In article , Adrian
Brentnall adrian-the papers and the says...
HI All

Another weird thing.... g
I 'won' a couple of double fluorescent fittings - probably 2ft tubes -
a pair of them.

They seem to share a common ballast - but each tube has its own
separate starter.

When switched on, only one tube strikes.
With the other one I can see the heaters on - but it won't strike.
If, after the first tube has struck I remove the starter from the
'dead' tube, it will then light - but won't light from cold.

Swapping the starters makes the fault move from tube to tube.
Swapping a starter from a working 4ft single unit into the fault
starter position doesn't improve the situation.
The 'faulty' starter works fine on the 4ft single unit.

I'm confused !

Are there different types of starters - or is there likely to be a
fault on the twin ballast ?

Any suggestions (apart from 'go buy a new unit !)

Thanks
Adrian - Suffolk UK
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take out the papers and the trash to reply


There are different ratings of starters - the one from the 4' single
might not be rated for a 2'. It is possible to buy ones which are rated
from 4-20W, then 58-80W on the same starter - skipping the 36W for a 4'
tube.

Check the rating on the tube, and compare it with what is written
(hopefully) on the bodies of the starters. They're only a pound or so
from a wholesaler - worth a try before skipping the unit.