Flashing fluorescent tube

[MyNameIsUrl]

Earlier today a fluorescent tube was flickering very quickly, and now it is flashing about once a second. Has the tube gone or is it likely to be a ballast or something in the fitting?

[bungeejumper]

Any blackening at the ends of the tube? If not, try swapping out the starter from another fitment.

I don't have much to add to what this source has to say (although, being a yank, he's thinking of 110 volts rather than 230) http://www.naturalhandyman.com/iip/infe ... fluor.html. If the ballast has gone it'll be only slightly more expensive to replace the whole light fitting - but relax, they're really not pricey if you buy them online rather than from B&Q.

Still, a new tube is the most probable remedy.

BJ

[supremetwo]

Duff tube.

LED replacements are readily available and you do not need a ballast or starter with those.

[Slarti]

Duff tube.

LED replacements are readily available and you do not need a ballast or starter with those.

I thought that you had do do re-wiring to bypass the ballast and starter, actually inside the fitting?

Slarti

[jfgw]

Duff tube.

LED replacements are readily available and you do not need a ballast or starter with those.

I thought that you had do do re-wiring to bypass the ballast and starter, actually inside the fitting?

Slarti

If the fitting is the type that uses a starter and is not of the type that runs two tubes from one ballast, there is no internal wiring to do. Simply replace the tube and starter with an LED and the "starter" that comes with it.

If the fitting has an electronic ballast or some other circuit that does not have a starter, it will have to be rewired for use with an LED.

Some fittings have one choke but two tubes and two starters. This will only apply to fittings with fairly short tubes. These need rewiring before an LED lamp is fitted. Recessed modular fluorescent fittings (the 600mm square ones that fit in suspended ceilings) have two lots of two tubes so wired. These fittings can be replaced entirely with LED panels quite cheaply.

Julian F. G. W.

[Dod1010]

Earlier today a fluorescent tube was flickering very quickly, and now it is flashing about once a second. Has the tube gone or is it likely to be a ballast or something in the fitting?

I had a 5 foot tube go this week. It flickered and as I had a spare starter I tried that but no joy. I needed it at this time of year and our local ironmonger gave me a new one for £5.50. End of story. They last for a long time so no big deal. Do not complicate matters.

Dod