Flourescent strip light tube

AHAR

Hi,
The strip light in my kitchen has always flickered a couple of times when first turning it on but now it constantly flickers on and off. Do I just need new tube or could it be another component in the light fitting?
The tube is a F58W/35. Can anyone recommend a good supplier?
Thanks

Viper_7

I'd start with Replacing the Starter. You should see a plug in device about 1 inch in diameter. It is usuall found in the side of the light fitting. It glows slightly when the unit is first switched on - and is probably flickering itself now.

To remove or insert it just rotates 1/4 of a turn

AHAR

Thanks. I notice the tube appears to have darkened a bit at one end. Is that more of a sign of tube trouble?

Viper_7

They do darken over time - but they never actual fail outright just become dimmer and dimmer.
They will darken quicker if not starting up properly first time.
Swap out the starter in the first instance though - not down the type and spec as there are different starts for different tubes.

Vipes

muckybutt

Viper_7 wrote: »

They do darken over time - but they never actual fail outright just become dimmer and dimmer.
They will darken quicker if not starting up properly first time.
Swap out the starter in the first instance though - not down the type and spec as there are different starts for different tubes.

Vipes

Sorry that is incorrect ! tubes do fail, trust me the amount of tubes I change in a week I should know, always change the starter first though as its the cheaper option, then if that doesnt work then its the tube.

However if the fitting has no starter which is normally located in the side of the fitting change the tube first as that is cheaper option than changing the ballast. In that case probably get a new fitting as again it will be cheaper than a replaicement ballast.

AHAR

I can see the starter in the side of the unit. I'll whip it out when I can see what I'm doing in there!
Thanks

Ephemera

Just be careful when removing the starter; in my experience some very old ones can be quite brittle and can break or crumble when turned to remove them.

Good luck!

muckybutt

Ephemera wrote: »

Just be careful when removing the starter; in my experience some very old ones can be quite brittle and can break or crumble when turned to remove them.

Good luck!

good point ! make sure the light is off when you do !

27col

I hope that you are not serious when you say.
[Quote:The tube is a F58W/35. Can anyone recommend a good supplier?]
Surely you are not seriously, going to chase around to see if you can get a penny or two off the price of a new fluorescent tube. Just go to the nearest place that sells them.B&Q, Wickes, Tool Station, Wilkinsons, etc. There is a difference between money saving and simple meanness.
Any tube that has blackened ends will have lost some of its light output and might as well be changed even if it is the starter that is the cause of the reluctant starting.

mikey72

27col wrote: »

I hope that you are not serious when you say.
[Quote:The tube is a F58W/35. Can anyone recommend a good supplier?]
Surely you are not seriously, going to chase around to see if you can get a penny or two off the price of a new fluorescent tube. Just go to the nearest place that sells them.B&Q, Wickes, Tool Station, Wilkinsons, etc. There is a difference between money saving and simple meanness.
Any tube that has blackened ends will have lost some of its light output and might as well be changed even if it is the starter that is the cause of the reluctant starting.

I've seen a difference of over £10, check the price online to get a target figure.

baldelectrician

mikey72 wrote: »

I've seen a difference of over £10, check the price online to get a target figure.

You should be paying less than half of that for a 5' 58W slimline tube