Troubleshoot your fluorescent light fixture with confidence using these methods.
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 4 มิ.ย. 2020
- In this video we will go through the process of troubleshooting a fluorescent light fixture that will not work. I will show you how to test a ballast which regulates the voltage and current supplied to the lamps. Along with checking the wiring and other components. Remember when working with electricity always unplug or turn off the breaker so you don't get electrocuted. I am not an electrician so use this video as just a guide. I will not be responsible for any injuries or property damage. Be safe and don't forget to SUBSCRIBE to this growing Channel.
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I’m not sure why, but I watched 3 different videos before I found this one & none of them made sense. I watched this and had my lights fixed in 15 minutes. Thank you!!!
Well, it's always good to gain knowledge from different people and sources. I'm happy you found my video and that it's great you solved your problem. You're welcome and have a great weekend!
dude....we went through this entire house and replaced every single fixture with led....took us a total of 2 years but super happy we did it all and don't miss them one bit....dealt with them for years....never again....
totally understand i have the exact Philips bulb in this video bought a new ballast and new bulb didn't work, tested everything still doesn't work, cleaned the connectors still does not work. FFFFFFF i hate this piece of , nothing worse than these fluorescent lights, the people who designed that should be sent to camps that's how mad i am.
Rob, as a J-man Electrician, I say GREAT video. I was never actually trained to check if a ballast is bad, as most of my training is on industrial machine control and programming.
One thing I thought I would point out to you tough, you mentioned your ground was good.
Unless you have that fixture bonded to metal somewhere (you might I wasn't watching THAT close) you have an ineffective ground because the ground prong is gone on your plug.
Not trying to be an a**hat. just an observation. Keep up the great work!
Just changed out 3 VERY old (60 years?) magnetic ballasts in my basement after viewing a few videos on the topic. I saw those "quick connectors" on one vid and thought of buying a few - until I read from a few online users that they thought standard wire nuts were better and more secure. So, I've gone with them; my Dad, rest his soul, was an electrical contractor and I have lots of wire nuts here at home. Glad I'm using 'em now, having seen your video!
Now, I plan to check a ballast in a dark fixture that actually looks much newer and I'm not 100% sure is the problem - using your method...
Glad I was able to help. Merry Christmas to you and your family.
Even the good stuff fails sometimes.
I'm glad I watch this before replacing the ballast. I only had a loose yellow wire connection at the first socket, which affect all the lights. Thanks!
Your welcome they can be tricky at times.
If it's not the lamps, it's the ballast. Well, most of the time. Sometimes a bad connector like in this great video. Thanks for posting⚡
My pleasure. I'm glad to help!
Great video man.. as a guy who installed quite a few pool tables in my day kinda cringed when I noticed you where standing on one.. at least it seemed to be. Thanks for showing how to test a ballast!!
Your welcome!! Yes I was standing on the pool table. Not with my shoes 😁
Great Troubleshooting Video... Short and Sweet😎
Thanks man. You demystified this and I feel confident being able to do this.
When people try, they always succeed in the end.
Thanks for your knowledge and input. Your explanation essentially about the balance diagnosis. 😊
Great video. You can check the ballast like you did, or with it still in the fixture and energized. You must take the lamps out first, then use your non-contact voltage tester and check all the ballasts output wires...if the ballast is good they will all show energized. If one doesn't, then the ballast is bad. Same concept as checking for continuity while de-energized like you did. If one is open, then of course voltage will not flow while energized. Take care.
Sounds like another great way to troubleshoot it. Happy New Year to you!
That’s an interesting way of testing a ballast. Also, I noticed that the plug on the fixture had the ground prong removed. I just wanted to bring up that if a fixture has a rapid start ballast in it and is not grounded, the fixture may fail to start because rapid start ballasts need to be grounded to aid with starting. That’s why those ballasts say “mount lamps within 1/2” of grounded metal reflector” on them. Your ballast is instant start, so you’re good other than safety concerns.
Great video information I was exactly looking for without the BS hat's off to you sir.
Glad to help!! Have a great day!!
I really enjoy your video
Thanks for sharing
Keep it up
Very interesting video. I wish you all the best my friend.
I was taught that these fixtures with fluorescent tubes have a tiny drop of mercury inside and the white powder coating is phosphor,when the high voltage from the ballast (step up transformer)is applied to the bi pins the tiny drop of mercury vaporizes and the phosphor acts as diffuser to spread the light evenly, hence the name “mercury vapor light bulb”,there’s really no good test on these tubes unless you have or make a single tube fixture that you can use to test the tubes one at a time, as a joke my instructor in the navy told us that a fluorescent fixture doesn’t provide light but rather it absorbs darkness and when the ends of the tube get full of darkness they will stop working 😊
Great thought on how to look at it. Thanks for your service in the Navy also!
Thanks and Go Bucks!
No problem!!
When the video first came on all I could think is I hope he doesn't have to replace the switch thats blocked by the tank Lol great fix! you should take apart that connector you cut out just to see if you can tell what went wrong with it. awesome video Rob!
That same thought crossed my mind when I started filming. I'll have to look I might have thrown that connector out. If I find it you want me to make a video?
@@roundedrob1483 If you find it and it's faulty it would be nice to see it in a video
Tremendous. Thanks!
No problem, thanks for watching.
Thanks. Great video
Your welcome Paul. Thank you.
Thought I was the only one foolish enough to put screws in my mouth...Nice Vid
Some times you got to do what you got to do right Spencer.
G’day mate well done cheers
Thanks Rabbit cheers 2U.
Excelent,thank you
Your welcome mago 23 Gonzalez. Good luck to you.
It’s nice electrical knowledge thank you for sharing..I full support stay connected and see you around new friend.
Done to visit your home friend.
Thank you
You're welcome, my pleasure!! Have a great Christmas.
Thank you.
Your welcome!
Well it turned out to be an easy fix thats good.
Well it sure was easy on my wallet.
watching from Japan.. new friend here..
Real Life tv Japan hello and welcome.
thanks bud
You're welcome, bud.
Something simple to do is reverse the bulbs had a fixture wouldn't work I lined up the writing on the bulb for both bulbs so it's legible and the fixture fired right up. Cheers
Nice, cheers 🍻
The piece you removed was there for a reason. I think I would want to know that reason. Starter? Relay? Safety relay if some sort?
It was a snap connector and it had a bad connection. So I put a wire nut there and created a good connection.
Rounded Rob did you think to check the other wires for continuity after you removed the connector?
Maybe it was to connect the neutral.
I really do not know. Not sure I have run into one of those connectors.
That being said, I am no pro. I do my own and maybe help a friend out now and then.
Gotta replace some in my shop now. I figure starters and or ballasts.
Found one in one of my storage buildings I have had for years. It works! Lol!
Hey, saved me a few dollars. Just gotta clean it up.
Actually, I have another in that building. It is only a single light but I may use it anyway for the time being.
One working is better than two that don’t
Thanks
Your welcome!
Great video! I just learned how to check a ballst instead of just changing it and hoping I guessed right. Thanks. P.s. how about lights with battery up? A demo on how to wire one of them up would be good.
Your welcome Anthony, by the way great suggestion. Maybe I can look into that.
Question:
I have kitchen lights two sets of two 4' tubes.
One set has the ballast, the other set is connected to it by a silver conduit.
The ballast side set of old bulbs are working.
The other set of bulbs were dark on the ends and not lighting.
I replaced these two bulbs and they are barely flickering. I can see small light "movement inside them, but they are so dim as to be not giving off light.
What could be wrong? How do I check?
Is it just that they aren't screwed in completely maybe?
Well make sure your new bulbs are properly in. There should be a ballest for each set. But both might be hooked up to one ballest. If so the ballest could be bad on one side only.
@@roundedrob1483
Thank you for responding.
I did look closer and saw a tiny clip that unhooked what turned out to be a cover plate.
The length of it nearly fell onto the fragile plastic diffuser panels, but I intercepted it thankfully. and, above the cover plate there is a ballast.
So now my question is:
How do I know if I must replace the ballast?
I'm assuming I do, since the new light set barely has movement inside (too dim to call it flickering).
I see online the term "the starter". Is that just another word for, or part of the ballast?
thank you.
🙏
@@RLaraMoore Well I completely show how to test the ballest in the video you must have miss that part.
@@roundedrob1483
No, I'm asking how does one know to test the ballast? Is there a scenario where the ballast tests bad, gets replaced, and the problem was elsewhere?
I don't have means to test the ballast, that is, I don't have a tester, so I'm brainstorming possibilities around that, without having full understanding of how these fixtures work.
Having said that,
If I do attempt to "stab in the dark" and replace the ballast...
if I cannot determine which is the circuit breaker for the light fixture...
Is turning off the light switch to the fixture adequate for removing and installing the ballast?
thank you for your help.
@@RLaraMoore No turn off the power to the lights at the breaker box. Before doing it.
Can you fix a socket after a bulb was removed without rotating the pins? I can't rotate the channel back into the open position to slide a new bulb up into place.
With no power going to the light!! Turn off breaker or unplug light!! Then at that point try to rotate it with a small pick or small screw driver. Other wise they sell replacement sockets also.
your fishpond is very cool and what is that gadget you are holding earlier with a red light beeping?
new friend
Hi Zaj the gadget is a Volt Sensor, when it beeps it lets me know electricity is running through the wires.
what happens when you have a 4n bulb flourencent light and only two of the lights on one side works?
Did you replace the bulbs that are not working?
I've changed the tubes and it still doesn't work just flicker. Is it the ballast?
I would test the ballest.
Does it matter which red to red for example? There are two sets.
No it doesn't matter. Just connect your red to red and your blue to your blue.
Can a ballast be half bad? 🤔
I have a 2 bulb fixture and one side doesnt work - theres a very dim glow on the end of the bulb (sometimes).
I know both bulbs are fine because I switched them.
Is it possible to wire the blue/red side sockets together the way the yellow side is?
When you switched the bulbs did they do the same thing? One on,, one just glowing at the end a little bit?
@@roundedrob1483 yes - is it possible to wire both sockets together on the red/blue side like the other end is?
It seems the ballast powers each bulb independently
You can try wiring it, ANY way. If it's wrong you will just trip the breaker. Sounds like a bad wire or the ballest itself. Have you tested the ballest yet?
@@roundedrob1483 Not yet - I gave up for the day. Lol
I would assume so if the ballast has 2 sections wired in parallel.
Thanks for sharing new friend here.i clicked already your bell button.see you on my house to assemble my electric problem ..THANK YOU VERY MUCH .
Your Welcome Marjs, will see you on the next one.
Those are LED flourescent?
How do I know if I have the bulbs in correctly?
The 2 prongs on each end of the bulb. Go in vertical then twist the bulb till the prongs are horizontal.
bulbs have a little detent on the aluminum cap . that detent is 90 degrees from the pins. So the detent will be facing down ,depending upon the orientation of the sockets.
My ballast has only two wires..no yellow..no red..only two blue. What do I do now.
What color were the wires that the two Blues were connected to???
How can you know the right size of a bulb
The bulbs should have identification of the size near the end of the bulb.
Wait a minute… why didn’t you show shutting off the breaker and testing with the sniffer to make sure the power was off? Breakers can be bad and you’re gonna get a hell of a shock when you grab that black hot! Damn
The light is actually plugged in an outlet on the ceiling. When unplugged it cuts off current to the light.
Hey its Jeff Bridges 😅
If there is electricity current I just dont less with it ⚡⚡⚡ getting shocked is no fun 😐
Well Joe, if you kill the breaker or unplug what you're working on you won't get electrocuted.
Bro, I know you're frustrated putting that back in. I think I'm having the same issue.
So did you get it fixed?
I hate fluorescent lights.
They can be difficult at times that's for sure.
I’ve found out that “new” bulbs are not always good.
True just like anything else. A new part can be bad. Out of the box.
731
Welcome to the channel Lisa.
So sick of these thing. They always break or short
Unfortunately they can be difficult sometimes, hope the video was helpful.
If there is resistance it means it is bad
Now a days peoole are using Led lights
Yes, some people have gone to led lights. Thanks for the input.
This guy is like a bull in a china cabinet
😁 Just get in there and make it happen!
Lousy, no transferable knowledge provided
It's to bad you didn't watch the video in full. You would have learned how to test your ballast.
Very interesting video. I wish you all the best my friend.
Thank you Khan, my blessings to you also.