new fluorescent fixture seen to reduce brightness of light for long periods?

Question

Ok ...I installed a new 4 ft Simkar fluorescent ceiling that uses 3 8 4 ft bulbs.I have bought a good brand which is
skybright daylight output lumens/light color.The effect is very
whitish and crisp but there is a slight problem.It seem to dim
at certain long periods of time during just after sunset or
at night.I know it is not my vision because these are not heap.It is bright and makes what is white look clean white
in the daytime and when evening starts to dawn in around
5 or 6'ish it seem to slightly dull off some and I am wondering
where all the brightness went? The old fixture used 2 40 watt fluorescent.I need to mention that I think
the wire coming from the ceiling was short in reaching one
side of lighting hook-up wire and I think it could be touching
the top frame plus I had very little electrical tape..I was going
to fix this been about 2 months.
Could the hot and neutral be crossed or is it wiring touching
frame or fixture itself? please help paid $150
thanx

It uses 3 T8 bulbs.Other people have commented it look a little dim.when I
remove the cover full brightness,funny...
thanx

Answer 1

Relax, nothing is crossed. If your wires were crossed the breaker would have tripped as soon as you flipped the switch.
Actually it sounds like an optical illusion, Flourescent bulbs put out their rated lumens, that's it. They do'nt sense light & change their brightness, it's an illusion, flourescent bulbs are known to play tricks on the eyes.
Hope this helped, good luck!!

Answer 2

the wiring is not shorted, if it was then the breaker would have tripped. It could be something as simple as when evening gets here, more people in the city turn on their lights and the supply voltage drops a few volts. This would change the glow that the bulbs give off. Dirty bulbs will give you a darkening of the light. Worn bulbs will gradually dim, you won't tell the difference until one of the bulbs quits and you replace it and see the brighter light. Good luck

Answer 3

i'm no longer an electrician yet those i've got mounted have been rather uncomplicated. you in ordinary terms would desire to eliminate the bulbs and the panel from the fixture. The ballast is a black metallic field with wires stepping into and out. The ballast would be linked in some style to the precise (ceiling component) of the fixture - could be some type of clip gadget or screws. With the potential off (it incredibly is maximum secure to coach it off on the circuit breaker), clip the wires or eliminate the cord nuts on the splice and eliminate the ballast from the fixture. connect the recent ballast and re-cord. basically bear in strategies how the wires have been linked initially and do it the comparable way - the cord colours would or won't experience so ensure you word how they have been linked in the past you eliminate it. you would be able to would desire to strip the ends of the wires to splice the wires from the recent ballast into the wires from the fixture. you apart from would would would desire to shorten the wires from the recent ballast particularly so which you do not have a gaggle of extra cord to handle - for sure you do no longer want to diminish plenty which you would be able to no longer connect the wires. Twist the ends of the ballast wires to the ends of the appropriate wires from the fixture in a clockwise direction and screw on a cord nut. Re-connect the panel and replace the bulbs turn the potential back on after which turn the sunshine on from the swap to make confident it incredibly works. The techniques you will want are a screwdriver (in all danger Philips head yet have a flat head basically in case), cord strippers, cord nuts, a flashlight if there is inadequate easy on your artwork section, and in all danger electric powered tape. it incredibly is advisable to have somebody teach you guidance on the thank you to do it first just to be risk-free. you're handling electrical energy after all.