What am i doing wrong? Installed 2 new flourscent 4' tube lights, but only the very end 'tips' light up??

[THELAIR]

Okay so two of the garages floursecent light figures, that hold 2 tubes each, have burnt out, and well no one has taken the time to replace them.

So I went to home depot tonight to grab 4 new bulbs. The install on the first 2 went fine... pulled out the old ones, installed one bulb, but wasnt very bright, but as soon as the 2nd bulb was installed, it light up nicely.

So then i move over to the 2nd enclosure, and take out its 2 dead tubes, and pop in the new ones. But this time when you turn it on, it makes a quick flash across the tubes, but then only the tips where the lil 2 prongs are at the end light up dimly.. thats it nothing more... its like it cant ramp up enough energy or somthing to get the light going across the rest of the tube. I've tried multiple tubes, it's not being caused by the ones i just bought tonight.

Removed them several times, but still no luck

argh, hehehe... but at least hte garage isnt as dark as it was before. Im just wondering if its the whole lighting fixture that is fubar'd. One of hte fixtures that is really ancient in the garage, does the same thing, but one of hte tubes will light up across the whole thing, but in a weird arcing purplish colour... kinda freaky, so I removed it.

Any help appreciated

 

[Murphyrulez]

Sounds like the ballast is bad. The transformer that powers the light, usually a black rectangular case about 8 inches long, heavy as a brick. You can replace it, but you might as well replace the whole fixture...

Paul

 

[IndyJaws]

Gotta agree with the ballast assessment..............

 

[THELAIR]

is that what it is? yah the older older one i can see the big black brick thingy... but the other one that i was trying to get going, is like only 3 or 4 years old.... kinda odd that its dead allready.

I guess the whole assembly needes to be replaced

Bah humbug.

At least one of htem is plugged in to a wall outlet mounted on the ceiling, so that shouldnt be too hard to install, just unscrew the support brackets and throw in a whole new lighting fixture. But the other one that is permenantly installed will need its wiring cut, and then re connected if i were to replace it.

hmmmmmm

how often does the "ballast" go? I've never heard of 'ballast' in those light fixtures before.

 

[Loggerman]

Don't make'm like they used to I guess.:disgust:
Time for a new one,or find an older used one.

 

[Brutuskend]

Bad ballast





BADDDDDD