DIYbanter - View Single Post

Ed Pawlowski[_3_]

On 10/25/2018 3:27 PM, wrote:
Will someone please explain overhead fluorescent lights for me. What is a ballast--- or starter or light tube? Sometimes some of them work and sometimes others may work. Are LED lites much better? Thanx for any reply Herb

LED lights are much better. Last longer and are cheaper to operate.

Starters are a little metal can that screws into the fixture. They have
been pretty much eliminated in the past 25+ years now.

The ballast is a heavy electrical device that powers the tube. It is
inside the fixture, usually a long black thing. They do burn out at times.

The light tubes is the visible glass tube that lights up. Best to
replace both of them at the same time if a fixture has two, but can have
four. The ends often start to go black when old and ready to burn out.

If you are having problems, the smartest thing you can do is replace
them with LED fixtures.