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Electrical

Replacing single tube fluorescent lamps with 58W high frequency twin Fluorescent battens...

Anonymous user 03/03/2024 - 3.11 PM

I had a pair of 5ft single tube fluorescent lamps in my garage which had been there for about 15 years and worked fine. They are on a single switch. They were not bright enough so I purchased 2 5FT 58W HIGH FREQUENCY TWIN FLUORESCENT battens to replace them. Easy to wire to the existing cables. The problem I have is that they wont start properly. They try to start together. The tubes half come on then they both go out. They dont try and restart. Sometimes both will flash, one will come on, the other will flash and go out. If Im very lucky they will both come on! More often though they both flash and wont come on. I have checked the wiring, I have checked the switch, I have checked the tubes are seated properly. Can anyone advise what the problem may be? Thank you.

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2 Answers

Anonymous user

My first thought is faulty starter. Have you tried replacing the starter? A starter will only cost £1 to £3 from your local hardware hut. My next guess would be loose connections in the wiring. If all the wiring is fine then I'd have to assume faulty ballast. Difficult to diagnose a fault like this over the internet, sorry. Start off with the starter. Most fluorescent faults I've ever come across have been solved with changing the starter.

Answered16 October 2014

Nigel Hawkins Electrical

Rating: 5 out of 5

Egham

Fluorescent tubes flash and don't come on because when the starter operates the bi-metal strip is not opening correctly or quickly enough because it may be faulty. 1)Change the starters 2) Make sure all wiring is tightly connected and that there are no loose connections. Also, the insulation between live and neutral may need to be tested. 3) If the ballast (choke) is faulty, there may not be enough high voltage generated when the starters open. The ballast is a coil of wire (these days electronic) that have to be in tip top shape to generate a high back emf when the starter opens. You can change ballasts ! I hope this helps

Answered10 February 2016