In Amateur radio magazines often publish different usage patterns fluorescent lamps with burned out filaments. The author has tested all such scheme in practice.
Using the experience of these tests and a number of modifications, the author stopped on the circuit shown in the figure.
Choke DR1, you should only use the appropriate fluorescent light capacity. If you don't have such a choke, I propose the following alternative: for the lamp 20 (18) W connect in series two 40-watt choke; the lamp 40 (30) W - series two 80-watt choke or two in parallel 20-watt choke.
The capacitors need to use the paper type KBG(And) or similar with a working voltage of at least 600 V, as at the time of such inclusion voltage they appear. This provides set fire to the lamp. Then the voltage drops to 250-270 In, and daylight lamp is steadily lit.
The described scheme has one disadvantage: One to two times a year the lamp should turn (signal is unstable ignition of the lamp). But described the switching circuit has a number of advantages: used blown bulb, which is usually discarded; the lamp is powered by direct current, which is beneficial for the eyes; high durability (the author of some of the lamps have been working for 15 years).
Author: O. G. Rashitov, Kiev