Flourescent Light Question

[TwoBallScrewBall]

I have a four tube light fixture that I got from my Parent's house when they renovated. I have it hung in my garage from chains.<br /><br />Sometimes when you turn it on it lights right up. <br /><br />Sometimes the inner two tubes light right up and then the outer 2 tubes light up after a short time.<br /><br />Sometimes It never lights and just hums for hours (I know it doesn't know the words, I read the dimmer thread!).<br /><br />Sometimes it hums for a while then lights up. <br /><br />What's the deal here? Are the ballasts bad? If so why does it work perfect sometimes? <br /><br />Thanks!

 

[chuckz]

Re: Flourescent Light Question

First replace the lamps. If you leave bad lamps in a fixture for an extended period of time you'll ruin the ballast.

 

[one more cast]

Re: Flourescent Light Question

In my last garage it was the colder it was the worse they were.

 

[crab bait]

Re: Flourescent Light Question

yeah, most/all fixtures aren't for temps below 50 f. ..<br /><br />there are cold temp ballist,tho.. altho they are extemely high dollar.. available at any electrical supply house..

 

[dolluper]

Re: Flourescent Light Question

Try the building wreaking people they have lots of ballast's cheap and complete fixtures

 

[sangerwaker]

Re: Flourescent Light Question

An electronic ballast fixture (uses T8 1" diameter lamps) has a starting temp of 0 degrees. Magnetic ballast fixtures (T12 or 1-1/4" diam lamps) have a start temp of around 50 as crab states. There are HO (high output) ballasts that will start well below 0, but they require HO lamps and it can get pricey quick.<br /><br />Steve, check which lamps are in the fixture, T8 or T12. If T12, put in a new electronic 4 lamp ballast (should be under 20 bucks at a home center) and change to the T8 lamps. They should be 1.50-2.00 each. The beauty of electronic ballasts is that they start instantly,and in the colder climates work better in the winter than the traditional magnetic T12 fixtures. The end sockets are the same for T12 and T8 lamps in a non HO fixture.<br /><br />It's possible only the temp is affecting your problem. It's also likely it's the ballast(s), not the lamps.

 

[Mark42]

Re: Flourescent Light Question

It might be better to just buy a whole new lamp. Two tube shop lamps are about $7.25 w/o the tubes at Home Depot. A pair of 40watt tubes is about $5.00.<br /><br /> Depot Shop Light

 

[TwoBallScrewBall]

Re: Flourescent Light Question

Thanks everyone!<br /><br />Now that I think about it, it's likely that the days it worked well it was over 50 in the garage. Likely the problem.<br /><br />I swapped the bulbs out, they were T8's, I tried T8's and T12's, both did the same thing. <br /><br />So I took it down and hung a two bulb shop lite ($8.00 or so) there from home depot that works with both t8's and t12's. Tried the t8's first, weren't bright as bright as the t12's in my other identical shop lite, so I put in the 40 watt t12's and it's great. Lights turn on instantly and it was under 30 last night so the temp isn't a problem.<br /><br />Thanks again!!

 

[AK_Chappy]

Re: Flourescent Light Question

That is one of the things I like about this site. I just learned a whole bunch about flourescent light bulb fixtures. I had no idea about the electronic ballasts.<br /><br />Thanks all.<br /><br />AK Chappy

 

[KaGee]

Re: Flourescent Light Question

Hey Sanger, Don't know about up there, but around here T-12's are still the norm. Everyone is slow in changing over to 8's or 5's. <br /><br />Even shopping the big box stores, they offer little in 8's fixtures or bulbs and 5's are not even a thought.<br /><br />It's a shame cause HO T5's will provide more light for less $$ than 8's and hands down againt 12's.

 

[sangerwaker]

Re: Flourescent Light Question

Yeah, but the T5 bulbs are still spendy unless you buy them as a package with the fixture. T8's are really common here. T12's are pretty much non-existant at electrical distributors. Home centers are another story. I don't even stock any T12 fixtures here. I know that my local Home Depot stocks a boat load of T8 lamps, though.