T8 Fluorescent fixtures have personality!!

[bsheffer]

Single pole switch controlling two T8 fixturers that were installed 5 years ago and working fine. Over the past two weeks, Sometime when you turn the switch "on" no lights come on. turn the switch off/on and one light comes on, turn the switch off/on, and the other light comes on, turn the switch off/on and both lights come on. No rhyme or reason to the pattern. From what I have always thought of Electronic ballasts, either work or they don't so I somewhat rule that out.  Possibly the bulbs are old and cannot energize....Can any one shed any thoughts on this "riddle"..

[JGrout]

How cold is it in the area?


If not cold I am leaning to the  switch and or the feed

[bsheffer]

Not cold at all as it is actually an office environment.

[JGrout]

then a loose wire in the feed would be next is there a gang box feed to both lights? or maybe one to the other I expect that where multiple wires are under one wire nut you would find the issue

[bsheffer]

and there is a gang box that I can eventually get into.

Do you think my bulb explanation is worth even trying?? It was a stretch. My understanding is that the ballast provides an initial 'high voltage charge" to energize the inert gas inside the bulb and given the approx. 5 year/40 hours a week usage pattern, I thought possibly the bulbs were "tired"!!

[DustyDan]

Time for new bulbs anyhow.  I have heard that fluorescent tubes lose 60% of their light output during their lifetime.  Easy access and a good starting point.

Good luck  

[Herb G]

It's either a loose wire, or the tubes have somehow twisted in the tombstones that hold them in the fixture.
It happens. Usually from expansion & contraction when the tubes heat up & cool off.

[bsheffer]

as.....this is a low priority fix but I will get to it and report back.

[rwe2156]

Heres my $.02:

1 % chance of loose wire
20% chance bad ballast
80% chance bad bulbs

Simple solution: Change bulbs if that doesn't help, put in a new ballast.

Yes, when a ballast is going bad they can act that way.

[Robert Adams]

Heres my $.02:

1 % chance of loose wire
20% chance bad ballast
80% chance bad bulbs

Simple solution: Change bulbs if that doesn't help, put in a new ballast.  

Yes, when a ballast is going bad they can act that way.

Ditto. When they start to age sometimes it takes a few power cycles to get everything to light up. 

      Imo time to go with led bulbs.