Troubleshooting a flourescent fixture

symphonik — Wed, 26 Jan 2005 20:59:24 -0800

ElectrocutionFilter: Well, my overhead kitchen fluorescent fixture has gone out on me. I flipped the switch, there was a glorious spark, and now nothing. I replaced both bulbs and still no response. The circuit breaker did not blow, so it seems okay. My limited electrical knowledge imposes that it might be the light's ballast—predictably, this is the most expensive part of the fixture.

So I ask, is there anything I can do to troubleshoot and perhaps fix this bloody thing? I'm good with electrical devices, but just really don't know where to start with lighting. Difficulty: I'm a poor SOB at the moment, so that leaves out the electrician. Anyone?

Flourescent strips, pulsing lights and a chiller cabinet.

twine42 — Fri, 28 May 2004 05:43:34 -0800

A random question involving fluorescent strips, pulsing lights and possibly a chiller cabinet. [MI] Last night I spent some time watching a chilled cola vending machine. It had a glass front and a pair of strip lights inside the case.

Every now and then I was aware of the noise of a fan running with a pulsing speed at about 2 - 3 Hz. Whenever it happened I was aware of a strange pulsing of light down the tubes. 'Dark' spots of light were being created on each audible pulse and then flowed down the tube to be sucked back in at the other end in perfect syncronisation with the creation.

The pulses of 'light' and 'dark' were apparently the same size and travelled quite slowly. There were probably about 30 bands down a four foot tube. I'd guess that the air inside the vender was in the 2-6 celcius area.

To make things worse, I'm not 100% convinced that the sounds wasn't coming from a coffee vending machine on the opposite side of the room.

What the hell was going on?

Ask MetaFilter questions tagged with fluorescentlights

Troubleshooting a flourescent fixture

Flourescent strips, pulsing lights and a chiller cabinet.