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Ceiling lights in our laundry take a while for them to actually turn on.
Flick the switch and you see them trying to turn on.
Fast forward 5 minutes later and the lights are finally on.
I haven't had a chance to actually look at them but I'm guessing they are your standard fluorescent tube bulbs. So aside the obvious that one bulb might out or on its way out, what else do I look for? If both bulbs/tubes are still good, then what else should I look for?
When I get home I'm going to play Bob Villa with these lights.
Odds are the tubes are just old -- as they age the voltage required to get up to operating temp increases. In some fixtures there are also replacable starters that, along with the ballasts, do wear out.
I have switched over most of the flouresecents in my house to LEDs. Better light, lower energy cost. Upfront costs are comming down.
That is pretty common for compact fluorescent bulbs, is that what you have, or are you talking about the 4' long tubes?
Yeah, I have the compact 24" tubes.
Just replaced the bulbs and I'm still having the same problem.
Light are still taking a few minutes to turn on.
The ceiling unit calls for 4 bulbs: 2 on the left / divider / 2 on the right.
I have the light cover off and when I flick the switch to on the lights, you can see the lights "trying" to turn on.
If I tap the bulbs with my finger, the bulbs will turn on.
If I turn one bulb, then either the outside 2 will on and the middle ones take longer to come on.
Or the middle ones come on and the outside ones take longer to come on.
Could the problem be the actual housing unit itself?
Just replaced the bulbs and I'm still having the same problem.
Light are still taking a few minutes to turn on.
The ceiling unit calls for 4 bulbs: 2 on the left / divider / 2 on the right.
I have the light cover off and when I flick the switch to on the lights, you can see the lights "trying" to turn on.
If I tap the bulbs with my finger, the bulbs will turn on.
If I turn one bulb, then either the outside 2 will on and the middle ones take longer to come on.
Or the middle ones come on and the outside ones take longer to come on.
Could the problem be the actual housing unit itself?
If, after new bulbs it is still slow, I would guess it is the Ballast, which is located under the "divider" If the bulbs are T12's consider replacing the whole unit. They are about to be discontinued.
If, after new bulbs it is still slow, I would guess it is the Ballast, which is located under the "divider" If the bulbs are T12's consider replacing the whole unit. They are about to be discontinued.
Yep, after I posted my follow up on the new bulbs not being an improvement, I went ahead and just replaced the new unit.
I was told that if the new bulbs didn't do the trick, then like you mentioned, it could be the ballast. I just decided to chuck the old unit and get some LED track lighting instead.
Now it's working like it should be!!
Thanks everyone!
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