What is wrong with my elecricity in basement?

Question

In my basement I have 2 fluorescent lights. When I turn the light switch on it sometimes turns the lights on if not I flip it a couple times then they come on. One of the lights always seem to burn out fast or not turn on at all. In my bathroom downstairs I have the same problem with the light not always turning on or sometimes it will shut off untill I flip the switch on and off or sometimes it just comes back on. Help

Answer 1

If you have to flip it on and off to get it to work, the first thing is a bad switch.  But always troubleshoot from the power source out.  Fix and connect the reverse.  That means check the circuit breaker first.  Positive control in the switching, solid connection, solid ground, no strafing.  Voltage correct, right size wire to the branch circuit.  Turn off circuit breaker.  Go to switch box.  Open the cover plate and unscrew and pull out switch.  Make sure the switch is properly grounded, the connection (away from the ground and switch) of the neutral is solid.  Go to the circuit breaker and turn on the power.  With your multimeter, test the voltage at the switch, input and output.  If there is any variance, you are loosing energy in the switch.  Turn off the power and replace the switch.

Next step the fixture. This is why you call an electrician.

Answer 2

It is usually cheaper to just buy new fixtures than to replace the ballast in them. The ballast is like a starter on a car. The ballast supply the current needed to ignite the gas in the flourescant tube.

Price some new fixtures - and pull the cover off inside the existing fixture and price the ballast, you'll be surprised at the cost of the new ballast-plus you might need an electrician to install them.

Answer 3

In addition to the good answers from the other responders, call a qualified professional electrician to inspect you power panel for loose grounds and neutral wires and bad or corroded connections. The line connections should also be checked.  This could be a bad ground or loose connection in the circuit feeding the basement lights. Also bad switches.

Answer 4

It sounds as if the ballists are NFG in the lights.

If you pull the lights out and then the shield you will see the ballists. If they are leaking they are no good. If not leaking ask your local hardware store if they can test the ballists for you. just make sure you lable which wires go where and you have the power off

Answer 5

If the fixtures are 10 or more years old, may be the ballast in the lights are getting weak and need to be replaced.

However, I would have an electrician check it out as there may be other problems.

There could a fire hazard also.