This may be a question for the folks in the Breaktime (FWW) forum, but I’ve got the kind of 8-foot flourescent fixtures in my shop/garage that are “rated” for cold weather. I recently thought I had a bulb slowly go out, but after replacing it, it still only gets a low glow on each end. I’m trying to diagnose the problem before I climb to the 10-foot ceiling to tear the fixture apart.
Do these units have the same kind of starters and ballasts that “regular” flourescent lighting has? If so, do I have a starter that’s bad?
A always happens, this fixture is right in the middle of one side of the shop, so I need that lighting.
Any hints?
The person who says it can’t be done should not interrupt the person doing it. – CHINESE PROVERB
Replies
It isn't likely that the unit has a starter and if it did you would see it, at one end of the unit or the other, as a little aluminum can that sticks out through the reflector. A few possibilities:
The bulb isn't seated properly, there is a little raised bump on the edge of the aluminum caps at the ends of the bulb. When the bulb is in the proper position the bump should be straight down at the 6 o'clock position. There are other ways a bulb can be installed wrong take a look at both ends to make sure the bulb is properly installed.
The sockets are damaged, the little brass tabs that contact the bulb can get burned up.
A wire has come loose at one of the sockets.
The ballast is shot, they don't last forever
Shop Manager for FWW Magazine, 1998 to 2007
Thanks for the reply John. This is a unit with two bulbs, and the second seems to be working fine, although dim now that the first isn' t working. I haven't seen any damage to the contacts and I've tried putting the bulb in both ways - both rotating 180 degrees and flipping end-for-end. Still no luck.
I don't remember from when I installed it, but I'm assuming there would be a single ballast for both bulbs, so I'm somewhat stumped. As much as I hate to, I may have to take it apart to check everything that's not visible from the outside.
The person who says it
can't be done should not interrupt the person doing it. - CHINESE
PROVERB
Have you tried a know good working bulb or did you just get a new one and try it? Also, if you have a cold start fixture you need a HO bulb. The ballast is different in a HO fixture.
Life is what happens to you when you're making other plans.
When your ship comes in... make sure you are not at the airport.
Yep - HO bulbs.
Tried a bulb from another unit. I'm afraid I'll have t start on things like the ballast next.
The person who says it
can't be done should not interrupt the person doing it. - CHINESE
PROVERB
Before digging into the fixture's innards, you might try cleaning the contacts - after unplugging the lamp or killing the breaker, of course.
I've tried cleaning the contacts, but I just bought another complete fixture (I've needed more light in the shop anyway). I'm going to replace the one that's not working with the new version, then I can troubleshoot the old one on the ground.
Going up and down a ladder and working on the unit 10 feet in the air was quickly getting pretty old.
If anything in the "eureka" category comes up, I'll post it.
The person who says it can't be done should not interrupt the person doing it. - CHINESE PROVERB
Edited 10/9/2009 8:05 am ET by wegotrocks
Edited 10/9/2009 8:06 am ET by wegotrocks
Edited 10/9/2009 8:06 am ET by wegotrocks
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