On Fri, 20 Apr 2018 21:04:20 +0100, ARW wrote:

On 20/04/2018 18:51, T i m wrote:


Now, What *I* think might be happening (on the first two new starters
at least) is they initially start and run the tubes (two separate
fittings) ok until everything warms up, when the voltage across the
tube increases slightly, causing the starter to re-trigger and the tube
to blink off and back on again. This process is fairly repeatable (it
might vary between fittings) and the blinking get's worse if left.

Is it just duff (weak) starters or *could there* be something else?


Remove the starter after the tube is lit and see what happens. The
starter is a one shot process. Once the tube is lit it has no further
use.

Until the time you need to switch the light back on again. :-(

I've had the same sort of trouble with the last remaining fluorescent
fitting that I couldn't upgrade to a "Quickstart"(tm) transformer ballast
on account I couldn't get the older style compatible T12 tubes for this 5
foot fitting[1]. The problem is clearly down to ****e quality starter
switches and I eventually sorted it out by buying enough of them from
which to choose a working one (about 4 or so 'new' ones to add to my
existing collection of two or three).

Even so, it takes some 5 to 10 seconds before the tube will strike,
strangely, sans the disco strobe effect - it just sits there with the
ends glowing (or not) before suddenly striking to full uninterrupted
brightness. As a consequence, it tends to be left switched on for the
whole evening.

[1] One of these days, when we finally start seeing 200LPW LED
equivalents to the 150W incandescent GLS light bulb, I'll revert it back
to the ceiling pendant fitting it had before this 'spare bedroom' became
my office/workshop some 20 years ago.

The unavailability of Quickstart compatible tubes hit home over a decade
ago with the shorter 4 foot variety so the last remaining 4 foot
Quickstart fitting (in the basement) is now relying on the very last
working compatible tube until it too finally expires (they last a bloody
sight longer in Quickstart fittings - 16000 hours versus 7000 hours or so
in a switch start fitting).

Fluorescent luminaires are the only sane choice in some locations such
as kitchens (and my basement) for their non-glare, shadowless
illumination properties. Until recently, they were still top dog for
energy efficient lighting (still are compared to the older stock of LED
Tubes being foisted on the great unwashed consumer in most retail stores).

However, once I start to see 125LPW (or better) 300 to 360 deg LED tube
replacements, I'll upgrade the last of my fluorescent fittings. Until
then, I don't see much point in wasting time and money on a mediocre
'upgrade'. Alternatively, large area ceiling panel luminaires might make
a more suitable substitute for the humble fluorescent tube fitting. At
the end of the day, it all boils down to their cost effectiveness.

--
Johnny B Good