> Are fluorescent tubes made for either the 120-volt or 240-volt
> markets or is all that taken care of in the ballast?

Although there are some socket differences, basically the difference is in
the ballast. Fluorescent bulbs are current devices. And since the
operating voltage increases with age, fluorescents will run continuously
almost forever at 240 volts. The same bulb at 120 volts will start
flickering much earlier.

> they were but he did notice that incandescent reading lamps in the
> house seemed to die like flies.

The thin filaments make 240 volt incandescent bulbs very fragile.

Cheerful regards,

Bob


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