Lighting Question

[Bullet]

If anyone has ever been in my basement you know that the shop light that I have my fishroom does not always come on. If I flick the switch a few times it usually comes on.

It is just a normal 3 foot shop light. Has anyone ever seen this happen to a light like this before? Sometimes when it will not turn on by flicking the switch I have to twist the bulbs a little to get them to turn on. Do I need to replace the bulbs? Is it a ballast issue?

I would appreciate the any input as I do not want to have to buy a new one for a house we are selling.

TIA!

 

[waverz]

Dude they are like 10 bucks at Menards, it would probably be cheaper to buy a new one than replace the bulbs....

Are the bulbs dark on the ends? If so its the bulbs fo' sho'

 

[leeweber85]

Trying to fix some stuff around the house before you sell it?

Does it have starters? If so, they might just need replaced. Or the bulbs could just be old...... Or the connections might just need to be cleaned.

 

[glaspie69]

take the bulbs out and either spray some connector cleaner on them or manually clean the ends. The brass gets tarnished after awhile and looses connection.

 

[bgreenlee]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10139934#post10139934 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by glaspie69
take the bulbs out and either spray some connector cleaner on them or manually clean the ends. The brass gets tarnished after awhile and looses connection.

Especially in a room that has salt in the air.

Personally I consider the lights disposable, but I think you have all the answers above for what goes wrong wiht them. In order, new bulbs (but only if dark at the ends), starters (cheap anywhere), or ballasts (which cost more then a new light fixture at Walmart, Menards, Etc.)

 

[Double-J]

I've found that the ballasts on those light aren't the best and need replacement every once in a while. Agreed it's cheaper just to get a new fixture.

 

[Bullet]

I cleaned them this morning and no better. Off to Menards I go for a new one

 

[kerr]

TRY THE STARTER SHOULD ONLY BE 2 BUCKS OR SO.

 

[Bullet]

Well...these ballast do not have starters....at least I cannot find one on it. So I switched it out with a 2 footer I had and that one does the same thing.

It cannot be the switch because the other light in the room turns on perfectly.

Weird

 

[leeweber85]

Was the 2 footer old? Have you tried new bulbs yet because sometimes they go bad even though they aren't dark on the ends.

 

[jtesdall]

They haven't put starters on fluorescents for years, probably about 20 years. Problem solved, new fixture ....

This reminds me of something people keep telling me on this board ...... you get what you pay for. An $8 fixture or $2 spiral fluorescents. ;0)

 

[Bullet]

I hear ya there...I spent $1200 dollars on a skimmer and is the best think I have ever done..spent $10 on a light and it pi**** me off every day.