Fluorescent Lights Not Working

Safety Post By Jan (Guest Post) (05/08/2008) #1 Replaced all 4 bulbs in one fixture, but middle 2 don't work. It's a small room and 2 are more than sufficient, but is that a safety hazard? #2 Also replacing 4 bulbs in kitchen fixture, but one unit where end slips into is broken (it's divided in half and the one plastic half is broken off). Can it operate with just the two working middle ones, is it okay to leave one bulb out, will this cause a short, etc.? Report Spam or Abuse RE: Fluorescent Lights Not Working Post By joe. (Guest Post) (04/08/2008) Webby, I have replaced the ballast, the bulb (twice) and got three new starters - the bulb still will not work - when I switch it on it starts to work (flicker) and you can hear and see the starter working but the bulb will not light. please help .... Answer: If the bulb, ballast and starter have been replaced, the only thing left is a mismatch between Rapid Start and Instant Start. All three have to be of the same type. If Rapid Start tubes are no longer available locally, it will be easier to just replace the whole fixture. Report Spam or Abuse RE: Fluorescent Lights Not Working Post By Ken (Guest Post) (07/04/2007) I just replaced a ballast and now one of the four lamps does not work -- the other three are fine. The lamp itself is fine, I swapped it out. Since they work in pairs, how can just one not work? I wanted to ask before taking it apart again. Any ideas send to kenandalice *at* embarqmail.com Report Spam or Abuse RE: Fluorescent Lights Not Working Post by ThriftyFun (3750) | (04/17/2006) Profile | Blog! | Contact Hi Karen First check the plastic or porcelain tube holders. If they are cracked or if the wires going into them, are loose, replace them. They are cheap. Also tighten the little top-hat connectors. If none of that helps, draw a diagram of how the wires from the ballast are connected. You can draw it with a felt pen on the inside of the enclosure that holds the ballast. Then get a new ballast. If you can't get the old one out without taking the fixture down, see if you have room to put the new one in beside it. Mark where the screw holes need to be, then drill a 1/8" pilot hole and run a self tapping sheet metal screw or a wood screw into the holes. Use the square socket (Robertson) screws like the electricians use. They are much safer. Cut the wires from the old ballast about an inch from the ballast, so that you can still see the colors. Once you have prepared the mounting holes, attach the new ballast, and connect the wires according to your diagram. Have FUN! DearWebby http://webby.com/humor Report Spam or Abuse Request: Fluorescent Lights Not Working Post by ThriftyFun (3750) | (07/03/2005) Profile | Blog! | Contact My fluorescent light fixture is not working. When I first replaced the bulbs, I noticed that the new light was dimmer than it had been. In the next couple of weeks, I noticed that the light kept flickering. Now it is much dimmer. Folamix Answers: RE: Fluorescent Lights Not Working 07/14/2005 Assuming that you HAVE tried re-seating the tubes to make sure that they are indeed properly seated, that sounds like a bad ballast. Unless you are reasonably comfortable messing with electrical wiring, it's best to get an electrician to change the ballast. However, it's not really that difficult if you follow the instructions one step at a time. 1) Purchase a new ballast for that type of fixture 2) Arrange for good lighting up where the fixture is. 3) Test that lighting and make sure it stays lit when you turn the bad fixture off. 4) Arrange for a ladder or a table to stand on to comfortably reach the fixture. 5) Arrange for a helper to steady the ladder and to pass pieces to 6) Turn the bad fixture off and remove the tubes. 7) Unscrew the metal safety cover and remove it. 8) Draw a diagram of the wiring that you see. 9) Make sure that the ballast is an exact replacement with the same numbers and colors of wires. 10) Loosen the screw or wing-nut that holds the ballast and just let it hang by the wires. 11) Attach the new ballast securely 12) One at a time, switch the wires from the old to the new ballast 13) Double-check the wiring with your diagram 14) Make sure the little hat type connectors are good and tight and that you can't pull them off. 15) Replace the safety cover 16) Install the tubes and plexi-glass cover That should do the trick. Have FUN! DearWebby http://webby.com/humor By DearWebby Report Spam or Abuse