I have two 5ft flourescent tube strip lights in my garage, both have two tubes. I first fitted them about 35 years ago so they were the older "fat" tubes and they've worked absolutely fine, just needing the occasional starter cartridge or tube to be replaced.
A couple of years ago, after many years needing no attention, three of the tubes all failed within about a month of each other. I had one spare tube which I fitted to the unit in which both tubes had failed and went round to my local trade supplier to buy two more. To my surprise he told me these tubes are no longer made but he could - at considerable cost - still obtain old stock for me if I wanted. The alternative was to buy new complete units which use thinner tubes and are supposed to be more economical. The cost was very reasonable so I went for that option.
I installed them immediately and they've been working just fine until about 2 months ago when the one over my workbench - it would be that one wouldn't it! - started acting up. It's behaving exactly as if the starter is failing. Previously, when switched on, it normally flashes once or twice and then illuminates (as does the other one) However around about 25% of the times you switch on it will flash once and then stay off - the tubes don't fire up. Next time you try it may, or may not, fire up normally. It's completely erratic, some times it will start fine for days on end, sometimes it needs to be switched on and off half a dozen times before it will light. The other unit continues to work normally.
Bearing in mind these new units do not have a "plug in" starter is there anything I could be doing or should I just bite the bullet and buy a new unit complete? A quick on line check seems to reveal that a new unit with 2 tubes included comes in around the £35 mark.
PS - Sorry, the tubes don't seem to be included at that price. So, if I buy a "bare" unit can I use the tubes from the old fitting, which seem to work fine if I can get them to light off. Or, could there be something about the existing tubes which have caused this to happen?
A couple of years ago, after many years needing no attention, three of the tubes all failed within about a month of each other. I had one spare tube which I fitted to the unit in which both tubes had failed and went round to my local trade supplier to buy two more. To my surprise he told me these tubes are no longer made but he could - at considerable cost - still obtain old stock for me if I wanted. The alternative was to buy new complete units which use thinner tubes and are supposed to be more economical. The cost was very reasonable so I went for that option.
I installed them immediately and they've been working just fine until about 2 months ago when the one over my workbench - it would be that one wouldn't it! - started acting up. It's behaving exactly as if the starter is failing. Previously, when switched on, it normally flashes once or twice and then illuminates (as does the other one) However around about 25% of the times you switch on it will flash once and then stay off - the tubes don't fire up. Next time you try it may, or may not, fire up normally. It's completely erratic, some times it will start fine for days on end, sometimes it needs to be switched on and off half a dozen times before it will light. The other unit continues to work normally.
Bearing in mind these new units do not have a "plug in" starter is there anything I could be doing or should I just bite the bullet and buy a new unit complete? A quick on line check seems to reveal that a new unit with 2 tubes included comes in around the £35 mark.
PS - Sorry, the tubes don't seem to be included at that price. So, if I buy a "bare" unit can I use the tubes from the old fitting, which seem to work fine if I can get them to light off. Or, could there be something about the existing tubes which have caused this to happen?
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