Electrical Help Needed

pastorables · Postby **pastorables** » October 24th, 2007, 2:15 pm

If the problem is indeed the ballasts, how can the lights burn so good and bright the 10% of the time that they will turn on?

pa

Mister Ed · Postby **Mister Ed** » October 24th, 2007, 2:53 pm

If you still have your problem there is one thing I haven't seen mentioned.
If there are no covers over the light tubes, try loosening the tubes a little and reseating them in the sockets. Sometimes a little corrosion will build up on one end and cause a starting problem.

Sherry · Postby **Sherry** » October 24th, 2007, 3:37 pm

Call an Electrician!! :wink:

macgulley · Postby **macgulley** » October 24th, 2007, 6:01 pm

pastorables wrote:If the problem is indeed the ballasts, how can the lights burn so good and bright the 10% of the time that they will turn on?

pa

I can't really address the technical aspect of what is happening inside the ballast other than the fact that most have an overtemp sensor that cuts power before it can start a fire.

pastorables · Postby **pastorables** » November 8th, 2007, 7:57 pm

pastorables wrote:The electrical problem seems to be in the switch to our garage lights, but the problem could be in the lights themselves? The switch will only activate the two florescent lights about 10% of the time.

Update:

The cold weather that has arrived has the lights turning on almost ever time with no hesitation. Isn't that weird?

BTW, why is the word electrical orange now in the original post?

Okay? Who is messing with me? It was orange and now black again? What's going on?

pa

MacUser · Postby **MacUser** » November 9th, 2007, 4:07 am

pastorables wrote:Okay? Who is messing with me? It was orange and now black again? What's going on?

You just upset the electrical unions as they frown on free electrical advice. :lol:

Full Quiver · Postby **Full Quiver** » November 9th, 2007, 4:25 pm

My guess is either the cold weather has caused a change in some parts (metal changes shape somewhat in temperature changes) or the ballasts were getting very hot before and now are staying cooler (the substance in the ballasts are probably a different consistency in the cold).

Jude 2