Fluorescent light fault finding

mike · 2010-10-31T12:53:13+00:00

I fitted a five foot fluorescent unit from Wickes around a year ago.It's had very little use - I'd guess less than 24 hrs on in total. Itcomes on OK but after a couple of minutes, it goes off and then entersa cycle of humming whilst struggling to relight/few seconds on/offagain.I'm assuming because it comes on OK from cold, the starter's OK. Canyou test them? Is it just a duff tube? Or is it likely theelectronics in the unit have gone phutt?I haven't another unit, tube or starter so I'd like to know what'smost likely before ending up with a load of spares to store.Ta for any pointers.

Oct 31, 2010 21 Replies

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Windmill 15 years ago

I'm fairly sure I remember seeing, long long ago, a wiring diagram for a different type of starter which worked on a different principle.

It had contacts which initially were closed. It had a small heater in it rather than using a gas discharge.

Can't remember any more than that.

Might have been connected differently to the fluorescent tube.

So maybe your understanding related to an older scheme no longer in use.

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Andy Wade 15 years ago

That sounds like the old 4-pin thermal starter - obsolete since the

1960s, if not before.

No, I'd just misunderstood how a glow starter works!

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