Any electricians in the house?

[smalls]

I have an issue with a fluorescent light fixture in my mud room. The tubes no longer kick on to "full power". When I turn the light switch on they will emit a very low light, but only a small fraction of what it should be (the room is still dark).

I have done the obvious like putting in new tubes and I installed a new ballast (a T12 magnetic ballast for two 40w tubes). The fixture is new enough not to have a "starter".

The problem persists... any ideas before I call an electrician?

 

[DRAFTSTUD]

Go to your breaker box and tighten all your leads. If that don't work try licking your finger and stick it into the sockets of the fixture.....but get the wife to take pictures! John

 

[noharleyyet]

Go to your breaker box and tighten all your leads. If that don't work try licking your finger and stick it into the sockets of the fixture.....but get the wife to take pictures! John

...then use a flashligfht to locate the phone # for an electrician.

 

[genesis273]

Smalls, reading the above proves that you may have went to the wrong area for electrical advise. Remember, everyone on here enjoys killing things, apparently even you! My advise... yellowpages. What you had done is exactly what I would have done. That usually works.

 

[Wyodeerhunter]

Smalls,
What is the temperature of your mud room? fluorescent bulbs do not like to light up when it is cold out ESPICALLY with a magnetic ballast.

If it's below 30 degrees in your mud room I would recommend putting in a T8 electronic ballast. The T8 bulbs are smaller, give more light and better for the environment. The elctronic ballast will light the bulbs at 0 degrees and some are rated for even below zero.

A magnetic ballast will light in cold temperatures but over time it becomes weak and the bulbs will only partially light the vapor giving you you effect they are "going out".

Another thing it could be is you wired up your new ballast wrong. Check the wiring diagram again because if you wire the ballast incorrectly it will partially light the bulbs.

Also turn off the light switch and check to make sure all the wires are landed in the tombstones (what holds the bulbs). Also broken tombstones will make a weak connection so make sure they are all intact.

 

[smalls]

NHY/Gen, where is your sense of DIY spirit?

Calling an electrician today...

 

[Wyodeerhunter]

it will cost you more to hire an electrician than to replace the whole fixture. Going rate for an electrician is over $80/hour shop rate, and a new fixture is going to cost you around 20 bucks at home depot etc.

The problem is defiently in the fixture and I'll bet its one of the above I posted Do post the results though

 

[JB]

definetly cheaper to replace the fixture than the ballast.....but forget that and put in a cheap keyless fixture and a fluorescent squigley bulb. why mess with 4' tubes anymore?

 

[noharleyyet]

definetly cheaper to replace the fixture than the ballast.....but forget that and put in a cheap keyless fixture and a fluorescent squigley bulb. why mess with 4' tubes anymore?

....cheaper after the 6 pack of sam adams factored?

 

[smalls]

I bought two ballasts from The Home Depot and neither worked. The electrician put one in and voila, worked great. He said the one I had put in was wired correctly (they are fairly idiot proof). Our mud room is heated with the rest of the house so it wasn't a cold issue.

Probably should have replaced the fixture, but it's fixed now and Mrs. smalls can go back to doing the laundry. Life is good again.

 

[Wyodeerhunter]

now and Mrs. smalls can go back to doing the laundry.QUOTE]

Amen. Thats a good wife

 

[JB]

....cheaper after the 6 pack of sam adams factored?

might even break into the 2nd 6 pack if'n ya replace two ballastatisses.(thats eletreesion talk rite there)

 

[smalls]

might even break into the 2nd 6 pack if'n ya replace two ballastatisses.(thats eletreesion talk rite there)

Fortunately the friendly people at Home Depot took them back and returned me my money.