Awl --
I have a basic understanding of how these tubes work (iirc, they operate off the Franck-Hertz ionization), except for the single pin 8' jobbies, that you don't have to twist to install -- really neat.
I thought tubes needed a filament at each end, to get the thing started? Hard to have a filament with just one terminal, no?
Do these types compensate with a higher starting voltage, and thus don't need filaments?
In bulbs with filaments, once the whole bulb is lit up, those filaments are cold, right?
I have only seen single pin in 8' bulbs. Why is this?
Someone posted an inneresting link on all-that-is-fluorescent not too long ago. I looked at that link, very nice, but I didn't see this topic.