Fluorescent Light Problems

Frequently Asked Questions

1. QUESTION:
   Ban on incandescent light bulbs, no way fluorescent light creates many medical problems? I feel flourecent light are responsible for may medical problems including ADD, ADHD, and Eplilepsy. I feel even non epileptics get auras or partial siezures form these light bulbs. I though we should ban the flourecent light while now I am hearing they want ban incadecent. This is ridiculous. How do you feel about this ban or efforst to use more flourecent lights. These lights flicker at a very high speed which you do not see but your brain does and I feel this is what is causing so many people to have problems. I think kids will do better in school if the incedecnt light bulb is used. Excuse me but I guess the spell check isnt working today and I am sitting here in light that is flickering. Yes, migraines I can almost gurantee these lights are responsible for alot of those medical problems and think more research needs to be done before we ban a reliable product. I have better concentration when I am not in a classroom filled with these lights. This is bad idea !!!!!!! Well if you want to debate then you yourself can direct me to information that proves otherwise. http://www.migrainepage.com/dcforum/discussion/14809.html http://www.helpforheadaches.com/articles/ofc-ltg.htm
   
   • ANSWER:
     I don't know about flicker problems, at least when the fluorescent lamps are new, but I wonder if there is still mercury in them. That would present a greater California health hazard than the power consumption, flicker, etc. I think.
     
2. QUESTION:
   Fluorescent light problem. Bulb or Ballast? I have a 2 foot long two tube fluorescent fixture that doesn't light immediately when turned on. Any where from a couple of minutes to 20 or so after you turn it on both tubes suddenly light up. No sign of blackness on ends of tubes. I'm thinking ballast. Am I right?
   
   • ANSWER:
     Yes!
     
3. QUESTION:
   Can someone help diagnose a fluorescent light fixture problem? My kitchen has a fluorescent light fixture in the ceiling (the circular 2-ring kind). It sometimes takes as long as 2 hours to actually turn on after I flip the switch. Does this indicate that the bulb is bad and/or dying, or is there another suggestion as to what is wrong? Thanks
   
   • ANSWER:
     Sounds like a bad bulb. Is one end very dark. Yup, that's it. Replace BOTH BULBS!..DOesn't cost that much. Try it now...Same problem? Replace the Ballast. Turn off power, snip all wires close to ballast ( this will give you some slack ) take to store and have it matched up. Strip wires back about a half inch, buy some blue wire nuts ( store will help you pick ) and wire them all together ( Match color to color, order doesn't matter ) Turn power on, hit switch!
     
4. QUESTION:
   Fluorescent Light Problem- 4 blubs, replaced two, new ones dont light up.? Two of the four bulbs had burned ends, the burned out ones were alternating, not side by side. I replaced with new bulbs that do not light up at all.
   
   • ANSWER:
     Could be the ballasts. The component that alters AC voltage/current to fire the flourescents. Might be a DIYer project, but there are dangers. Battery ballasts will shock you and older ballasts might contain PCBs. Don't attempt unless you talk to an electrician and are assured of hazard abatement.
     
5. QUESTION:
   Problem fluorescent light fixture? A few years ago the bulb started to flicker and turn black at the ends. I replaced the bulb, but it didn't take the new bulb long to also turn black and flicker. I concluded that the ballast must be going bad. So I replaced it with an Advanced Transformer Co. rapid start ballast (RL-140 TP) and installed a new bulb (F40T12). As before, in a few weeks the bulb was shot. I spoke with a friend who does a lot of electrical work and he suggested that one of the lamp holders must have gone bad or wasn't making a clean connection and thus there wasn't a good electrical path. Today I replaced both lamp holders and the bulb. Now the bulb doesn't light at all, unless I turn it as to remove it and once it lights, I can then rotate it back to the normal position. However, if I turn it off and then back on, it won't light without the turning I just described unless it is still warm. There is no starter in this fixture. This is 1 of 2 identical (the other works fine). Any ideas?
   
   • ANSWER:
     you are using rapid start fluorescent lamp, this lamp needs 2 second pre-heating. you should change it to instant start fluorescent fixture and use instant start ballast. next time when the tube is flickering before the tube get blacken, change the tube right away, otherwise as the tube blackened the ballast will be overheated. the tube is much cheaper than the ballast. also replace the fixture as the cost of replacing the ballast is not too far from replacing the whole fixture.
     
6. QUESTION:
   How to pick standard fluorescent light bulbs? I want to replace my incandescent light bulbs with standard fluorescent light bulbs but the problem is that fluorescent light bulbs happens to be extremely dim and the area in which light spreads is really small. I bought a 150W replacement which consumes 30W but when i compare the luminosity and area which light spreads is worse than a 80W incandescent light bulb. Any tips on how to choose the right fluorescent light bulb?
   
   • ANSWER:
     Fluorescent lights are good way to provide natural light spectrum to your indoor garden while cutting down the waste heat produced by the light bulbs. you can find better options as per your requirement...
     
7. QUESTION:
   Very sensitive to artificial fluorescent light; what can I do? I have no problems with natural light (sunlight) or incandescent light (old fashioned light bulbs), but fluorescent just makes my eyes burn badly. I'm in an office all day, and it's just as bad at 5pm as it is at 9am. I have eye drops and sunglasses, and they help only a little. Any tips/help would be greatly appreciated.
   
   • ANSWER:
     Some people do have sensitivities to fluorescent lighting. It has to do with the rapid flicker associated with alternating current, which shows up with fluorescent, but not incandescent, lighting. The first suggestion is to use some supplemental incandescent lighting, such as a desk lamp. You may also want to make sure that there are no chemical eye irritants in your office...any new carpets, etc.? If you use the computer as much as most people do, then make sure to take frequent breaks and look away from the screen for a couple of minutes. Hope this helps! Doc
     
8. QUESTION:
   Fluorescent lighting problems...? The lights in my bathroom are very dim. It's not a problem with the tubes because i have went through 4 different tubes with the same results. No matter if i put brand new tubes in, the light will still be very dim. Does anyone know what the problem is with this?
   
   • ANSWER:
     Ballast is going bad, or most likely you are putting in the wrong bulbs ( i.e. T8 for T12 ) or the wrong rated type. When I bought my house, the previous owner had put in the wrong bulb. * EDIT * Ballast don't go bad? Go to the local hardware store and look at all the replacement ballast they have on the shelfs. I have replaced 2 ballast at work in the last month since they were burning tubes out after only 3 weeks of use. Ballast don't go bad... whateverrrr
     
9. QUESTION:
   Are any health problems associated w/ sleeping in bedroom w/ uncovered fluorescent light on the whole night? My son (in his 30's) often does this - falls asleep w/o tending to the lights. Cover of overhead lamp removed because he wanted more illumination for nighttime regular activities. If there are harmful effects cd. these include possible infertility? What about working the whole day w/ fluorescent lamp on your desk directly shining on you?
   
   • ANSWER:
     I'm not aware of any studies on fluorescent lighting and health. I think the worst it could do is cause insomnia, but it doesn't sound like your son has that problem. Only other side effect would be a high electric bill. Reason enough for him to turn off his lights.
     
10. QUESTION:
    Fluorescent light problem??? (10 points!!!)? took the light off my fish tank to do a water change, and when I put it back on, it doesn't work. YES, the switch is the right way and the power to the outlet is on. I wasn't having any trouble before this, so I figure it's the starter or ballast. Is there a way to tell which before I blow a lot of dough on a part I don't need? It's a compact fluorescent if that matters (Corallife, two tubes). I tried wiggling it already. The connecter is a straight pin arrangement, 4 pins in a line, so it doesn't twist and lock like regular fluorescents. And theres only one connecter at one end and there's clips around the bulbs that hold them in place.
    
    • ANSWER:
      You can bet it's the ballast. They really are so touchy.
      
11. QUESTION:
    What's the problem with my fluorescent light bulbs? About a month ago I replaced the fluorescent bulbs in my kitchen and now they don't come on all the way. It's like I am only getting half the wattage from them. Then some times it comes on completely bright. and it stays that way until I turn it off and the next evening turn it back on. What is the solution?
    
    • ANSWER:
      Depending on how much of the time you use those lights, you might consider leaving them on all the time. It may even be cheaper in electricity consumption. Fluorescent lights consume a large power surge when turning on, but use very little power once lit. So if you turn them off and on several times per day you may well be better off just leaving them on. And that would also solve your starter problem.
      
12. QUESTION:
    Are there a lot of documented health problems from people dropping fluorescent light bulbs due to mercury? Seeing as how they really have no warning labels, I'd expect this to be a new epidemic. Everyone drops a light bulb on occassion, it just happens. When a fluorescent bulb breaks, you're supposed to immediately vacate the area and call for a Hazmat team to come and thoroughly and extensively clean the premises......but I'd wager that 90% of the people buying the bulbs aren't aware of that. Have a lot of health issues been observed already from people that have dropped these things, and yet in their ignorance, did not clean up the spill?
    
    • ANSWER:
      No. The danger is exaggerated in our sue happy society.
      
13. QUESTION:
    Fluorescent light bulb problem? So recently, the light bulb inside a restaurant sign went out. I bought a new one to change it, but it doesn't turn on. I know that electricity is going through the bulb because it becomes hot, but it's just the light that doesn't turn on. Any clue what reasons could cause this problem, and how can I solve it? Also I'm in Canada, and it is 110V. Thanks in advance.
    
    • ANSWER:
      The starter. Change it.
      
14. QUESTION:
    Why is my fluorescent light flickering every time I use my printer? Problems began when my GFCI outlet would not reset in my basement office. The next thing I know, every time I print with my laser printer, the fluorescent light overhead flickers, as though there is not enough power coming to my office. With the exception of a large LCD television upstairs, I have not added any major appliances to my home electrical systems.
    
    • ANSWER:
      Either the bulb is loose or the transformer is going out on the light.
      
15. QUESTION:
    Fluorescent (Swirly type) light bulb - problem w/Motion Sensor? I changed out the regular light bulb w/the swirly kind on the front porch. It's a motion sensing light and has always worked fine. With the new bulb, once the light goes on it stays on all night and I have to turn it off in the morning. I've tried all the switches, changing timing, distance, etc. Anyone have any ideas to fix? Thanks.
    
    • ANSWER:
      fluorescent bulbs are not recommended for motion detector lights. not mine anyway. put the old bulb back in and forget about it.
      
16. QUESTION:
    fluorescent light bulb problem!? today, a fluorescent light bulb broke in my house. i began picking up the broken pieces not knowing the danger of these lights. i touched the broken light many times. what's going to happen to me?
    
    • ANSWER:
      You should be fine. The bulbs themselves contain such a minute amount of gas that you would only be in danger if you worked without protection in a fluorescent lightbulb manufacturing facility.
      
17. QUESTION:
    Why Are My New Fluorescent Light Bulbs Flickering? I recently replaced the incandescent bulbs in my ceiling fan light with fluorescent bulbs. Now, whenever I turn on my light, the bulbs seem to gently flicker. Is this common for newly installed fluorescent bulbs or might there be a problem with the wiring/installation?
    
    • ANSWER:
      Crap bulbs, return them and get new one
      
18. QUESTION:
    How can I fix my Fluorescent light? I have a fluorescent light in my bathroom. It started to flicker so I replace the light bulbs. Two weeks later, it is doing it again? What is the problem? How do I fix it?
    
    • ANSWER:
      Sounds like you need a new ballast, the black rectangular object inside the fixture. Turn off the light, remove the lamp/s and pan. Inside you will see a ballast with 8 wires. Disconnect the black and white wires. Now cut the red, blue and yellow wires, about 6 inches from the ballast. Remove the ballast supporting screw and the ballast will come out. It is heavier than it appears, so be ready. It may also be leaking a tarry substance, avoid touching this. Make note of the numbers on the ballast (eg. F40 - T12) and dispose of it. Install a ballast with the same markings. Connect the wires colour to colour, 1 red to 1 red, 1 blue to 1 blue, 1 yellow to 1 yellow and the same with the rest. Last connections are white to white and black to black. Use marrettes to make these joints. (Be sure to pick up new lamp/s and 6 # 31 marrettes when buying the ballast.) Reinstall the pan and lamps. That's it, hit the switch.
      
19. QUESTION:
    Need help with fluorescent lighting? New bulbs but light not working? We have fluorescent lighting in our bathroom. The light suddenly has dimmed. I changed both bulbs. At first I thought I solved the problem the lights worked normally but now the new bulbs are dimming; now the light doesn't work at all. I don't like messing with the bulbs because I heard they can explode and electrecute you. Should I call an electrician? Anyone had a similar problem. I thought maybe the two prongs weren't aligned properly but they are. Help??
    
    • ANSWER:
      have no fear, they are delicate but they won't electrocute you. Sounds like you eiter a. didn't get both prongs in the socket before twisting them in or b. the dimming gave me the hint, the ballast is bad. If the bulb is installed right then you will find a box with wires coming from it. that is the ballast. you need to turn off the breaker and take off the wire nuts take the unit to the home store and say hey dude I need one. you may need to know how many bulbs and the number off the bulb.. A real easy change if you want something to do and save a couple hundred bucks ..
      
20. QUESTION:
    Can I operate a fluorescent light with a solid state ceiling fan/light remote controller? I'm installing a Hampton Bay ceiling fan in my garage. The fan has a light kit and comes with a wireless remote controller that operates the fan and the light. I plan to remove the attached light kit and use the wires to connect to a ceiling mounted fluorescent fixture I'd like to install near the fan. Since I can't easily hardwire a wall switch to operate the new light without poking a lot of holes in the drywall, I'd like to use the remote controller to operate the light. The remote controller says "incandescent only". But if the controller only turns the light on/off, with no dimming capability, is there any reason why it wouldn't work with the fluorescent light? Would doing so damage the controller or cause some other problem? Thanks in advance for your help.
    
    • ANSWER:
      I don't think it will damage anything and it should work as long as there is no dimmer. The only problem I can see is the wiring may not be heavy enough in the fan light. A lot of fan lights say 15 watt max or something like that. If it doesn't work you can always buy Home decor conduit that goes on the outside of the wall and run a wire for a switch off of the wire that feeds the fan to operate your light.
      
21. QUESTION:
    Odd problem with fluorescent light fittings? I've got this really weird problem with a fluorescent light fitting which I only notice when it is dark. The light is fine when it's on and working, but when I turn it off at the wall switch, it glows faintly along its whole length and the glow swirls. I've tried replacing the starter but to no avail - if anything, the glow gets worse when I remove the starter. It's just truly bizarre and I've only noticed it recently. Any thoughts would be appreciated. Thanks so far. I'll have a go at putting in a new tube as this one is quite old. As far as I know, I'm nowhere near a radio station or near major power lines. This is a recent thing with this particular light fitting as it never used to do that. When it was turned off, it turned off, it didn't glow. I'm just trying to figure out whether it's worth getting it checked out by an electrician as beyond replacing starter & tube I'm well out of my depth.
    
    • ANSWER:
      a few things, they usually glow for a little time (well i've noticed anyway) once off. but they are effectied by static electricity, practically everything generates it, or a magnetic feild. this can make the light inside come on or glow. there must be something above it causeing the issue rather then the fixture or bulb it's self.
      
22. QUESTION:
    Paint color problems. Does fluorescent lighting affect paint colors? My kitchen and family room share the same space. It's a large overall area, but while the kitchen has lots of windows and gets lots of natural light, the family room doesn't. The kitchen has medium oak cabinetry and hardwood floors. I want to paint the kitchen a warm yellow to enhance the feeling of warmth and light it has during the day and continue to color into the family room to lighten and brighten it up. I went to the paint store today and chose the perfect warm yellow. When I came home and applied it to one of my kitchen walls, it looked too yellow. The color of paint in the can was fine, but the color on the wall was too yellow. We have fluorescent lighting in the kitchen and family room and I'm sure the store had it too. Does fluorescent lighting affect paint colors? If so, how do I correct for it? Any suggestions would be very much appreciated! Thanks! I am painting over off-white and I am just doing the edges of the walls and around the trim right now. I guess my biggest problem is if I find the perfect color for the daylight hours, will it look different in the evening when all the lights are on and vice-versa? Are shades of yellow especially bad with fluorescent lighting? Should I go another route?
    
    • ANSWER:
      The short answer is yes, all types of lighting affects colors in different ways. This is part of the reason you have such a big light bulb selection. There are lights that will attempt to match the suns natural light. Some thing that comes to mind is the color of the wall you are painting, and is it primed. As well as how many coats of the yellow did you apply. The color it is going over can have a good hand in the color problems. Most paint stores can show you the difference in colors for common light types. This way you can find a color that you can deal with in both types of lights. A color that looks deep and beautifull in natural light can look pale in other kinds of light. Or you can just replace the bulbs, go to home depot and ask some questions. Thats the route I would go, get the color you like then make the house display it properly. Try more coats yellow is a light color.
      
23. QUESTION:
    Fluorescent light and starter problem? My fluorescent light recently stopped working, it just kept flickering and would not go on properly. I replaced the starter and the light but now nothing works. I've used three different starters and the woman at the store checked the light with one of those voltage reader things to check that it was ok. I guess the problem lies in the wiring or the ballast but I was just wondering if there was anything else I might have overlooked when changing the light or the starter or if there is anything else i can do myself before calling the electrician? The starter flickers but i get nothing from the new lamp. I had it tested before i bought it so i know it works...
    
    • ANSWER:
      Buy an electrician's tester screwdriver, it will only cost you about a pound and will always come in handy. Switch the power off at the mains and remove the cover of the fluorescent light so that you can see where the wire enters from the switch. Switch the mains back on and then carefully touch the live wire with the tester, if it lights up you know you have power and it will be cheaper if you replace the whole light fitting than calling an electrician. Switch off the mains and put everything back in its place. If the tester doesn't light up the odds are that the problem is with the switch, maybe even a loose connection. Again, turn off the mains, remove the switch cover, put the mains back on and check the wiring of the switch with the tester as before, testing with the switch on and off. If the switch is faulty, it is easilly replaced if you are competent at DIY electrical work. As in all cases, if in doubt, then call an electrician.
      
24. QUESTION:
    What's wrong with my fluorescent light? In one of my bathrooms I have a fluorescent light fixture that has 2 4 foot bulbs. When you flip the switch, sometimes it turns on, sometimes it doesn't. Sometimes I have to sit there and 'wiggle' the switch for a while to get it to turn on. Sometimes it helps if I turn on the fan then wiggle the switch. I have tried replacing the bulbs and that is not the problem. Do I need to replace the balasts, replace the whole fixture, or is the problem likely something else? Thanks!
    
    • ANSWER:
      Since you said that wiggling the switch helps, that tells me the problem is either the switch or the wireing to the fixture. Shut off the power to that circuit, and then check it with a multi-meter. The connections can be visually checked if you don't have a meter, look for loose, or burned looking connections. If loose, tighten. If burned looking you have a short somewhere and need to have it fixed or it could cause a fire.
      
25. QUESTION:
    what is wrong with my fluorescent light bulb? we have two 4- 5 foot fluorescent light bulbs in our laundry room and every time we turn them on, their light flickers/ quivers. we have tried changing the bulbs multiple times but it has the same problem. What do you think is causing this problem? thank you for your help.
    
    • ANSWER:
      Good possible causes listed above, should also consider that the wrong 4' lamps maybe used, 1" (F32T8) and 1 1/2" (F40T12) are the same length and have the same sockets, but different starting and operating characteristics. Check for label on fixture or on ballast. Also some low power factor F40T12 ballasts don't like energy saving 34 watt lamps, (often labeled with terms like econowatt, wattmiser, or supersaver).
      
26. QUESTION:
    Installing a fluorescent light with no ground wire to work with.? I have three fluorescent lights that I've installed with no ground wires since my home doesn't have that. Two work fine but one will only come on when I touch the bulbs, creating a ground through my body. Is there a way to psuedo ground it? A cheap capacitor or maybe just a long wire attached to nothing? The problem fixture is too far away from plumbing for that old trick and it's upstairs or else I'd just run a wire out the window. To those who've said it's dangerous. You do realize I mean a ground wire to the metal fixture itself and not attatched to the power source. Let me also add that it is a circline fixture using a 12 inch and 8 inch bulb. It works fine typically but often it doesn't want to start. If I reach up and touch both bulbs it comes on fine. I've been told that this is most likely a ground issue since the fuxture is new and many weak ballasts require a good ground for starting. In response to answer 3, it's not exactly defective but more along the lines of cheap. It's an oldstyle magnetic ballast that needs the bulb casing to be grounded for it to start. It's starting voltage is too low. Response to 4, there's only one way to put a circline in. I've verified it's a ground by attaching a speaker wire to the fixture case and running it out the window to the ground. The fixture works like a charm. When I undo that it won't start again. I just don't like having a wire running out the window.
    
    • ANSWER:
      Defective unit. You need a new ballast.
      
27. QUESTION:
    fluorescent shop light wont light up unless i jiggle the bulbs. how can i fix this? When i pull the chain nothing happens. I have to mess with the tubes to get them to light. Have had this problem since day 1. Any suggestions?
    
    • ANSWER:
      Usually it's the recepticals at the ends of the fixture. Turn the breaker off for safety and with the bulb out try to tighten the metal where the bulb pins make contact or perhaps the receptical itself is loose in the fixture.
      
28. QUESTION:
    Has any recent research been done on the flashing light effect on certain neurological problems? Details below? Flashing lights have been shown to set off hyperactivity, migraines, epileptic seizures and bouts with autism. What is the newest info on this problem? By flashing lights I mean anything from strobe lights, flashes caused by fluorescent bulbs that are malfunctioning, and any other flashes. I am looking for study on the bad effects of flashing lights.
    
    • ANSWER:
      http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2004/10/041025130504.htm http://psychcentral.com/news/2008/01/04/bright-light-therapy-for-bipolar/1740.html http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/01/080103101121.htm hope it helps :p
      
29. QUESTION:
    Fluorescent light bulb in dimmable socket? If I have a fluorescent light bulb but a dimmable fitting, can I still use it if I don't dim the light at all? It says on websites I have looked at that it is a problem with the amount of electricity going into the socket, so if you turned it up to full power wouldn't a normal amount of electricity go in?
    
    • ANSWER:
      A dimmer switch is not a rheostat although it contains a variable resistor connected like a rheostat. A rheostat would be like a variac that truly changes the AC voltage going to the bulb. A dimmer switch changes the wave shape of the waveform to effectively change the voltage. If you have one that you can set then turn on it might work if you set it to max output then turn it on. It would be better to just get a standard wall switch and change the dimmer switch to a toggle switch, or change the bulb to a dimmable type.
      
30. QUESTION:
    Light fixture problems? My fluorescent light tube that's hanging from my ceiling is flickering. I took the light bulb out of the tube and replaced it with a knew one, but nothing changed. Is it a problem with the ballast? Any help is welcome, thanks.
    
    • ANSWER:
      if its still flicking it could be that it needs a new stater on it..have a look at your fitting if you see a small circular head sticking out of the base of the fitting at the end of the light near the lamp that will just need changing..you can buy one at any hardware store for very very little expense..all you do is push a little and twist and it will come out of the base of the fitting..bring it to the store and show them and u will get one for sure..then just push it back in and twist and it will work straight away.. the starter is used to ignite the ions within the magnesium within your fluorescent lamp,when they are charged they will omit light.. generally if your ballast is gone the you would usually get no response from the fitting. qualified electrician..hope iv helped
      
31. QUESTION:
    Are there fluorescent light bulbs that have the feel of incandescent light bulbs? I just heard the USA (where I live) has done what many other countries have done and banned incandescent light bulbs. I am devastated by this. I HATE FLUORESCENT LIGHT BULBS! The annoying flickering, the horrible bright lighting, the pain on the eyes. I mean, by 2012, or whenever this takes effect, everyones home will feel like a doctors office. YUCK! How annoying! Many fancy restaurants will go out of business because who wants to pay big bucks to eat in a place that feels like a McDonalds? I feel sorry for people who have epilepsy, they are going to be forced to punish themselves in their own homes. Will they invent (or have they invented) fluorescent light bulbs that are not evil and horrendous on the eyes? Or do I need to stock up before they are taken off the shelves? HELP ME! Ban on incandescent light bulbs, no way fluorescent light creates many medical problems
    
    • ANSWER:
      There are natural lighting fluorescent tubes that have been around for a while that give out a full spectrum of visible light not just the mercury vapor spectrum. They are much more natural and easier on the eyes. But I haven't heard about any ban. They're phasing them out.
      
32. QUESTION:
    how can I remove a fluorescent light bulb from a kitchen ceiling light? The problem is that I can twist the bulbs out, but the fixture is surrounded by crown moulding which comes about 1 1/2 " in. Once the bulb is removed from the socket there is no way to get the bulb out of the fixture. A metal divider prevents getting any angle on the bulb to be able to angle it out. I have not been able to figure out any way to remove the crown moulding surrounding the fixture. A similar fixture is seems to be manufactured by brodwax. This is the primary lighting source in my kitchen (no windows) so hopefully someone can help.
    
    • ANSWER:
      I would guess the molding comes off if it is part of the fixture and not just something installed by a joe handyman type. No fixture will be made without a way to change lamps.
      
33. QUESTION:
    I broke a fluorescent light bulb should I be concerned? It was a standard light bulb which you would put in a table lamp. The box says there is Mercury inside. After it broke we picked up the pieces, vacuumed, then shut off the air in the house and fanned the area out for 30 minutes. Am I at risk of a health problem or should I do anything else? Is the area safe to lay down, room safe to be in etc?
    
    • ANSWER:
      Wow. You did everything right. I wouldn't worry.
      
34. QUESTION:
    How do I change this round fluorescent light bulb in my kitchen? You know those old fashioned ones I'm talking about right? The problem is I don't know how to get it out! Its held in by three c-shaped metal things and I'm trying to pull it out towards me but its not really budging. If that's the way to do it I could pull a little harder but I don't want it to shatter!
    
    • ANSWER:
      The c clips are a little bit like a spring. Pull the clip away from the bulb (only one of them does not matter which one)you will need to move about 3/4 of width of the bulb .Then you should be able to get the bulb off that clamp the other 2 clamps will not be a problem. Then grasp the part where the wires connect and pull it loose. Take the bulb to a good hardware store and you should be able to get a new bulb. Reverse the whole operation to install a new bulb. Problems? email me
      
35. QUESTION:
    Our fluorescent light doesn't come on right away. Do we need new bulbs? Our basement bathroom light is fluorescent and only comes on about 30-60 seconds after you flip the switch. What could be the problem?
    
    • ANSWER:
      the bulbs may need to be replaced and if it still is slow starting the ballist is going if it is the ballist and its in the basement it will be cheaper to buy a new fixture then replace the ballist and bulbs
      
36. QUESTION:
    Incandescent vs Fluorescent Light Bulbs? Not sure this is the best category for this question, but here goes. I just read on Yahoo! News that Canada and Austrailia are planning to ban what they term "inefficient" incandescent light bulbs in favor of compact fluorescent bulbs. They claim the incandescent bulbs promote greenhouse emissions and the use of fluorescent bulbs will not only cute down on these emissions, but save users approximately per year. My question, don't the fluorescent bulbs contain small amounts of mercury and wouldn't this pose an environmental risk in the disposal of the bulbs? In America, one must have an EPA permit to dispose of them... so what happens if other countries are just throwing them away? No mention of disposal problems or solutions was mentioned in the article, but I'm curious how this will effect the environment if it goes through. The article states that incandescent bulbs will not be prohibited when they are the only appropriate alternative but still... I went to the EPA's website and they do give information regarding the proper disposal of CFL's. I was under the understanding that a disposal center, not idividuals, must have an EPA permit to dispose of items containing mercury. Perhaps I did not make that point clear to the poster who suggested I review my source for that information. I do agree that CFL's provide more light and less heat but I think I will always be concerned with the idea that mercury is there and so available and on such a large scale, I don't honestly know what's worse... the greenhouse effect or the potential hazards from those who will not dispose of these items in the proper manner.
    
    • ANSWER:
      Whilst the amount of mercury used in production a CFL bulb is at most 6mg, the average mercury content is 4mg. The total emissions of mercury created by a CFL bulb from electricity consumption over its lifetime is about 2.4mg of mercury. In comparison the emissions from an incandescent light bulb is about 10mg. Therefore overall CFLs result in a slightly less amount of mercury emitted over the lifetime of a CFL bulb. The real gain is the reduction of 38kg of Co2 per CFL per year and an overall saving of 14% on your electricity bill. To ensure the safe disposal of CFL bulbs you should return them to the retailer or to an appropriate recycling facility. Once collected the bulbs are crushed in a machine that uses negative pressure ventilation and a mercury absorbing filter allowing the mercury to be reclaimed. In countries where recycling facilities do not exist, you should contact the manufacture who should have details of how you can safely dispose of the CFLs. Note: It is assumed the emissions from electricity consumption is from standard electricity supply. Should renewables be used then the emissions of mercury would be 0mg (not including the production of the renewable source), however for the use of incandescent bulbs to be effective we would need to be using a high proportion of renewable energy. PS ... you can now get CFLs with ultra-low mercury levels. Energy Saver http://howtosaveenergy.blogspot.com support@howtosaveenergy.co.uk
      
37. QUESTION:
    Our fluorescent tube light switches off after about an hour or so. If I turn off the switch for 5-10 minutes? and then switch on, it starts.... Can I fix the problem without investing again on another tube light frame?
    
    • ANSWER:
      The problem may be in the bulb or the starter or the baluster, depending on a few things. If the end of the bulb is starting to turn black it MAY then be the bulb. If you have a screw in starter (small silver cylinder) then it is probably the starter. If you have no starter and the bulb is not turning black then the baluster may be starting to go bad. It shuts off because it is overheating. Turning it off and then back on let it cool down. You can just replace the baluster. But by the time you hire an electrician (if you can't do it yourself) a new fixture might be cheaper (if you can install the new one yourself.
      
38. QUESTION:
    Fluorescent light bulb still blinking after turned off.? I have this compact fluorescent light bulb, (2 actually) that even when when they are turned off you can see them flashing very very softly in the darkness. They use an electronic ballast like all most compact fluorescent instead of the reactor (coil) ballast. I was wondering if someone with the similar problem or knowledge on the subject could share some info.
    
    • ANSWER:
      you need a new ballast on both of the light fixtures...
      
39. QUESTION:
    Garage fluorescent lights are flakey. Does this sound like a ballast problem? We have 5 ceiling-mounted, hard-wired, dual-tube flourescent lights in our garage, switched from the wall. The ballasts are black rectangular boxes. When I turn them on, two of them don't usually light. If I flip the switch 15-20 times, these lights will come on - sometimes one bulb, sometimes both bulbs, & sometimes one or both will just flicker. If I continue flipping the switch until they both illuminate fully, and leave them on for an hour or more (approximately), then they will light with no problem when I turn them off and back on again. Are fluorescent ballasts heat sensitive, so even if failing, they will work okay if heated up? Or does it sound like it could be just the bulbs? I'd just change the bulbs, but it's an 18 foot ceiling, and I'd rather at least have a clue before I climb up there and start messing around. Also, even the ballasts for these fixtures are a bit pricey, so I'd like to know before I invest the money in ballasts I may not need. Thanks!
    
    • ANSWER:
      I am not clear of what you actually have. But I assume/picture that you have five seperate fixtures and each one holds two bulbs. If that is the case it could be the bulbs. Look at the end of the bulbs and if they are black on the white part then it is an indication that the bulbs are bad or going. Usually flouresent fixtures have seperate ballast. You complain of the 18 foot ceiling. No matter which way you go you still got to climb the 18 feet. Do the work step by step. It is unlikely that all five ballast go bad at the same time, but here is what I would do. Buy five ballast and ten bulbs. Climb to each fixture and change the bulbs. Have a helper turn on the switch for that fixture and leave the others off. If they work you know it was the bulbs. If not change the ballast -and the bulbs to start fresh. After you go thru that proccess and you find it was the bulbs, then take the ballast back for your refund. Be sure not to open the box till the fixtures light up. Depending on the age of the ballast they could all or many, go in the same time frame. I recall when in the service and they had electtricians changing many of them at the same time. One clue, what makes the life of ballast shorter is frequently turning them on and off. If you want leave them all on or turn them off at night. Second clue, hire someone to install lower suspended ceiling. In the long run it will save on electric for AC and gas for heat. Also the lower the ceiling the more the light will spread out and you may not need so many at once.
      
40. QUESTION:
    Do we want our Government forcing us to use fluorescent light bulbs? Congress plans to phase out the use of incandescent light bulbs by the year 2014. While standard light bulbs cost about 50 cents, the spiral CFL sells for about . If the lamp is installed where it is frequently switched on and off, it will age rapidly. Under extreme conditions, its lifespan may be much shorter than a cheap incandescent bulb. If a fluorescent lamp is broken, mercury will contaminate the surrounding environment, which leads to evacuation of the area. Since fluorescent lamps produce a small amount of UV light, they can trigger problems among individuals with very high pathological sensitivity to ultraviolet light. Fluorescent lamps with magnetic ballasts flicker and this flickering can cause problems for some individuals with light sensitivity, they're problematic for some individuals with epilepsy, lupus, chronic fatigue syndrome, and vertigo. I personally have a problem with the light flickering, as it triggers seizures for me. And then we have the problem of disposal when it wears out/breaks.The disposal of phosphor and particularly the toxic mercury in the tubes is an environmental issue. Governmental regulations in many areas require special disposal of fluorescent lamps separate from general and household wastes. In some areas, recycling is not available. There will develop a need for a recycling infrastructure on the proposed bans of incandescent bulbs, as well as for the fluorescent bulb disposal. The argument states that incandescent bulbs makes heat as well as light. A fluorescent bulb produces less heat, so it is much more efficient. A fluorescent bulb can produce between 50 and 100 lumen's per watt. This makes fluorescent bulbs four to six times more efficient (as far as making light) than incandescent bulbs. It makes one wonder if less energy efficient ovens will be another product ban congress will have to debate. I'd like to hear other peoples opinions on this issue. oikos-"Evacuation of the area, my eye." ::evacuate as in, leave the area. according to the directions on the container, you must "air out and leave the premise" when the bulb breaks.
    
    • ANSWER:
      When you think about it, do you really want the Government telling you what to do about anything? Democracy is freedom of choice, and while it is a great idea to use wisely, having the Government in position of that much power is wayyyyyyyy to close to Communism for meand mine.
      
41. QUESTION:
    Why do my freshwater fish freak out with a fluorescent light? Don't want to hurt them...? I used to use a fluorescent aquarium light with no problem. Then it blew so I bought a double incandescent. One of those blew so I tried screwing in a compact fluorescent (60w equivalent) and they freaked out like they were being electrocuted. So then I just got by with one incandescent. Today I bought a whole new top with a fluorescent tube in it and they act like it's radioactive. Will they get used to it?? What should I do? It's a 20 gallon freshwater and the fish are black striped tetras, and an albino catfish. Oh, and the miniature algae eater that is always hiding to begin with. Thanks!
    
    • ANSWER:
      I hope you turn on the light in the room first instead of just turing on the tank light, since it will be like you being blindfolded then looking at the sun and removing the blindfold. Its just too fast of adjustment so if your doing that stop if not let them get used to it.
      
42. QUESTION:
    Fluorescent light just went out, help me solve the problem.? Overhead is a 4 tube fluorescent fixture which is about 4 years old. Just now it went out suddenly (was on before it went off) No flicker beforehand. The circuit breaker is fine. The outlets in the room are fine. I can get a ladder and change the tubes but I suspect this is not the problem. The tips of the tubes are not black. Do you think it is the ballast? Need to call an electrician? I think I can almost change it but am not sure. Any other ideas?
    
    • ANSWER:
      Hi #'s, I'd certainly re-lamp the fixture first, and see how that works out. If that doesn't work, TRUST YOUR GUT and have someone qualified to replace the ballast take a look and test it out. I do this stuff for a living, and see A LOT of repairs done by folks that should have farmed them out to a pro. Some have some potentially fatal capabilities, so PLEASE don't undertake any repairs that you're not 100% qualified to do. People die that way. Just because it "appears" to be working correctly when it's done doesn't mean ANYTHING. It can still be waiting to KILL someone if not done correctly (switching the ground rather than the supply, etc., etc.). These are called "booby traps", and can wait patiently for YEARS before springing on an unsuspecting person.
      
43. QUESTION:
    HOW DO I RECYCLE 8 Ft FLUORESCENT LIGHT BULBS? HOW DO I RECYCLE 8 Ft FLUORESCENT LIGHT BULBS BECAUSE I KNOW THERE IS A PROBLEM AT LANDFIELDS THESE FLUORESCENT BULBS ARE CREATING FROM THE MECURY GAS THAT IS INSIDE THEM.
    
    • ANSWER:
      You might try looking up a suitable recycling site near you on http://earth911.org/ or a similar web site.
      
44. QUESTION:
    Anyone had problems using compact fluorescent bulbs in Hampton Bay ceiling fan light kits? We have three identical fans. I only bought four of the bulbs (Feit Electric brand, Home Depot) at first because I wanted to try them out before outfitting all of the fans. LOVED the lights in the first fan; they were so much brighter (60 watt equivalent in the 40 watt max fixture). So now I've been trying to replace the ones in the other two fans. I have bought and returned more bulbs than I can remember now because they didn't work. Incandescents work fine, though, in the same socket. Is it the fixture?
    
    • ANSWER:
      No, it's the bulbs. Those things are notorious for not working and for people getting "duds" in a pack. I bought a bunch at one time trying to be conservative and do the right thing and probably 50% of them didn't work. I've had other people tell similar stories.
      
45. QUESTION:
    Could I have a fluorescent light allergy? Whenever I get around lights that are too bright for too long Everything starts turning white, I sweat alot and start getting over heated, I a little problem breathing, i get dizzy, and almost pass out.
    
    • ANSWER:
      I think it's more a light sensitivity thing, my friend has epilepsy and has a fit whenever she is near bright or flickering lights. Go see your doctor it definitely sounds like a medical problem
      
46. QUESTION:
    I need help diagnosing the problem with a fluorescent light fixture.? This fixture and two others installed within the last few years by the same installer have simply stopped working. The bulbs do not glow or flicker, there is no discernible hum or buzz. I have power to the switch, and have replaced the switch with no success. However, if I bridge the wires themselves with a tester, the light fixture immediately comes on, and will stay on until the switch is flipped off again. With the light I'm referring to, at the time this problem began, we had an older UPS fail on the same circuit. Those wall outlets all still test live. What do I check next, or is the proper tool for this problem the phone book? There are no starters - it is a quite new rapid-start fixture. There is no flickering, no humming, no glowing. The fixture lights immediately when the wires at the switch are bridged. This does not sound like any of the possible bad ballast scenarios I have ever read. If the ballast were faulty, would the light come on at all?
    
    • ANSWER:
      did you check the ballast?
      
47. QUESTION:
    Anyone else have a problem with Compact Fluorescent Light (CFL) bulbs? Now i'm all for the lastest and greatest technology, and understand the importance of energy efficiency, so when these CFL's hit the market bragging at having a bulb life span of more than six times that of an average bulb, i was more than happy to swap out all the bulbs in my workshop with CFL's equivelant to 100w. Now the strange cold white light, for some reason just doesn't feel as nice as the brass colored light of a normal incandescent bulb, but i suppose i can deal with that and get used to it. However, after having these in for a month, i began having troubles with a few of them not lighting up properly, like the little things had bad ballasts in them that were making them stay in that buzzing "Half-on" state. My brother often left the lights on in the shop, and soon i began finding these bulbs actually cracking and shattering randomly! That's (a tiny amount of) mercury in there! I'd just randomly find them broke open! Anyone else abandon CFL's for reasons like this? And just to clarify, i'm not concerned in the least bit about the mercury. It's the broken glass and sudden lack of light that irritates me, especially when the darn thing cost several times as much as an incandescent bulb, i'd hope it would at least survive longer, since despite being more efficient, if i have to replace them 3 times as often, i'm going to be spending more money on the bulbs than they are saving me. Besides which, i don't want to have to be replacing bulbs in my shop every week. The only major electrical appliances in our shop are all 220v (welder, plasma cutter, air compressor) and the other 120v stuff either has not been in use (wood working tools) or is very small (cordless drill chargers, radio). My father put his big electronic gizmo on there to make sure we had a good clean power source. It is not a heated garage, only uses some electric baseboard heaters to keep the interior above 40 degrees so stuff doesn't freeze and it's not unbearable in the winter.
    
    • ANSWER:
      I bought a 3pak, and although they were spendy, they have lasted almost 2 years so far. I then saw they had three paks for almost a third of the cost at the local Walmart, so I bought five. These cfl bulbs lasted about 2 weeks, and simply don't work after awhile, no burn or scorch marks like on normal tube style lights. After opening the last package, I noticed something. "Made in China". The US made cfls are still going strong, and I have a big bag of Chinese crap to take to the Haz Waste center. I guess "cheaper" means more than the price.
      
48. QUESTION:
    fluorescent light burned out? I put a fluorescent light bulb in place of incandescent one in my floor lamp but it burned out after a few days or sometimes it won't turn on. what could be the problem? http://www.walmart.com/ip/Ms-Floor-Combo-Black-Ca/13278917 this one. though it seems to be ok for fluorescent bulb mine kept burning out
    
    • ANSWER:
      make sure the tab in the middle of the socket is making good contact. with the power off pry the tab down to make contact. the lamp makes contact with the side of the shell and the center tab over time screwing the bulb in tightly pushes the tab further in the socket until it makes bad contact
      
49. QUESTION:
    Fluorescent fish tank light dim even after replacement bulb? Does anyone know the common problem that could be causing this? The hood is fine and it seems foolish to spend on a new light assembly. I took the lighting assembly apart to see if there were any loose connections or any obvious wiring problems and didn't find anything wrong. I was hoping it was the bulb but when I replaced the bulb it was still incredibly dim. Any help would be greatly appreciated. My light is a 30 inch light used on a 29 gallon tank.
    
    • ANSWER:
      It could very well be a solenoid, fuse, or ballast problem, depending on your light. You can generally get a replacement from many fish/pet stores or online. Try searching for replacement parts for the light you have.
      
50. QUESTION:
    I have a fluorescent tube light that constantly buzzes. Any ideas? I have tried replacing the starter / ballast with no success. I could try replacing the tube but that would be an expensive option if thats not the problem. Any ideas?
    
    • ANSWER:
      Umm...turn it off. duh!
      

fluorescent light problems