I have been playing again this time I tried to run a 4 foot fluorescent with its choke still in circuit but also a 100 watt filament lamp the results were a slower start than with straight mains as you would expect. Then I plugged in a second lamp in series with the bulb this lamp had its choke removed so was relying on the bulb as a ballast the result was that it started and the 4 foot lamp went out! Next I restarted the four foot one by unplugging the second lamp then I took its starter out and interestingly on my scope which was monitoring the current waveform on the negative half cycles a burst of noise it was only on the negative peaks not the positives seems a bit odd any thoughts ash or medved?? I'm sorry if this is not written clearly i hope you all understand

May you draw an exact schematic? I had just quick read through your post and I didn't get it, now I have to leave for my work... ;-)

I can't do a diagrams I don't know how but imagine a filament lamp of 100 watts in series with the live feed to a double socket outlet then into one socket is a circline flouro lamp without choke and in the other socket is a 4 foot lamp with its choke on thats what I did. Ok