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In your lighting system, the ballast regulates the current flowing to the fluorescent lights and provides the voltage needed to start the lamps. The ballast takes in electricity and then regulates current throughout the bulbs. This is why a degrading ballast will cause the fluorescent lights to flicker.
How do I stop my fluorescent lights from flickering?
Brush dust out of sockets, then reseat firmly. If the tube still blinks when the light is turned on, wiggle it a few times while the light is on to see if this cures the problem. If not, take the tube out and inspect sockets closely to see if spring contacts are bent or corroded.
How do you know when a fluorescent bulb is bad?
Look for dark areas at the base of the bulb. When bulbs age and have been used for a long time, brown spots will appear. If darkness begins to form at the ends of the tube, the bulb may be near its end. While they may still light, they are wearing out and will die soon.
How long do fluorescent bulbs last?
LED tubes last an average of 50,000 hours (roughly 16 years) while fluorescent T8 tubes last an average of 25,000 (roughly 8 years).
How often should fluorescent bulbs be changed?
Typical lamp life for a fluorescent bulb is about 20,000 hours, but this can degrade as a consequence of frequent switching (turning on and off). Burning life is extended if lamps remain on continuously for long periods of time.
How much does it cost to replace a ballast?
A replacement ballast costs about $10-25 depending on capacity and brand. The bite is that an electrician trip charge (which includes 30 or 60 minutes work) is going to be $75-150 probably – for about 5 minutes work on each light fixture.
Do both fluorescent bulbs need to be replaced?
What about pairs of fluorescent tubes? In many fluorescent fixtures, power is sent through a pair of bulbs. If either bulb is bad, they may both flicker or one may flicker and the other show no life. My philosophy of sensible repair is to always replace both bulbs.
How do you make fluorescent lights last longer?
“Turning off fluorescent lights for more than five seconds will save more energy than will be consumed in turning them back on again,” the DOE explains. However, the lifetime of your bulb is affected by the number of times you turn it on and off.
Do fluorescent lights get old?
The Shelf Life of CFL (Compact Fluorescent Lamp) Light Bulbs CFLs typically have a rated service lifespan of 6000–15,000 hours, whereas standard incandescent lamps have a service lifespan, of 750 or 1000 hours.
How long do ballasts last?
According to the Certified Ballast Manufacturers Association, the average magnetic ballast lasts about 75,000 hours, or 12 to 15 years with normal use. The optimum economic life of a fluorescent lighting system with magnetic ballasts is usually about 15 years.
Why does my fluorescent light work sometimes?
If a fluorescent tube blinks on and off-a slower and more distinct process than flickering-the fault may lie in loose wiring or in another component, called the ballast. The ballast is almost always to blame if the fixture hums during operation.
What causes a ballast to go bad?
Every ballast has an ambient operating temperature range and UL location rating. When it’s too hot or too cold, the ballast can burn or fail to start your lamps at all. Heat combined with prolonged condensation inside an electronic ballast can cause corrosion and ballast failure.
How much does it cost to replace fluorescent light?
To replace an existing ceiling fixture with a new 36-inch, two-tube fluorescent one, an electrician will charge $241, which includes the labor and cost of the fixture. If you have electrical skills and tools, you can make the swap for $95, the cost of the fixture, and save 60 percent.
Is it better to turn off fluorescent lights or leave them on?
Turning off fluorescent lights for more than 5 seconds will save more energy than will be consumed in turning them back on again. Therefore, the real issue is the value of the electricity saved by turning the light off relative to the cost of changing a lightbulb.
Is it cheaper to leave fluorescent tube lights on?
You may have heard people say: “It’s best to leave fluorescent lights on: it’s cheaper than switching them on and off”. It is true that switching on/off fluorescents reduces lamp life but lamps are designed to be switched on/off up to seven times a day without any effect on their life.
Do I need an electrician to replace a ballast?
Yes. In fact, you really need a locking device to replace the ballast. – An electrician replaces the ballast on a fluorescent lamp. He uses a switch on the wall to turn off the fluorescent light.
Can you replace a ballast yourself?
The ballast takes in electricity and then regulates current to the bulbs. You can get a new ballast at a hardware store or home center and install it in about 10 minutes. However, buying a ballast can be expensive, so consider pricing a brand-new fixture for comparison.
Can a bad ballast burn out bulbs?
The ballast itself can go bad, which causes lights to flicker or even appear to be burnt out, when in fact they aren’t. They require maintenance and energy to power, on top of the power used to light the fluorescent bulb. They are a large part of the equation when using fluorescent lamps.
How do I know if a ballast is bad?
If your fluorescent lighting is displaying any of the signs below, it could be a symptom of a bad ballast: Flickering. Buzzing. Delayed start. Low output. Inconsistent lighting levels. Switch to an electronic ballast, keep lamp. Switch to an electronic ballast, switch to a T8 fluorescent.
Can you replace fluorescent bulbs while on?
Replacing the Bulb. Make sure that the power is switched off. Before replacing a fluorescent light, you should make sure the fixture is not powered on.
