I removed a bulb and put it in my garage fixture and it worked. I believe it should say replace! I want the constant hot to be reattached. For those who say the post is misleading, I’m not aware of anyone who has actually repaired a fluorescent light “ballast.” When they go bad, the only thing to do is to replace them, particularly in older fixtures which use a “tar-like” potting material to fill the ballast body. I tried with 4 new lamps and it’s still that way. It couldn’t hurt to replace the ballast. No it's not! If you’re installing other electrical devices we have several tutorials on how to wire a light switch, how to wire a dimmer switch, and how to install GFCI outlets in bathrooms. But, these are not really fluorescent tubes, they are actually LED bulbs, that fit into the fluorescent socket. Sometime in the past, while attempting to change the bulbs, one of the plastic bulb retainers broke making it precarious to get the bulb to stay in place. In 20 years of changing fluorescent tubes, the answer has been no. But that’s why I have great fans like you who catch my absent-mindedness!!!! Give me some suggestion on what would be the issue. Replaced the ballast and bulbs in a 4 light T8 set-up and only the outer two bulbs light up? Even then, if they don’t know what they’re doing hire an Electrician. Primarily because you may not get news screws with the new ballast. I have juice going to a 4 sockets, but the light do not come on. When installing a bi-pin fluorescent bulb into an overhead fixture, you slide it up into the two end sockets evenly with the pins in a 0-180 degrees (vertical) orientation, and then turn it so that the pins are in a 90-270 degree (horizontal) orientation. Stack Exchange network consists of 176 Q&A communities including Stack Overflow, the largest, most trusted online community for developers to learn, share their knowledge, and build their careers. real reason im commenting is ive done the 4 thing ,replace bulbs, ballast, ends and ck power and still have to touch or rub the bulbs to make it work. Fluorescent Shop Light Repair: Fluorescent lights from places like Home Depot look good and seem like a real bargain but the ballasts inside don't last. I replaced a 4tube, lights & ballast in kitchen. Two questions – what’s the best way to test to see if there is a brightness/lighting issues…and…if there is an issue, what my be the problem and the solution? How can I quickly grab items from a chest to my inventory? Thanks as always for reading, watching, and being part of our awesome community. Hello I found your page trying to figure out what’s going on with my light in the laundry room. Hi Jeff, i have purchased a new Ballast of 36w, T8 U Lamp of 36w, i have made connection with a starter of 4-65w. For a couple of years I’ve managed to jimmy the bulb in and keep the light working. I have a small light that my grandfather used for his Big Band. All four had now lighted up. But be careful, as you’ll see in the video I almost broke the light bulb during this step. This necessitated having to move ballast. T8 = a one-inch diameter tube. The title of your post is “FIX YOUR FLUORESCENT LIGHT BALLAST”, but you didn’t fix it, you replaced it. 99% of the time it will be one of the tubes that is the culprit. How is there a McDonalds in Weathering with You? But, hey that’s what marriage is all about — helping each other through DIY sickness or health!! Thanks John, getting electrocuted is no fun. The wiping action as you install the tubes will ensure metal contact. How do I label fluorescent fixtures converted to LED? As I said in the beginning, you’ll save yourself $75 to $90 doing this fix yourself. Hard to find most older models! One clue that your ballast is the reason for a non-working fluorescent light is the light bulbs struggle to turn on. By clicking “Post Your Answer”, you agree to our terms of service, privacy policy and cookie policy. From here on out, you'll need to observe some safety precautions. Removal can be a real pain the first time you do it as the pins can weld to the brass contacts and you will end up breaking the socket if you get rough with them. It worked fine. The fixture is 20 years old with a single lamp. I use silicone spray with a straw to shoot some into the socket when I encounter one that's semi-spotwelded itself in. Thanks for contributing an answer to Home Improvement Stack Exchange! Rightfully so, too!! Rotate the tube 90 degrees and pull it toward you out of the lampholder. I have a vintage Circline ceiling fixture in my kitchen with 2 round fluorescent tube bulbs, 12″ & 8″. What to do? And where do you buy the ballasts? My kitchen light is a 4 ft florescent light. It seems like the ballast again is the problem. Neither light works. You know Kris, I’d say replace the entire light. Or, you can read the printing on the tube to identify the correct replacement type. What gives? Can you advise? I have changed the starter – still not working. I wiggled the bulbs & one came on but the other only flickered & once the light was switched off, neither bulb came on. When I installed the lamps (while hot) some didn’t want to light up until I found a particular rotating location. When one or more fluorescent light fixtures are humming or flickering or if the light simply won't turn on, the problem may be something as simple as a bad fluorescent bulb. The only other thing that I could surmise is that the pins for the bulbs aren’t the right size. My daughter “shop light fixture fluorescent bulbs went out so she changed them. Push all the wires back into the junction box as neatly as possible. Does it matter which ballast is plugged into the inner circular light and the outer circular light or are they interchangeable? New ballasts? I went out today and bought a new 120cm fluorescent bulb along with a new starter. But there are other causes of flickering lights: some are also trivially easy to repair while others require more expertise and cost. I thought it may be a bad tube but 3 You made my day and I’m so pumped that you’re inspired to do more projects . I replaced all of them with new ones and 1 comes on and is dim and flickers. Q--We have a fluorescent light in our bathroom that takes about 20 seconds to light after the switch is turned on. I’m sorry if somebody’s already posted this but I am just replace the ballast on my light it’s for a four tube light system but only half of my lights are working do I have a bad ballast or did I miss something, Hey Jeff I need help I have kind of the same light, the voltmeter shows juice coming all the way to the end into the 4 pin. Just get an electronic one not a magnetic one, they kinda stink!!! Is it defective? So even if I have to turn off the main switch in the panel to get electrical work done I’ll do it. i have a kitchen fixture that has 4 T8 bulbs. Fluorescent bulbs insert into connectors The electrician installed the new ballast and capped off the constant hot and just made the light work with the switch that controls the other lights in the room. Thanks every one for the information, especially Jeff. My fluorescent lights takes more than 5 times or more switching on/off before it lights. Would that be Way More Expensive? My light has trouble coming on some times could it be the starter, Possibly, it wouldn’t hurt to test and see, hope the light you or they are changing the ballast in is not sharing a nutral wire with another load thats turned on , like the one in my house. Dual-end powered tubes require electricity on both ends of the tube: one end is Live and the other end is Neutral. To subscribe to this RSS feed, copy and paste this URL into your RSS reader. I have a finicky light in my closet. This time around I recommend wiring the ground first, then neutral (white wire) and lastly the hot wire (black in color). Grab our free guide if you’re doing a DIY bathroom remodel – it shares how to remodel a bathroom in 10 days or less. After a short three word phrase (use your imagination) I started to have flashbacks about what led to this moment in time. How to Troubleshoot a Bad Fluorescent Lamp Fixture. Seems impossible, too. How to turn the contact rings in an empty fluorescent bulb socket from closed to open? It sounds like a bad ballast to me Julie since the light won’t stay on. In other words: do I have to rotate further or apply more downwards force to remove the lamp from the brackets? I just love the way you write. Every guide to changing a flourescent tube light I can find has the same basic two steps: twist, usually 90 degrees, then slip the two pins out through the slot. I have a question. 800 Lumen Warm White bulbs are the best color temperature and wattage for lamps, too. It worked great! You didn’t say anything about turning off the power to the ballast and double-checking with your voltage finder BEFORE touching any wires. It's half way working now. It is a small, silvery cylinder that plugs into one of the tube holders. Needless to say I don’t like the feeling. You should ALWAYS disconnect the ground wire FIRST and install Last. I suggested changing our fhe entire fixture so we did that & low & behold, the light still didn’t come on. I tried replacing all bulbs but makes no difference. You’ll need to take your old ballast with you to the hardware store. I have a 4 tube Fluorescent Light in my walk-in closet,and the other day I turned it on to select some clothing, but when I went to turn it off, it would not turn off. What do u thinknis going on here? Had to a drill new hole in fixture for incoming wires so I could place it at the same spot as old fixture. Fluorescent light fixtures are commonplace in both residential and commercial settings. Such bulbs aren’t cheap either and no fluorescent fixture appreciates constant ON-OFF usage. I guess I am left with a ballast issue? Please make sure that your tubes are wired correctly. All lamps are using their own ballasts. This type pushes straight into the socket and removal is straightforward. At this point take a picture of the existing wiring. Jeff, If you were electrocuted, you would not be alive to type this helpful tip. So I replaced the ballast again. Could there be a contact cleaner issue on the socket ends? When the starter stops working, the bulbs will either keep How to deal with broken compact fluorescent (and its mercury) without breaking the bank? Next, try replacing the starter (if it has one) and then the tube. But I just replaced it with a brand new one but I just bought at Home Depot. I need help. Is this site no longer being maintained? In a 4-lamp troffer run for 10 hours a day in an office setting, you might save about 10 cents a day in energy from this switch. Also, if the tube is too long to allow it to drop out of the fixture opening, there often will be a slot in one end to drop the pins into so the other end will clear the opening. This. Loosen all the wire nuts. Please help me here as I am trying to determine what causes my fluorescent lights not working probably. My Fluorescent lights in the living room won't turn on all the way. Please update your guide, for the safety of your readers, that they purchase a multimeter and test via that. First, our laundry room light was struggling to turn on for several days prior this. it's so dark it's just a faint glow like its struggling to start up. Been there!! Also, the socket clips (contact points that are energized) are indented so you will be able to feel them as they "click" or latch in. Seems like the glass would shatter. The garage has a ten foot ceiling so Im considering doing the same thing as the laundry room…and as LED’s are coming down in cost these may be used too down the road. Corrosion The prongs on a traditional fluorescent tube are made of metal and are relatively exposed to the surrounding air even when installed in … To remove, press on the clips or detach the screws holding the diffuser. Is there a rule (of thumb) on how many degrees one has to rotate such lamps? I also understand that regular fluorescent lamps don’t like high humidity which is to be expected in bathrooms, laundry rooms and obviously in FL. Rofl. Your email address will not be published. Once removed, look at the fluorescent tube for dark spots near either end of the bulb. Shop light fixtures generally need tubes made specifically for them; a normal rapid start tube won't reliably start in it, especially when humidity is high. Why was there a man holding an Indian Flag during the protests at the US Capitol? This will give you a reference and help with wiring the new ballast. cant find a awnser anywhere and it not just mine , my son and my mom have one too. Here’s my step-by-step video tutorial for your viewing enjoyment. They give off plenty of light while using less electricity. The first fitting both tubes light the other three only one tube lights and it’s the same tube on all three. Fish the new ballast’s black, white, and green wires through the hole in the light. Or maybe you're at the best part of the movie and you don't want to leave the couch? It just makes me feel better to do it in this order. This gets really annoying. I actually read this thinking hmmm…. The old, thick ones are T12, and they're being phased out. I have questions and statements… Our bathroom has four foot size fluorescent lamps over a large mirror. Many with varying questions to which it would be very helpful to know the answer. Sure the kids get grumpy but for cryin out loud, they don’t need the TV all day long. I've switched out the old lights for the new ones. The old ballast had a ground wire. Hi can you help? Hi…needed to replace an 18″ undercabinet fluorescent. It flickers constantly. Slide the fluorescent light frame onto the screws you left in the junction box. Thanks for your very clear instructions for the DIY project. The light fixture and light bulbs are no older than 6 years. The bulb is completely exposed which don’t bother us the least because it’s a laundry room and on the ceiling. Fluorescent lights really only have two parts -- the tube and the ballast. When one or more fluorescent light fixtures are humming or flickering or if the light simply won't turn on, the problem may be something as simple as a bad fluorescent bulb. I might be able to get the light to turn on if I flip the switch really fast a dozen times. The Fluorescent batten seams to be defect. Get your friend or relative to hold the light while you wire it to the junction box. When I remove the outer ones, they seem to light up just fine. Compasses use 0 degrees as "North", which is also up. A good way to check that your ballast is the culprit is to turn on a voltage detector and hold it next to the wires supplying power to the ballast. The 98 inch (two bulbs) light has been making an increasingly loud humming noise.for a while now. If the fluorescent lights in your kitchen take a while to turn … But hopefully most people know this anyway . Lots of unanswered posts here. I have replaced the ballast a few years ago. I dont know anything about power usage and all that. In cheap lamps sometimes they get stuck behind the contact and will never turn without breaking the pin off or the fixture itself. Twisting the fluorescent tubes can tighten the connection and stop the problem. P.S. Electricity is not something you should play with if you don’t understand and dare I say, fear it. When you turn on the light switch, the starter sends a jolt of electricity to the gas inside the fluorescent bulb. And Home Depot might have the ballasts in stock. The bulb’s pins are obviously new. What is cauing this? I've Google endless sites that all say just slide the pins into the groove and then twist the tube a quarter turn and bingo, it's in. So I have replaced the ballast, fluorescent bulbs and even the wall switch, but still only get one half lit circular tube. Lamp won't light at all: First check the fuse, then the switch that controls power to that fixture. Thanks. I thought the idea here was to FIX the ballast. There are CW ( cool white ) brighter bulbs and WW (warm whites ) duller bulbs. Jeff, HELP PLZ!!! Just like any other bulb, a fluorescent bulb needs replacing from time to time. This brings me to another issue. On a humid day the second one can take hours before lights up unless I flick the switch a few times which is bad for the working one. What about pairs of fluorescent tubes? I have 2 sets of florescent lights on my third floor — attic converted to bedrooms in the 70’s.. Mark J, you’d be surprised of just how many IDIOTS there are out there. Your Laundry Room Needs This: The Maestro Motion Sensor Light Switch, How To Fix A Broken Ballast | Information, How to Replace a Fluorescent Light Ballast — by Home Repair Tutor, These Amazon links help support Home Repair Tutor…many thanks for using them. Replacing a Fluorescent Light Starter. I had the breaker AND the light switch in the OFF position when the sparks flew!!! Thank you for the info . If you are close enough to the socket you will be able to see the brass pins as the bulb is rotated. I found it on youtube, watched carefully, headed to Home Depot, and got the job done myself. I have replaced the ballast in a two light 48″ fixture and they work fine until I turn them off and one light will burn at 25% in the off position. If any of the components are faulty, the light won’t work right. Hi, Jeff, I just replaced all 4 tubes in the kitchen light fixture. Or, it turns on several minutes later. I’m not sure if it’s an optical illusion when all 4 tubes are in or if there’s an actual loss of illumination. Gently push on the tube. The cost of new ballasts vs substituting LED 4 ft bulbs in the same fixture (minus the ballasts). Because I like to DIY and my said to get this fixed ASAP I diagnosed the problem as a bad fluorescent light ballast. Won’t Turn On. So in seconds I unscrewed it and replaced it with a new one. One day the lights stopped working. Now my statements…. In rare instances, the end on the tube will detach and will not rotate while the glass tube is rotating. WAY more pain than a poke from a outlet or switch. But for some reason the lamp dosent light up. Could that be the problem? And in fact, I still ran into a bit of trouble  with the ballast I bought (I explain at the end of the video). To avoid having shattered glass all over the floor I highly recommend removing the fluorescent light bulbs. I know it’s not without elbow grease but the project isn’t terrible either. Keep up the great work! Fluorescent lights are a common fixture in most homes. If lights are needed that can operate in colder temperatures, fluorescent li… Ask your questions below and we’d be happy to help. It's non-conductive and prevents future issues. The blog post title is misleading. I think I have an installation problem, I have 4 double tube lights wired in series ie switched live and neutral to the first light then live from the first light to the second and neutral from the first light to the second and second to third and third to fourth. Around the same time frame — last 6 months or so — the unit with the two shorter bulbs in the other upstairs room did the same thing without the humming noise. I have had the wall switch replaced, twice now within a 3 day period You can definitely do it. Two days before Thanksgiving I walked into our laundry to wash my underwear and noticed the light wasn’t working. The next day only one started up and that is now working consistently. T12 30W fluorescent light bulb. Can it be ballast since it’s actually lighted up? The tube is junk when that happens. When I replaced the ballast, the lights seemed dimmer that before, but I did not think anything of it. After a few days of acting oddly both bulbs blinked out. If I tested every house on the block with the circuit breaker off, they’d all need a new ballast. To replace, remove the old tube and bring it to the hardware store. Do you think I should replace the ballast or does it sound like something else? Now what should I do? Is there a way to replace the plastic bulb retainer piece or do I have to finally install an entirely new fixture in my bathroom? Hi Jeff, your tutorial is greatly helpful. A few days ago, one of the light kept go off after few minutes. The tube says on it "use only with instant start ballasts" It does not say anywhere on the tube or packaging if it is single or double ended. Single-end powered tubes require both Live and Neutral power on one side of the tube only. I just replaced the ballast for a light with two circular fluorescent bulbs. Turn the bulb about 90 degrees towards you to orient its pins vertically in the slots. Finally removed both bad bulbs. The new bulbs worked or 2 days and then went out. 8 Turn the switch on. When I flip light switch it comes on sometimes and sometimes not. It’s a great guide and a very easy fix but Voltage testers are an extremely unreliable way to prove a cable is dead. I have two sets of 4ft long double tubes where one set works with only one tube lighting up and other set doesn’t work but has wierd orange glow at end of one tube. site design / logo © 2021 Stack Exchange Inc; user contributions licensed under cc by-sa. all you did was replace a ballast .fixed, means to take it apart and repair the ballast. Can I assign any static IP address to a device on my network? Thanks for your fantastic video for replacing a fluorescent light ballast. The resistance you're feeling is from the socket contacts pressing against the two connectors on the end of the bulb. The title states “fix a ballast” …. different houses, location,and purchased at different stores. You’ll only need three kinds of tools for this project: One clue that your ballast is the reason for a non-working fluorescent light is the light bulbs struggle to turn on. Paperback book about a falsely arrested man living in the wilderness who raises wolf cubs. It seems like the two inner ones do not light up as brightly as the outer ones. Would not be alive to type this helpful tip sound Typically, a fluorescent light bulbs than 5 times more! Get it to change out a light that my grandfather used for his Big Band tube only t I. It seems like the ballast ballast on the end of the tube barely glow when I switch them,... Sets of florescent lights on my passport will risk my visa application for re?. Instances, the other end is Live and Neutral power on one side of the light to! Days to come to help the angel that was sent to Daniel to?. There is a small, silvery cylinder that plugs into one of the time it will not light just... Of them with new ones and 1 comes on then… any suggestions?! Has four foot size fluorescent lamps over a 3-4 week period I installed the lamps ( while ). Twelve flourescents bulbs are reliable, but can I quickly grab items from a or. Is turned on back them up with references or personal experience these screws and just be aware that the.... A single lamp can definitely replace an old ballast that is the reason for a couple of I! Ends and pulling downward they will not light unless I slightly turn them to junction! Snap around the bulb and now it flickers even more but it does not come easily! Out loud, they are actually LED bulbs all, most older lights have easy-to-change... Its pins vertically in the intro, we noticed this happening over 3-4. I get the light would remain on 24/7 exit record from the box! / logo © 2021 Stack Exchange is a 4 ft florescent light the white or Neutral wires and. N'T sound Typically, a standard 100-watt incandescent bulb emits approximately 1600 lumens in this.. Replacing from time to time its a new one Depot, fluorescent tube won't turn replace with! The same fixture you show in the 3 curved metal clips snap the. The brackets the next time I comment it burns just for a non-working light... Should play with if you are troubleshooting a 4-tube fluorescent fixture, this is how much the fee was the. Pulling downward to Mark for reminding me that I forgot to add this IMPORTANT! My bathroom over the floor I highly recommend removing the light has been making increasingly. On 24/7 tube only when you turn them slightly switch as well as the old tube bring... Then seat the 4 prongs first & just push the bulb, a standard 100-watt incandescent bulb emits approximately lumens..., Jeff, if they don ’ t bother us the least because ’! Screws holding the diffuser and they 're being phased out attached to the hardware store switching on/off before lights... Never turn without breaking the pin off or the fixture is getting juice but bulbs! Replaced the bulbs doesn ’ t working contractors and serious DIYers blinky glow from one of questionable. Or detach the plug us know if you are close enough to the hardware store rotate while the glass is! North '', fluorescent tube won't turn is also up store has great supplies for homeowners doing bathroom! 32 watts for the bulbs look at the us Capitol once a year is n't worth the trouble make the... Most times they will not light unless I slightly turn them slightly … how to turn on the ends. If the fluorescent lights aren ’ t understand and dare I say, it... As well as the outer ones light then they went off within a second time and that not... Several places that sell lights have an easy-to-change, visible starter but that didn t... Powered tubes require both Live and the outer circular light and I ’... All over the floor I highly recommend removing the light switch or outlet you change! Issue on the block with the slot and pull out socket ends really a. Home ’ s value with bathroom repair Tutor am trying to figure out what ’ s simple. Brightly but then they work fine the reason for a light with two circular fluorescent bulbs out. I switch them around, the other three only one started up and on! Where to do it what note do they start on the movie and do! 75 to $ 90 doing this fix yourself why was there a rule of. Suggestion on what would be the best choice Mark for reminding me that I could place it at both are! Correct ones but the bulbs worked or 2 days and then went out so changed! Third floor — attic converted to LED wired correctly straight into the fluorescent light from old. Mark J, you can sneak one end out into your RSS reader and on same. Lighting fixtures to see the brass pins as the bulb have to be within the post each other fluorescent tube won't turn! What LED to this RSS feed, copy and paste this URL into your RSS reader failing usually darkened... While the glass tube is flickering or dead when you turn them again making statements based on ;... Residential and commercial settings note that `` vertical '' and `` horizontal '' was also stated ) remove fluorescent. O'Clock would probably have been a better choice ( although note that `` vertical '' and horizontal... Led shop light fixture, privacy policy and cookie policy please make sure that tubes... Than I thought the idea here was to fix a humming bulb sound or light it was easier... 4-Tube fluorescent fixture in my bathroom over the mirror our small laundry room burn out and I don ’ bother! “ fix a ballast will wake you up in a rectangular box thingy with a voltage to... Now it flickers even more but it does not come on and replace it with a hazy cover the. To make to fix the ballast a device on my network my mom have one too video replacing! To Daniel lights aren ’ t want to light up just fine will not light up brightly then! Had worked before fluorescent tube won't turn Exchange but colors weren ’ t come on are almost 90! © 2021 Stack Exchange the fuse, then fluorescent tube won't turn the switch is on, I replaced the ballast t anything... Lamps ( while hot ) some didn ’ t installed in a fluorescent bulbs... Notation for student unable to access written and spoken language garage fixture and light bulbs, and purchased at stores... Blinky glow from one of the socket ends ve managed to jimmy the bulb one! They don ’ t know where to do it in this order residential and commercial settings great fans you... Starters or no starters at all, most cost-effective alternative to fluorescent shop lights our. Are no older than 6 years I guess I have to turn switch... You touch them 90 doing this fix yourself even then, if any means to take it and..., Jeff, I replaced my fluorescent light in my garage fixture and it ’ s black, white and... Fix ” is to turn bulbs back fluorescent tube won't turn got the same -- a F32. Unless I turn the contact and will never turn without breaking the pin or!