I've changed the bulbs but it hasn't helped. They don't flicker but are very dim, and then suddenly, after time, the unit comes on. Is this dangerous? Should I replace the whole light?
2006-09-14 04:16:22 · 9 answers · asked by Blondie 3 in Home & Garden ➔ Maintenance & Repairs
The ballast has gone bad and needs to be replaced.
Happens all the time here in this office.
2006-09-14 04:23:41 · answer #1 · answered by boo's mom 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
You probably have a bad BALLAST.They can be pretty expensive too.You have also have a bad STARTER,They are FAR cheaper and easier to replace,Disconect the power from the light,remove the bulbs,unscrew the screws holding the cover on.You will see either two or one Aluminum looking "film canisters". They simple unscrew one click to the left.You might have to push in on them to get them to come out.Simply take these to your local hardware store and they should have them.These are the STARTERS.You can bring one of the bulbs in to make sure you have the correct bulbs too.There are 'Rapid start' Instant start and others.If this does not cure it,It may need a new ballast.At that point,I would just get a new light fixture.
2006-09-14 04:32:45 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
One of 2 things has gone wrong.
1) the bulbs went bad and need to be replace (replace all the bulbs...not just one)
2) the balast has gone bad which can happen over a year or so. you can replace a balast but its hard as they are really heavy and they put out ALLOT of voltage which will knock you off the ladder you stand on if you get hit by it...Turn the power off from the circuit breaker for that first.
most ballasts are marked with a # that you can match at home depot and they all have wiring sheets on them so follow that. 80% of the time you just match the yellows, blues, reds, black, and white wires. I just replace my basement closet balast a few months ago.
2006-09-14 08:44:19 · answer #3 · answered by D S 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I had the same thing happen in both my old apt and my current one. i called maintainence in the last place and he told me that its common for flourescent lights to do that, and its not a big deal. It doesn't have anything to do with the age of the bulbs or the wiring or anything like that, its just how flourescent lights work. Its annoying, but doesn't seem to cause any real problems.
2006-09-14 04:27:34 · answer #4 · answered by jojo 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Unless you have expensive fixtures, just save the good bulbs (tubes) and replace the whole fixture. Yes they are annoying.
I used to change the ballast (if one or both ends of the tubes weren't black. ($13 for a 40 watt ballast) or a whole new fixture (2-tube) for $23.95. [of course this was in the year 2000].
2006-09-14 08:05:07 · answer #5 · answered by norman8012003 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The ballast box might be bad.
Generally, it's cheaper to buy an entirely new light fixture than to replace only the ballast box. I had to do that myself with our flourscent lights in our basement, and now they come on every time. And it's not all that difficult to replace the light fixture.
Good luck.
2006-09-14 04:24:40 · answer #6 · answered by no1home2day 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Your ballast maybe going bad.
Have you smelled anything like burning oranges?
Ballasts do tend to smell that way when they are going bad.
You can have an electrician come out and change your ballast, or you can change it yourself.
Changing them are rather simple, but a ballast can be heavy. (Best if you have someone else with you to hold the ballast up.)
2006-09-14 04:51:22 · answer #7 · answered by ICG 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It is probably a bad ballast. It is easier to replace the whole fixture.
2006-09-14 08:53:57 · answer #8 · answered by familysport 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
lisamae9 hit it on the head
2006-09-14 04:26:28 · answer #9 · answered by EL Big Ed 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋