Loft lighting

ChilliBob

Hey guys, the fluroscent tube has gone in my loft. At the moment I have a portable work light but the light is a bit inadequate tbh. 

Is replacing a fluro tube just a case of new tube and to be on the safe side new starter? I've never messed with these before.

Also I saw mentions of LED before on here, however, I get the impression it would be more involved?

It's just a loft used for storage, so if I spent more than an hour in there in a year I'd be surprised! 

[Deleted User]

Yes. If you can change a bulb, you can change a tube.

rob7475

Does the light make any attempt to come on? It may just be the starter that's goine. Change that first before you buy a new tube. Take the old one out and check it's rating as they come in different ratings I think

Carrot007

ChilliBob said:

Also I saw mentions of LED before on here, however, I get the impression it would be more involved?

If you have a torch and can wire things it is nice and simple.

With my lights in the middle of the loft I used a 2 of these https://www.screwfix.com/p/angled-batten-lamp-holder-bc-2-52/1801d 

One pointing each was and put in a 15w LED (they are very bright).

I would never replace with a led "tube" as these are much easier and cheaper.

FreeBear

Fluorescent tubes are slated for removal from the market late next year, so it would make sense to replace with LED now. Depending on the age of the fitting, a simple tube & starter swap may be all that is required.

ChilliBob

rob7475 said:

Does the light make any attempt to come on? It may just be the starter that's goine. Change that first before you buy a new tube. Take the old one out and check it's rating as they come in different ratings I think

Nope, not a sausage!

Are all starters the same? Clearly tubes are different lengths, wattages etc.

ChilliBob

Carrot007 said:

ChilliBob said:

Also I saw mentions of LED before on here, however, I get the impression it would be more involved?

If you have a torch and can wire things it is nice and simple.

With my lights in the middle of the loft I used a 2 of these https://www.screwfix.com/p/angled-batten-lamp-holder-bc-2-52/1801d 

One pointing each was and put in a 15w LED (they are very bright).

I would never replace with a led "tube" as these are much easier and cheaper.

Ah, decent, so basically as challenging as wiring a plug and popping in some cable clamps. I may consider this too. 

Got a boiler in the loft and someone coming to service it on Monday so need to sort it! 

BUFF

an led replacement tube can be much brighter for less wattage. Or you could swap for a longer LED fitting.

ChilliBob

Well boiler bloke came today, short notice, so clamped the flood light, 24w Led, to the joist, seemed alright for a good hour!

I shall ponder what to do next, as sadly that's just the start of the boiler saga I think

Money_Grabber13579

If you only ever use the light in the loft for about an hour a year, I’d suspect it’s very unlikely that the tube has failed (unless it’s been up there for 15,000 years). Particularly given it doesn’t make any attempt to come on, which to me would suggest either a starter fault (simple) or a ballast fault (probably as good as terminal).

ChilliBob

Cheers, I was up there again yesterday so I tried again, simply nothing, no noise, flashing or anything (like you get when a bulb takes ages. I know for a fact the earliest it would have been installed is 2008. That's when the previous owners renovated fully. We've just moved in before Christmas.