On 13/03/2005, Andrew Gabriel wrote:
As others have said, you'll need to post more details of the
exact failure mode. Also, what length and wattage are the tues?

whether it's the starter coil or the tube, sort of changing them out
and trying?

If they all failed at the same time, I would look for a common
factor, such as main voltage, control gear unsuitable for low
temperature operation. Switch-start control gear on 8' tubes
is notoriously bad at low temperature starting.

They failed within a few days of each other, after some electrical work
elsewhere in the house.

It also seems to be quite tricky to change a tube in these units.
Other units I've changed tubes in had ends which pulled back and it
was really easy to change a tube. With these ones you need to
rotate the tube until it unlatches, and it needs enough torque that
I worry about shattering the tube. Am I missing something here - is
there a simple technique?

Tubes are stronger than you might think. I've stood on them in
order to break them, and that normally won't do it (stamping on
them is usually required).

I've seen one broken when a kid threw an empty coke can at another kid
and misjudged the trajectory...

--
Simon Elliott http://www.ctsn.co.uk