This sounds like a strange topic for this forum, but I hope someone can
help me out with it, since I am working with a 24" light-stick style
black light made by GE to add some lighting effects to the orchestrion.

This effect is really cool, but the sticks don't come on promptly.
They sometimes linger half-way through the piece before they strike.
I think the problem is about 5v lower line voltage around my town, but
considering KCP&L's other problems, we're lucky to have electricity at
all.  They do the best they can, considering.

I found a 1:1 (almost) 4-5 ampere transformer that I wired to be an
autotransformer (polarity correct) that gives me a small boost, but
this didn't really work.  At least, I have isolation from the line, but
share the common.  Is there some way to give these lights (8 of them) an
extra "kick" on start up to get them going better?  Would a line choke
or capacitor of some value help the starting circuits in these light
sticks?

Craig Brougher

 [ The ultra-violet tubes may have different power supply requirements
 [ than the household florescent lamp, and so may need a different
 [ ballast (choke) & transformer unit.  Try boosting the mains voltage
 [ even more until the lamps warm up (but don't let the transformers
 [ overheat!).   -- Robbie