When there is a very low voltage (AC), even for a compact fluorescent lamp (CFL), it glows very dim (orangish in color) at the beginning of the glass but when I hold the glass just for a second, it starts glowing as usual (generally white in color, don't know what your's is) though a very little bit dimmer than its original capacity. So, I want to know why it happens, i.e. it starts glowing at the same voltage when we touch it (the one I am trying is rated 220V, AC Current freq here is 50Hz, power required doesn't matter as it happens with all of them, voltage is ~30 in my case but it may differ in yours). If it's related to body-heat (because I think so), why does it just keeps glowing continuously even if we don't touch it after that?
Electronic – Why a CFL lights up when I touch it
aclightingvoltage
Best Answer
Sounds like you are "striking an arc" with static electricity by touching it - setting off the gas to become a "electrically conductive medium" which is how a fluorescent bulb normally works. The glow is maintained by the low AC voltage at that point - just not as well as the correct voltage.