faulty flouro strip light...how to diagnose

steveo3002

i have a long strip light...today when turned on just the ends light and it makes a buzzing /start up sound but doesnt ping into life

how do i diagnose whats wrong and fix it

blackfive

Probably the starter or the tube itself.

The cheapest is to test is the starter first. If you've another flourescent light swop the starter (if the light is already on then it'll stay on even if you remove the starter). If not buy a new one as relatively cheap (approx. £1.50) and always good to have a spare handy anyway. Change it and see if the tube fires up. If it doesn't then its the tube and you'll have to get a new one. If the tube has been flickering beforehand its also a sign of it being on the way out.

Cold weather can affect the tubes giving difficulty starting. Some tubes on the way out can sometimes be started by rubbing a woollen or nylon cloth along its length!

27col

Usually, if the ends of the tube are looking blackish, it is a good sign that the phosphor in the tube is on its last legs. But as has been suggested, change the starter first.

AdrianW2

Worth checking that your fitting uses a starter before blaming it...

Some useful advice here