So, in my laundry I have two, two bulb units, installed at the same
time.

Over the past 10 years, I've swapped out various bulbs. But one
fixture simply will not illuminate the bulbs (flicker, partial
ignition). These are relatively new electonic ballasts, no starters
and are at room temperature.

Change the bulbs: nope, still flickers.
Take the old bulbs, put them in the unit that works fine. Both bulbs
work fine.

Check the line voltage for the misbehaving fixtu solid at 123V.
Verified grounds, cleaned, made sure no paint.

Okay, what the heck - new bulbs. Still flickering.

Must be the ballast - replace it. STILL FLICKERS.

Okay, at this point I'm left with the conclusion that it has to be one
of the bulb sockets. Right? Clean them with contact cleaner - still
flickers.

So, one has to be bad, or is there something else? How often do
sockets fail?

Whipped by a fixture

Try pulling / pushing the wires going into each bulb socket. These can be
loose.




"Charlie" wrote in message
So, in my laundry I have two, two bulb units, installed at the same
time.

Over the past 10 years, I've swapped out various bulbs. But one
fixture simply will not illuminate the bulbs (flicker, partial
ignition). These are relatively new electonic ballasts, no starters
and are at room temperature.

Change the bulbs: nope, still flickers.
Take the old bulbs, put them in the unit that works fine. Both bulbs
work fine.

Check the line voltage for the misbehaving fixtu solid at 123V.
Verified grounds, cleaned, made sure no paint.

Okay, what the heck - new bulbs. Still flickering.

Must be the ballast - replace it. STILL FLICKERS.

Okay, at this point I'm left with the conclusion that it has to be one
of the bulb sockets. Right? Clean them with contact cleaner - still
flickers.

So, one has to be bad, or is there something else? How often do
sockets fail?

Whipped by a fixture

"Bill" wrote in message
...
Try pulling / pushing the wires going into each bulb socket. These can be
loose.




"Charlie" wrote in message
So, in my laundry I have two, two bulb units, installed at the same
time.

Over the past 10 years, I've swapped out various bulbs. But one
fixture simply will not illuminate the bulbs (flicker, partial
ignition). These are relatively new electonic ballasts, no starters
and are at room temperature.

Change the bulbs: nope, still flickers.
Take the old bulbs, put them in the unit that works fine. Both bulbs
work fine.

Check the line voltage for the misbehaving fixtu solid at 123V.
Verified grounds, cleaned, made sure no paint.

Okay, what the heck - new bulbs. Still flickering.

Must be the ballast - replace it. STILL FLICKERS.

Okay, at this point I'm left with the conclusion that it has to be one
of the bulb sockets. Right? Clean them with contact cleaner - still
flickers.

So, one has to be bad, or is there something else? How often do
sockets fail?

Whipped by a fixture




Try buying a new fixture...For what you have spent in bulbs and ballasts you
could have a couiple of them.....HTH...

On Sat, 30 Jan 2010 19:56:29 -0800 (PST), Charlie
wrote:

So, in my laundry I have two, two bulb units, installed at the same
time.

Over the past 10 years, I've swapped out various bulbs. But one
fixture simply will not illuminate the bulbs (flicker, partial
ignition). These are relatively new electonic ballasts, no starters
and are at room temperature.

Change the bulbs: nope, still flickers.
Take the old bulbs, put them in the unit that works fine. Both bulbs
work fine.

Check the line voltage for the misbehaving fixtu solid at 123V.
Verified grounds, cleaned, made sure no paint.

Okay, what the heck - new bulbs. Still flickering.

Must be the ballast - replace it. STILL FLICKERS.

Okay, at this point I'm left with the conclusion that it has to be one
of the bulb sockets. Right? Clean them with contact cleaner - still
flickers.

So, one has to be bad, or is there something else? How often do
sockets fail?

Whipped by a fixture


Are you sure you have a good solid ground?

On Jan 30, 9:56*pm, Charlie wrote:
So, in my laundry I have two, two bulb units, installed at the same
time.

Over the past 10 years, I've swapped out various bulbs. *But one
fixture simply will not illuminate the bulbs (flicker, partial
ignition). *These are relatively new electonic ballasts, no starters
and are at room temperature.

Change the bulbs: nope, still flickers.
Take the old bulbs, put them in the unit that works fine. *Both bulbs
work fine.

Check the line voltage for the misbehaving fixtu solid at 123V.
Verified grounds, cleaned, made sure no paint.

Okay, what the heck - new bulbs. *Still flickering.

Must be the ballast - replace it. *STILL FLICKERS.

Okay, at this point I'm left with the conclusion that it has to be one
of the bulb sockets. *Right? *Clean them with contact cleaner - still
flickers.

So, one has to be bad, or is there something else? *How often do
sockets fail?

Whipped by a fixture

Since you have two identical fixtures...have you checked the wiring
(compared color for color) just in case there is a difference.
I recently had 4-tube, 4-foot, electronic ballast where 3 tubes were
out and one dim. Turned-out...the only bad one was the dim one!
It wasn't dark at the ends but it was loading-down the voltage. (These
were all new tubes when the ballast was changed-about 2 months ago).

bob

wrote:
On Sat, 30 Jan 2010 19:56:29 -0800 (PST), Charlie

So, one has to be bad, or is there something else? How often do
sockets fail?

Whipped by a fixture


Are you sure you have a good solid ground?

Second that. A good ground is often essential for a florescent light. In
order to fluoresce, an invisible field of electromagnetic galactic flux must
envelop the apparatus and this band of radiation (derived from the X-Com
Interceptor) is essential. It surrounds and penetrates and and binds the
fixture together. The force is not strong with this one.

My description may be a tad off, but a solid ground is often necessary.

In article ,
wrote:

On Sat, 30 Jan 2010 19:56:29 -0800 (PST), Charlie
wrote:

So, in my laundry I have two, two bulb units, installed at the same
time.

Over the past 10 years, I've swapped out various bulbs. But one
fixture simply will not illuminate the bulbs (flicker, partial
ignition). These are relatively new electonic ballasts, no starters
and are at room temperature.

In short to edit for space, not fixed by changing bulbs or ballasts

Are you sure you have a good solid ground?

If all bulbs partially light at least somewhat over their entire
lengths, as opposed to glowing only at their ends or not at all,
then the problem is not grounding.

Most likely, you have the wrong type ballast for the bulbs or the wrong
type bulbs for the ballast.

Possibly, you have a bad socket ("lampholder" or "tombstone"), or a bad
connection in or near one of those.

The fixture may be wried incorrectly - especially if the questioned
electronic ballast replaced a non-electronic one.

If you can rule these out, make sure the ballast is receiving proper
voltage. (But I remember somewhat 123V from earlier in this thread?)
(Make sure the ballast is a 120V one.)

- Don Klipstein )

If you can rule these out, make sure the ballast is receiving proper
voltage. (But I remember somewhat 123V from earlier in this thread?)
(Make sure the ballast is a 120V one.)

- Don Klipstein )

Many of the electronic ballasts are both 120/240 and will self-adjust
their output (thanks for reminding me).

bob