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How to Tell If a Fluorescent Tube Is Bad? Check the ends of the tube. If they appear darkened this indicates the bulb is burned out. Rotate the tube in the fixture if the bulb is not darkened on either end. Remove the bulb from the fixture if the bulb is still not illuminating.
How do you know if it’s the bulb or ballast?
Take out your current bulbs and replace them with the new bulbs. If the bulbs fail to light up, then 9 out of 10 times the ballast is culprit. 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 won’t my fluorescent light come on?
The fluorescent tube won’t turn on No electrical power due to a tripped breaker or blown fuse. A dead or dying ballast. A dead starter. A dead bulb.
How do you know when a fluorescent light fixture is bad?
Look at the end of the bulb for a dark area; if you see one, the bulb is either bad or going bad. Replace it with a fresh one. If it is a two-bulb or four-bulb fixture, replace the pairing of tubes.
What does a bad fluorescent bulb look like?
Take a bulb from a fixture working properly and test it in the flickering fixture; also look for black or other discoloration in the flickering bulb. Often a failing fluorescent light bulb will begin to darken or even look black at one or both ends. Eventually the bulb simply won’t light.
How do I know if my ballast needs to be replaced?
2. Look for warning signs that the ballast is failing. Buzzing. If you hear a strange sound coming from your bulbs or light fixture, like a buzzing or humming noise, that’s often a sign your ballast is going. Dimming or flickering. No lights at all. Changing colors. Swollen casing. Burn marks. Water damage. Leaking oil.
How long should a fluorescent light ballast 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 do new fluorescent bulbs flicker?
Lamp blinks: This is usually because of a poor connection where the tube fits into its sockets at each end. Take the tube out and clean the pins at each end with fine steel wool. Brush dust out of sockets, then reseat firmly.
Why does it take so long for my fluorescent lights to come 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.
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.
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 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.
Why my tube light is not working?
If a fluorescent tube neither lights nor flickers when switched on, first check to see that the fixture is plugged in and that no fuse has blown or circuit breaker has tripped. If this does not help, try wiggling the tube gently in its sockets by rocking it back and forth and from side to side.
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 a fluorescent light work without a ballast?
Reverted question “ Can I make a fluorescent light work without a ballast?” yes, you can, but you need something to reduce the current as the bulb warms up. So, you can drive a fluorescent with a pulse width adjustable power supply, but this is what is in an ‘electronic’ ballast.
Why do fluorescent light ballasts fail?
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 do you stop fluorescent lights from flickering?
at FLUORESCENT LIGHT FIXTURE BULB / BALLAST DISPOSAL. A bad starter in the fixture – try replacing the starter. A bad ballast in the fixture. Replacing a bad magnetic ballast with an electronic ballast can remove problems of flickering fluorescent light and will lower the operating cost of the fixture.
