All,
I have several fluorescent lights both in my basement and upstairs, some old and some relatively new, that work fine in cooler months. However in warmer months they will not go on properly until I have flicked the switch 10-20 times. What can I do?
Thanks Ed
Replies
I am guessing either poor/cheap ballast. Or there is alot of dirt/grease that is buildup on the connectors that provides a small leakage path.
But also fluorscents needs a good ground.
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Hey every group has to have one. And I have been elected to be the one. I should make that my tagline.
However in warmer months they will not go on properly until I have flicked the switch 10-20 times.
That's odd - usually flourescents have cold start problems, not warm start problems.
From your post, I gather there are several lights, on more than one circuit, with the same problem? That suggests a more general problem, not an isolated leakage path.
Tell us more about the environment - humidity? temperature? etc.
We are in the New York City area and run central air conditioning only about 10 days or so a year. The lights are on different circuits for the most part and there are more lights (in the basement) that work fine year-round. The basement has a higher humidity than the rest of the house, as woould be normal, but it is not damp.
> What can I do?
Flick the switch 10-20 times.
Or:
-- Check that the voltage to the fixtures is correct. Should be pert near 120V, and not more than 2-3 volts different from what you measure anywhere else in the house.
-- Check that the fixtures are grounded. Fluorescent fixtures require a good ground connection to assist starting.
-- If any of the units are starter-type fixtures, replace the starters.
-- If any of the starter-type fixtures are 4-foot units, replace the entire fixture with a modern starterless fixture.
Another thing is that wrong bulbs are being used.For example some of the real cheap fixtures are specded for utility bulbs, which IIRC are 28 watt, 4 ft bulbs.I think someothers are limited to the 36 watt (or so) energy efficent bulbs.The only way to tell is to open it up and read the label on the ballast..
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Hey every group has to have one. And I have been elected to be the one. I should make that my tagline.
The fixtures are grounded and none have starters.
Replace with the newer electronic ballasts.
Nobody asked if this is a problem that just started to occur, and before that the lights were fine?
And is it a problem with all fixtures on the circuit, or just some of them?
That info might help the experts here better diagnose the problem.
********************************************************
"It is what we learn after we think we know it all, that counts."
John Wooden 1910-
You're assuming that there are any experts here.
People never lie so much as before an election, during a war, or after a hunt. --Otto von Bismarck
Dan,
you funny!
yur one, aint yu?********************************************************
"It is what we learn after we think we know it all, that counts."
John Wooden 1910-
I play one at work. My wife doesn't find my performances too believable, though.
People never lie so much as before an election, during a war, or after a hunt. --Otto von Bismarck
Well, you know how it is ........ "no man's a prophet in his own land."<G>********************************************************
"It is what we learn after we think we know it all, that counts."
John Wooden 1910-
Yeah, the thing that REALLY bugs me is that when my wife tells me she doesn't like my performance, she says that there's someone else she knows who can do much better.
People never lie so much as before an election, during a war, or after a hunt. --Otto von Bismarck
Hmmmmm .............. <G>********************************************************
"It is what we learn after we think we know it all, that counts."
John Wooden 1910-
I have put up with this problem for 4-5 years and not all the light fixtures on the circuit are affected.
Once again, buy electronic ballasts, they're not expensive and have no PCBs , heavy metals like the old ballasts. Problem solved.
Of course, then you have to get rid of the old ballasts, which may contain PCBs and heavy metals.
People never lie so much as before an election, during a war, or after a hunt. --Otto von Bismarck
How old are your switches, they get tired if used alot.
I had that problem and it turned out to be the tubes were defective, lots of luck.