"Doc" wrote in message
ps.com...
I just replaced the fluorescent lights in my kitchen - two of the 40w
type, about 47" long - when the old ones would no longer activate.
After putting in the new ones, I find that after about 30 secs from
being turned on, the lights begin this rapid shimmering or pulsing.
Hard on the eyes and annoying.

The old ones were fine before they died, didn't exhibit this behavior.
Does this sound like some problem with the lights themselves or some
problem with the light fixture that perhaps didn't show up with old
lights?

Thanks.

Could also be impurities inside the lamps that get caught in the arc. If
you see what appears to be swirling or wavering of the light inside the lamp
and not a rapid periodic flicker at some fixed frequency, then the problem
will likely take care of itself after a few burning hours. Some people take
the lamp out of the socket, switch it end-for-end and then claim that solves
the problem. I don't think so; but it won't hurt anything either.

The phenomenon is rare these days with the quality control that the major
manufacturers have in place; but I see it with a few new lamps once or twice
a year.

Terry McGowan