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How do you change a ballast in a fluorescent light fixture?
Instructions Remove the Cover. Remove the lens, or diffuser cover, from the fixture. Remove the Fluorescent Tubes. Remove the light bulbs (fluorescent tubes). Remove the Cover Plate. Disconnect the Ballast Wires. Remove the Ballast. Prepare the Wires. Mount the New Ballast. Dispose of the Old Ballast.
Is it hard to replace a ballast?
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.
How can you tell if the ballast is bad?
Signs That Your Ballast is Bad Dimming or Flickering Headlights. If your HID bulb cannot produce its full brightness or strobe periodically, this is most probably a ballast problem. Strange Sounds. Headlights Not Working. Changing Light Colors. Constantly Blowing Fuse. Damaged Casing. Burn Marks. Water or Oil Damage.
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.
How is a ballast wired?
Usually hidden from view, the ballast is installed inside an overhead fluorescent light unit, and is covered by a shield or plate. The ballast has a hot and neutral wire at one end to receive power, and two blue wires a red one at the other end to supply power to the lights.
Will 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.
Why are my fluorescent lights flickering?
If your fluorescent bulbs flicker, most likely the problem is with the bulb itself. If the bulb is very dark on either end, it may be defective and burned out. The best way to test the functionality of a bulb is to put it into a fixture you know works. Flickering fluorescent lights can also be a result of temperature.
Why is my fluorescent light not working?
A dead fluorescent can be caused by lack of electrical power (tripped breaker or blown fuse), a dead or dying ballast, a dead starter or a dead bulb(s). defective starters, defective bulbs or a defective ballast. IMPORTANT: Flickering fluorescent tubes can cause the ballast to overheat and fail prematurely!.
Which ballast do I need?
By selecting a ballast with an ideal ballast factor, you can optimize the light output of your fluorescent lighting system and maximize your energy savings. To estimate your total system lumens, multiply the rated lumens of your lamp by the ballast factor. For example, 3200 lumens x 0.77 BF = 2464 total system lumens.
How much does it cost to replace a ballast in a fluorescent light?
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.
How do I know if my ballast is T8 or T12?
If no markings are available, the size in diameter of the tube is the easiest way to determine the type you have installed. T8 tubes are 1-inch in diameter and T12 tubes are 1 1/2 -inch.
How do you know if it’s the bulb or ballast?
One probe of the multimeter should touch the hot wire connections, while the other touches the neutral wire connections. If the ballast is good, an analog multimeter has a needle that will sweep to the right across the measuring scale. If the ballast is bad, then the needle won’t move.
Why does my fluorescent light take so long to turn on?
Most fluorescent light fixtures also have a component called a ballast, which controls the current through the fixture. If the ballast is malfunctioning, it too can cause the light to take a while to turn on. But ballasts are very expensive to replace and they malfunction far more seldom than tubes and starters.
Can anyone replace a ballast?
Yes. As a matter of fact, you do need a lock out tag out device in place for changing a ballast. ‘An electrician is replacing the ballast on a fluorescent light.
How long do fluorescent 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.
Do Fluorescent lights need to be grounded?
Yes, they need to be Earthed as they are most likely of metal. Earth wire to exposed metal body.
Can fluorescent lights be wired in series?
Measure the distance between each fluorescent fixture. Cut a length of 14/2 nonmetallic cable (NM) that measures 12 inches longer than your measurement. Repeat this step for each fluorescent light you will wire in this series.
