescent lamps can be used in the District of Columbia.If you were really asking if they can be supplied with direct current, the answer is yes, but they really don't like it. They prefer to be supplied with alternating current, or AC, so you'd have to "chop" the DC or use it to drive an inverter, which will change the DC into AC.There are florescent lamps and CFL's made specifically for 12 and 48 VDC applications available through specialty alternative energy stores.
The answer is possibly. There is no guarantee that the insulation designed for the lower voltage will be adequate at the higher voltage. The danger of electric shock should not be scorned. The cost of a new lamp is not daunting, and if the lamp is an heirloom item, then that value should enable the wiring and switches be upgraded. Don't take chances.
Fluorescent lamps can be used in the District of Columbia.If you were really asking if they can be supplied with direct current, the answer is yes, but they really don't like it. They prefer to be supplied with alternating current, or AC, so you'd have to "chop" the DC or use it to drive an inverter, which will change the DC into AC.There are florescent lamps and CFL's made specifically for 12 and 48 VDC applications available through specialty alternative energy stores.