OK -- maybe this sounds dumb...I don't know. We just finished a
basement renovation job involving some electrical work. We installed 3
halogen pot lights and 3 2-tube fluorescent lights all off of one
switch. When we connected everything and powered it up the fluorescent
lights flickered...pretty bad. It was hard on the eyes to be in the
room. The little instruction paper included in the box indicated that
the tubes may need to be "seasoned"...and suggested leaving the lights
on for 24-48 hours. Other suggestions regarding temperature, etc.,
weren't applicable in this situation.

My question is:

Was wiring up 3 halogen and 3 fluorescent lights on the same circuit
wrong? Logically it doesn't seem so but I started thinking that maybe
something is not compatible. Or is the entire problem directly related
to the new bulbs/fixture/ballasts, etc.?

Please shed "light" on this if possible.

Thanks!

Make sure the flourescent bulbs are wired correctly. The white wire on
8' bulbs has to be on the same tube as either the red or blue wire from
the ballast, I forget which. The ballast will show a diagram with the
correct polarity on it. Also make sure the flourescent fixture case is
well grounded. Failure to do so will cause the bulbs to flicker or not
come on to full brightness. One other thing, if it is cold in the
basement, you may have a problem. Most ballasts have a minimum
operating temperature.

Hope this helps.

Stretch

Make sure they're not on a dimmer. Other than that, magnetically ballasted
fluorescent fixtures, those that use T-12 lamps, often swirl or pulse when
they are new or cold



wrote in message
oups.com...
OK -- maybe this sounds dumb...I don't know. We just finished a
basement renovation job involving some electrical work. We installed 3
halogen pot lights and 3 2-tube fluorescent lights all off of one
switch. When we connected everything and powered it up the fluorescent
lights flickered...pretty bad. It was hard on the eyes to be in the
room. The little instruction paper included in the box indicated that
the tubes may need to be "seasoned"...and suggested leaving the lights
on for 24-48 hours. Other suggestions regarding temperature, etc.,
weren't applicable in this situation.

My question is:

Was wiring up 3 halogen and 3 fluorescent lights on the same circuit
wrong? Logically it doesn't seem so but I started thinking that maybe
something is not compatible. Or is the entire problem directly related
to the new bulbs/fixture/ballasts, etc.?

Please shed "light" on this if possible.

Thanks!

wrote:
OK -- maybe this sounds dumb...I don't know. We just finished a
basement renovation job involving some electrical work. We installed
3 halogen pot lights and 3 2-tube fluorescent lights all off of one
switch. When we connected everything and powered it up the
fluorescent lights flickered...pretty bad. It was hard on the eyes
to be in the room. The little instruction paper included in the box
indicated that the tubes may need to be "seasoned"...and suggested
leaving the lights on for 24-48 hours. Other suggestions regarding
temperature, etc., weren't applicable in this situation.

My question is:

Was wiring up 3 halogen and 3 fluorescent lights on the same circuit
wrong? Logically it doesn't seem so but I started thinking that maybe
something is not compatible. Or is the entire problem directly
related to the new bulbs/fixture/ballasts, etc.?

Please shed "light" on this if possible.

Thanks!

You got some good advice already. I will add one thing. Make sure the
fluorescent lamps have a good ground. The metal parts need to be grounded.

New fluorescent lamps often need some time to burn in. Try leaving them
on for like 12 hours. That may help. Dimmers are problems on most should
never be used with a dimmer, it not only may cause flickering, but it also
can be a fire hazard. Not all fluorescent lamps are designed for cold
areas, especially the cheap ones.

Good Luck


--
Joseph Meehan

Dia duit

On 31 Oct 2005 18:56:20 -0800, wrote:

OK -- maybe this sounds dumb...I don't know. We just finished a
basement renovation job involving some electrical work. We installed 3
halogen pot lights and 3 2-tube fluorescent lights all off of one
switch. When we connected everything and powered it up the fluorescent
lights flickered...pretty bad. It was hard on the eyes to be in the
room. The little instruction paper included in the box indicated that
the tubes may need to be "seasoned"...and suggested leaving the lights
on for 24-48 hours. Other suggestions regarding temperature, etc.,
weren't applicable in this situation.

My question is:

Was wiring up 3 halogen and 3 fluorescent lights on the same circuit
wrong? Logically it doesn't seem so but I started thinking that maybe
something is not compatible. Or is the entire problem directly related
to the new bulbs/fixture/ballasts, etc.?

You should know in 24 to 48 hours.

But I'm definitely not criticizing you for asking.

Please shed "light" on this if possible.

Thanks!


Remove NOPSAM to email me. Please let
me know if you have posted also.

wrote in message
oups.com...
OK -- maybe this sounds dumb...I don't know. We just finished a
basement renovation job involving some electrical work. We installed 3
halogen pot lights and 3 2-tube fluorescent lights all off of one
switch. When we connected everything and powered it up the fluorescent
lights flickered...pretty bad. It was hard on the eyes to be in the
room. The little instruction paper included in the box indicated that
the tubes may need to be "seasoned"...and suggested leaving the lights
on for 24-48 hours. Other suggestions regarding temperature, etc.,
weren't applicable in this situation.

My question is:

Was wiring up 3 halogen and 3 fluorescent lights on the same circuit
wrong? Logically it doesn't seem so but I started thinking that maybe
something is not compatible. Or is the entire problem directly related
to the new bulbs/fixture/ballasts, etc.?

Please shed "light" on this if possible.

Thanks!

To answer your question -- no, there should not be a problem of interference
when both halogen incandescent and fluorescent fixtures are connected to the
same circuit.

TKM