Posts: 2,852
Threads: 0
Joined: Dec 2004
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"..
Posts: 29,152
Threads: 1
Joined: Aug 2002
How cold is it in the area?
If not cold I am leaning to the switch and or the feed
Let us not seek the Republican Answer , or the Democratic answer. Let us not seek to fix the blame for the past. Let us accept our own responsibility for the future John F. Kennedy
Posts: 2,852
Threads: 0
Joined: Dec 2004
Not cold at all as it is actually an office environment.
Posts: 29,152
Threads: 1
Joined: Aug 2002
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
Let us not seek the Republican Answer , or the Democratic answer. Let us not seek to fix the blame for the past. Let us accept our own responsibility for the future John F. Kennedy
Posts: 2,852
Threads: 0
Joined: Dec 2004
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"!!
Posts: 2,716
Threads: 0
Joined: Mar 2001
Location: Los Angeles
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
Posts: 5,119
Threads: 12
Joined: Apr 2009
Location: SoMar
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.
Posts: 2,852
Threads: 0
Joined: Dec 2004
as.....this is a low priority fix but I will get to it and report back.
Posts: 1,409
Threads: 2
Joined: Jun 2003
12-05-2016, 12:12 PM
(This post was last modified: 12-05-2016, 12:18 PM by 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.
Posts: 5,733
Threads: 2
Joined: Dec 2004
Location: Fort Worth
(12-05-2016, 12:12 PM)rwe2156 Wrote: 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.
