Isn't this just 8W T5 fluorescent lamps?
Also, I don't know how electronic inverter (In the case these tubes are indeed cold cathodes) and HV gird, combines together.

No dor these screw in see the example that Lampman put up same tubes.

I had a couple of similar units using single CC tubes like these, sold by Maplin. Mine were the 6W version I believe. I have a couple of cylindrical units which use the shorter, fatter 3W lamps with E27 caps; these lamps didn't last long and it was impossible to find replacements, whereas the 6W ones seem to go on working for ages.

The grid is run from an electronic step-up circuit and this is separate from the supply to the lamps (the E14 socket is wired directly to the mains); the units I had were absolute crap and succeeded only in sticking insects to the grid (in my case clothes moths) and they were still alive when I cleaned the wires! Awful.

Also the electronic inverter failed in one of them resulting in just the lamp operating. The other still works I think (my mate has it now) and the failed unit was disposed of though I kept the lamp.

I was tempted to make a better driver circuit for these units but didn't bother in the end due to the poor lamp performance and reliability. The ones I have which use standard T5 6" 4W/05 lamps also ruined the tubes within weeks!


BG

I agree these units are crap this came from my bootsale as I was curios to see how the lamps worked I certainly would not recommend these.

I think they were 2 for a tenner at Maplin. Made in China, probably for pennies .. I could do with a decent bug zapper for my beer brewing.


BG