Fluorescent light and starter problem?

Question

My fluorescent light recently stopped working, it just kept flickering and would not go on properly. I replaced the starter and the light but now nothing works. I've used three different starters and the woman at the store checked the light with one of those voltage reader things to check that it was ok. I guess the problem lies in the wiring or the ballast but I was just wondering if there was anything else I might have overlooked when changing the light or the starter or if there is anything else i can do myself before calling the electrician?

Answer 1

Besides being a possible ballast issue, did you buy rapid start bulbs to replace the ones that didn't light? You have the old pulse start ballast and need to match up the bulbs with that ballast.

Answer 2

May I suggest that flourescent light fixtures are so cheap now that it is actually not feasable to even replace the starter or ballast..I get my 4 foot ones from Home Depot for around 8 to 12 dollars brand new..If my "innards' of my fixtures go out..I simply buy a new one.. a ballast or starter costs more than the whole new fixture...I start my veggies indoors from seed under lights..that is what i do..

Answer 3

Check the light switch and make shore with a mains tester that you have a mains supply on the fitting,  If you have a supply at the fluorescent fitting it must be the ballast unit if that has gone, it just a cheap to replace the whole unit.

Answer 4

It sounds like it is the ballast.  Ballasts aren't very hard to change out, but I'll admit I don't remember the first one I changed out, and i'm sure there are a few differences between standard Navy and civilian light fixtures.  

Answer 5

by the sounds of it, it sounds more like the wiring...whether there was a wire loose or not connected properly I don't know. I would call an electrician before you go playing about with it, just in case you do more damage than there already is.

Answer 6

What kind of fluorescent light are you having problems with? A problem like this is usually due to a bad ballast, if you twisted the tube(s) 90 degrees to engage the prongs on the end of the light(s) correctly.

Answer 7

Look at the ends of the tube. If they are discoloured the chances are the tube is u/s. Just change it.

RoyS

Answer 8

You may not have inserted the lamp properly, is it spring lampholders or the rotating type?  If it flickered before, then it was almost certainly a starter switch fault, did you fit the correct type of starter, 'universal' only suit up to 5' lamps. If it's 6 or 8 foot you need a different type. If it's not even flickering now, I would guess that the lamp is not fitted correctly. If the old lamp flashed (ends only), 3-6 seconds, and glowed orangeish at one end it WAS a faulty lamp. If it flickered, half lit along the full length it was the starter switch.

Answer 9

Buy an electrician's tester screwdriver, it will only cost you about a pound and will always come in handy.

Switch the power off at the mains and remove the cover of the fluorescent light so that you can see where the wire enters from the switch.

Switch the mains back on and then carefully touch the live wire with the tester, if it lights up you know you have power and it will be cheaper if you replace the whole light  fitting than calling an electrician.

Switch off the mains and put everything back in its place.

If the tester doesn't light up the odds are that the problem is with the switch, maybe even a loose connection.

Again, turn off the mains, remove the switch cover, put the mains back on and check the wiring of the switch with the tester as before, testing with the switch on and off.

If the switch is faulty, it is easilly replaced if you are competent at DIY electrical work.

As in all cases, if in doubt, then call an electrician.