fluorescent light fixture crisis

[drache]

I just changed the bulbs in my beardie's fixture and now they won't turn on
it's one of those home depot heavy duty double track 4' fluorescent fixtures
one of the bulb briefly flicks on when the switch passes a spot in the turning on path (does that make sense?), but then I don't see the faint flickering at the end that would tell me that it's just taking a while 'cause it's a new bulb
I've turned the bulbs and futzed around, but that's all I get
is it the switch then?

[LushLulu85]

Rhea it could be that it is a faulty bulb. try and get another bulb to try if it works out that the new one doesn't work either then it might be the fixture by the sounds of things

[adamanteus]

Sounds like you need a new starter in there, Rhea.

[drache]

I ended up rigging something for Henner with some old fixtures
just didn't have the time to mess with this one
sometime this coming week I'll take it apart
the starter, huh?

[adamanteus]

Originally Posted by drache

I ended up rigging something for Henner with some old fixtures
just didn't have the time to mess with this one
sometime this coming week I'll take it apart
the starter, huh?

That's what I think, Rhea, A faulty starter will cause it to flicker but not come in. They do have a limited life, just as the tube does.

[KITKAT]

Originally Posted by drache

I just changed the bulbs in my beardie's fixture and now they won't turn on
it's one of those home depot heavy duty double track 4' fluorescent fixtures
one of the bulb briefly flicks on when the switch passes a spot in the turning on path (does that make sense?), but then I don't see the faint flickering at the end that would tell me that it's just taking a while 'cause it's a new bulb
I've turned the bulbs and futzed around, but that's all I get
is it the switch then?

There are flourescent lights that have a starter that is seperate from the bulb... you will find a little cylinder of aluminum in the middle of the lamp somewhere. This cylinder can be changed, but most places do not sell them, and thus they are almost impossible to find. It is planned obsolescence for these types of lamps.

There are also flourescent lights that have a "ballast", and no starter. To buy a ballast is more expensive than buying a new lamp.

If you are unsure which type of light you have, turn the lamp on... unplug it from the wall to turn it off... then plug it back in. A lamp with a ballast will come back on. A lamp with a starter will not.

It is also possible to make a bulb flicker and fail to come on, when there is only a partial connection between the bulb's prongs and the receptacle on the lamp where the prongs fit. To solve this problem, you have to keep rotating the bulb around and wiggling it until you get it in the best position.

[drache]

thanls for explaining the starter and balance stuff
I've got another strip that needs a new balance - I just didn't know it was called that - now I know
the one on Henner's tank probably has a ballast
whatever it is is inside the fixture, so that I'd have to take off a panel to even see
no amount of turning the bulbs did anything, and I never even got any flickering - just a brief flash at one end of one of the bulbs when the switch passes a place
truthfully - I hate that fixture, hated it when I first got it
it big heavy clunky and completely chrome covered
I think I may give myself a late birthday gift and get Henner something nicer - not from home depot