Fluorescent Starters - Fluorescent Lighting
by
Jim Ginas
+4
Garage has two 8' long fluorescent lighting fixtures. one side works great, the other side gets dull FAST.... I keep replacing bulbs and almost bought 2 new fixtures last night. (Man in LOWES told me 4' with covers are better then the 8' without.) While talking with him, I see these "Fluorescent Starters" for $1.98
**** QUESTIONs:
1) Could the fixture simply need these "Fluorescent Starters" to make the light fixture work right?
2) Is 4 Bulbs EACH side necessary? or would the 2 Bulbs fixtures work sufficiently?
**** QUESTIONs:
1) Could the fixture simply need these "Fluorescent Starters" to make the light fixture work right?
2) Is 4 Bulbs EACH side necessary? or would the 2 Bulbs fixtures work sufficiently?
Is a starter an easy fix? and if so, to replace out the old one? is this a main cause of bulbs not brightening up?
will 2 bulb fixtiure be sufficient? LOWES man said it would, then changed his mind.
5 answers
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Hi Jim, for starters i believe your problem with your current florescent lighting is a bad ballast. They will start to act up as you are describing above when they are sarting to go. For the cost to replace the ballast i would recommend you simply get new fixtures as you have shown above. As for the light being sufficient that is your preference. If it is in a work area i recommend the 4 bulb. They are very energy efficient and will last a long time, so you will be getting your value for the dollar with florescent. Good Luck
"Scott Binsack" Gettin er Done at Home
on Jan 15, 2014
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In that case Jim just get the double bulb fixture. Do not waste the money if you do not need the addition light. Good Luck
"Scott Binsack" Gettin er Done at Home
on Jan 16, 2014
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my suggestion is to replace the transformer - starters are exactjy what the name implies-only for starting -u can remove it once the bulb is lit & it won't affect the bulb.another thing to check-are the fictures in a parallel circuit or series? good luck!
Louis Lieberman
on Jan 17, 2014
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Starters won't help you here, this is a ballast issue. First things first, if you have T12s (you probably do), ditch them and replace your ballast with one made for T8s. T12s will not be manufactured anymore and you'll have to retrofit later. Instead of doing it twice, do it once now. Price the cost of the new ballast (and possibly new lampholders, they tend to break at the worst possible time) against a new fixture and decide for yourself. Get a decent electronic ballast with a brand name, this is definitely a case of you get what you pay for. Electronic ballasts are more efficient and will save you money and they don't buzz like mechanical ones.
Mon284787
on Jan 17, 2014
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Take them out, update with LED lighting. Better lighting, lower cost.
Denise
on Aug 26, 2015
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