Bulb Edusation

Jiles · Jun 3, 2015

I have a lot of florescent light in my barn and shop. Some are old while others are a few years old.
Some are slow to light up and others flicker until warm.
I was told that when the bulb gets a grey circle around one end, its bad.
What are some of the symptoms of a bulb going bad?

jimlll · Jun 3, 2015

This does not answer your question, but I had 12 four tube fluorescent fixtures in my shop and continually had problems with them failing to illuminate. I could bring the fixture down to work on, get all tubes to light up, then after re hanging it in the ceiling, sometimes some would fail to light up.
My cure of this was to to purchase 12 led fixtures from Sam's at approximately $37 each, and replace all the fluorescents. It is great to flip the switches and have all the lights come on.

Jiles · Jun 3, 2015

You described my problem. I have considered doing away with them, and just install regular incandescent bulbs.
For me--CFL bulbs were great a few years ago, but now I am lucky to get 1/2 the life out of them as with regular bulbs.
LED may be the answer.

onefarmer · Jun 3, 2015

My brother-in-law in FL had a florescent in his garage that wouldn't light up in anything less than 60 degrees. I left in there but added a 4ft led. Led turned out to be brighter than the florescents at their best.

wilson ind · Jun 3, 2015

WILL NOT COME ON LOL

Steve@Advance · Jun 3, 2015

Weak lamps will sometimes fail to start, flicker, dim. Black ends are generally a sign they are about done. Different styles have different symptoms, but all are affected by cold weather, damp conditions, low voltage, and weak ballasts.

The old style T12 and T8 flourescents are on the way out. My opinion, the replacement lamps and ballasts are of poor quality. Couple of reasons, the mfgs don't want to maintain the old equipment that makes them, and they want to cut every corner they can to reduce costs, and they want to discourage people like us from babying them along for the next 20 yeas! LOL

There is a new high output fluorescent available, think they are T5?, but require different fixtures and ballasts. Very bright and so far reliable but pricey.

LED is the newest. Getting better and costing less as they become more popular. If you are going to upgrade, LED would be the way to go.

Bob · Jun 4, 2015

Simply convert them to LED lamps.

T in NE · Jun 4, 2015

I can't have real bulbs in the apartment I just
moved into so I started buying LEDs. 2, 11 watt"
daylight" LEDs will put out enough light That a 13
watt CFL just turns things yellow.

Bulb Edusation

Jiles

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jimlll

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Jiles

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onefarmer

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wilson ind

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Steve@Advance

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Bob

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T in NE

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