Fluorescent lights
 

I have a fluorescent light in my garage and it no longer works (I think after power cut but couldn't be sure of that.
I've replaced the tube but it still fails to come on. I think the little capacitor (?) things need replacing - is that possible? Are they straight forward to replace - pull it out and out another in?

Thanks

Re: Fluorescent lights
 

If its a strip light there ought to be a little cylindrical motor sticking out the side.

Push in, twist and it should pop out.

Could be that, although they usually go faulty slowly resulting in a light that takes ages to come on. You checked fuse boxes and stuff?

Fluorescent lights
 

If it's an old fitting - tube as big round as an inch, or even an inch and a half, then it's likely to be the starter.

Starters are dirt cheap and it's a straight forward swap to change it (just make sure you get the right size one to match the size of the tube)

If you have a newer electronic fitting it can be a little more difficult.

Don't forget it may just be the tube that's gone, not the starter. But I'd change the starter if the tube has gone - for the sake of 60p...

Re: Fluorescent lights
 

Tube + starter. Although in work, I have now been fitting LED tubes with the mains straight onto the tube. So when it breaks in a billion years time it's only the tube.

If the choke has gone, more than likely the fitting will be scrap.

Re: Fluorescent lights
 

Starter by the sounds of it.
TBH if its a T8 fitting junk it and buy a T5 as they're end of life almost

Fluorescent lights
 

T5 isn't going to last much longer

Re: Re: Fluorescent lights
 

The manufacturers are saying about 10 years, as they're not developing the technology any further.
Going through lighting systems at work atm got a few which are end of life design

written with a brio

Fluorescent lights
 

Thanks guys, sorry for the delay in responding. There were a number of reasons but the most significant one being that I'd not checked the fuse box... I have now and they're all good.
The old tube was an inch or so in diameter as suggested but the new one is much thinner.
I'll go and get a new motor thing and take the old one part this afternoon.

Thanks for the info.

Oh I suppose if it's not the motor either, it's a matter of getting an electrician in?

Thanks

Fluorescent lights
 

Fluorescent tubes are measured in 1/8th inch. A T8 is one inch diameter, a T5 is 5/8th inch diameter. If you had a T8 fitting it is likely to have been switch started with an induction starter and ballast, but the T5 is likely to need an electronic starter.

You could just take the tube back and change it for the right one, but to be honest in the long term you're better off getting a T5 fitting - soon you won't be able to get replacement T8 lamps, but the T5 tube is also typically 40% more efficient.

Fluorescent lights
 

New motor fixed it - thanks guys.

Based in that success I'm considering setting myself up as an electrician now.