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Tubes or Light Fixture? phaeton 06-12-2008
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Posted by phaeton on June 12, 2008, 9:44 pm
In my apartment (yes I know it's not a house) I have a flourescent
fixture in the kitchen. A month or so ago (right when I moved in)
when I'd flip on the switch, it would usually light up very very
dimly. Sometimes if I reached up with my knife sharpener and gave it
a light tap on one end, it would light up just like normal and be fine
until I turned the lights off. I figured it was a loose tube or
something, but I had no way to reach it to jiggle it back into the
connector(s).

I bought a table, it came with chairs. Now I could reach it, but it
behaved itself completely up until about three days ago. Now, when I
turn on the lightswitch, both of the tubes (it's a 4-tube fixture with
2 tubes in it) glow orange on each end and that's it. Occasionally I
get a flash of white light right as I turn the switch off, but that's
all it will do. The apartments were built in 1975 and the fixture
hums when I turn it on, so I assume it is a magnetic ballast instead
of electronic.

Sew... Should I go out and buy some new tubes, or should I call the
Maintenance guy? I'd hate to erroneously spend money, but I'd also
hate to bring someone over just to tell me "go buy some new tubes".

Thanks.

Plumbing 468x60
Posted by hallerb@aol.com on June 12, 2008, 10:10 pm
> In my apartment (yes I know it's not a house) I have a flourescent
> fixture in the kitchen. =EF=BF=BDA month or so ago (right when I moved in)=

> when I'd flip on the switch, it would usually light up very very
> dimly. =EF=BF=BDSometimes if I reached up with my knife sharpener and gave=
it
> a light tap on one end, it would light up just like normal and be fine
> until I turned the lights off. =EF=BF=BDI figured it was a loose tube or
> something, but I had no way to reach it to jiggle it back into the
> connector(s).
>
> I bought a table, it came with chairs. =EF=BF=BDNow I could reach it, but =
it
> behaved itself completely up until about three days ago. =EF=BF=BDNow, whe=
n I
> turn on the lightswitch, both of the tubes (it's a 4-tube fixture with
> 2 tubes in it) glow orange on each end and that's it. =EF=BF=BDOccasionall=
y I
> get a flash of white light right as I turn the switch off, but that's
> all it will do. =EF=BF=BDThe apartments were built in 1975 and the fixture=

> hums when I turn it on, so I assume it is a magnetic ballast instead
> of electronic.
>
> Sew... =EF=BF=BDShould I go out and buy some new tubes, or should I call t=
he
> Maintenance guy? =EF=BF=BDI'd hate to erroneously spend money, but I'd als=
o
> hate to bring someone over just to tell me "go buy some new tubes".
>
> Thanks.

most likely bad lamps, take one out with you to store, and replace all
4...


Posted by Joseph Meehan on June 12, 2008, 10:14 pm
If the tubes look dark at the ends, then likely they need to be
replaced. However it sounds to me more likely that they are not not making
good contact with the fixture. Turn the fixture off, remove the lamps and
then put them back in. See if that helps.

Now having said that, if I have a few extra dollars, I think I would
replace that fixture with, as you apparently already know, a new with with
electronic ballast.

> In my apartment (yes I know it's not a house) I have a flourescent
> fixture in the kitchen. A month or so ago (right when I moved in)
> when I'd flip on the switch, it would usually light up very very
> dimly. Sometimes if I reached up with my knife sharpener and gave it
> a light tap on one end, it would light up just like normal and be fine
> until I turned the lights off. I figured it was a loose tube or
> something, but I had no way to reach it to jiggle it back into the
> connector(s).
>
> I bought a table, it came with chairs. Now I could reach it, but it
> behaved itself completely up until about three days ago. Now, when I
> turn on the lightswitch, both of the tubes (it's a 4-tube fixture with
> 2 tubes in it) glow orange on each end and that's it. Occasionally I
> get a flash of white light right as I turn the switch off, but that's
> all it will do. The apartments were built in 1975 and the fixture
> hums when I turn it on, so I assume it is a magnetic ballast instead
> of electronic.
>
> Sew... Should I go out and buy some new tubes, or should I call the
> Maintenance guy? I'd hate to erroneously spend money, but I'd also
> hate to bring someone over just to tell me "go buy some new tubes".
>
> Thanks.


--
Joseph Meehan

Dia 's Muire duit




Posted by phaeton on June 12, 2008, 10:36 pm
Ok, so I took the tubes out and looked at them, then put them back in.

Some notes: Only one has a dark spot (not all round the end of the
tube, just one dark spot in the side). More importantly, the
connectors that the tubes sit in are all black and melted looking.

I think this calls for a fixture replacement.


Thanks.


Posted by Tony Hwang on June 13, 2008, 12:03 am
phaeton wrote:
> Ok, so I took the tubes out and looked at them, then put them back in.
>
> Some notes: Only one has a dark spot (not all round the end of the
> tube, just one dark spot in the side). More importantly, the
> connectors that the tubes sit in are all black and melted looking.
>
> I think this calls for a fixture replacement.
>
>
> Thanks.
>
Hi,
4 lamp fixture? Then inner two and outer two work as pairs.
One bad will make borh lamp stay off. They're cheap. Just replace them
all. I like daylight lamps.

Page 1 of 2       1 2 > last >>
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