Do these litle lights need a "starter"?

[Roger465]

Just found a series of these under the high-level kitchen cabinets of the house I’m renovating. I guess they’re from 1994 when the house was built. I’ve taken the tubes out to clean them so that I can read the label – everything has 23 years’ worth of kitchen filth on it.



Anyway, none of them work, though there is mains to them, so I guess either all the tubes are blown, or maybe the mountings or sockets or whatever you call them (the bit in the picture) have a little starter internally which has blown?



What I don’t want to do is order a pile of tubes only to find it’s the mount that has failed… any advice please?



Thanks

PS I'm not there right now, but the little tubes are something like 9" long, and the thickness of your little finger...

 

[ericmark]

There are a few ways to start the small fluorescents, not all needed a starter.

 

[RF Lighting]

Those lights contain a small electronic controller. They were not the most reliable of fittings. Maybe buy one tube and use that to test each light.

 

[RF Lighting]

Also just to add, there's a small on off switch on the side of each light. Have you checked they're physically switched on?

 

[Roger465]

Thanks - or might just put LEDs underneath instead I suppose... do any suitable LED units come with integrated power supplies nowadays, or do you still have to have a little transformer for each unit?

 

[Roger465]

Also just to add, there's a small on off switch on the side of each light. Have you checked they're physically switched on?

Yeah even I managed to spot that one

 

[RF Lighting]

https://www.tlc-direct.co.uk/Main_I...hting_Kitchen_Index/Ultra_Slim_KBU/index.html

If you're going LED something like this is probably the easiest option for you.

 

[Roger465]

https://www.tlc-direct.co.uk/Main_I...hting_Kitchen_Index/Ultra_Slim_KBU/index.html

If you're going LED something like this is probably the easiest option for you.

Ooh yes, those are cute. What does it mean by "linkable"?

 

[JohnW2]

Ooh yes, those are cute. What does it mean by "linkable"?

It means that you can join (up to 12 of them) in a 'daisy chain', with just the end one supplied with power.

Kind Regards, John

 

[Roger465]

OK, I'm going to order some from TLC, as recommended.Looking at the wiring I've got already, there's mains to each point where I'll need a light, so I don't think I'll link them.

Maybe a stupid question, but does each strip come with some kind of power lead, or simple connectors that I can wire the existing mains cable into, or do I need to buy a link cable for each strip just to connect it to the mains?

Thanks a lot

 

[JohnW2]

Maybe a stupid question, but does each strip come with some kind of power lead, or simple connectors that I can wire the existing mains cable into, or do I need to buy a link cable for each strip just to connect it to the mains?

As I understand it, each one comes with a mains lead, so that you could use it alone.

If you want to link several together, you have to buy the required number of 'link cables' (i.e. one less than the number of lights to be linked), also available from TLC, in which case you only have to use one of the supplied power leads, presumably connected to the end light of the 'chain'.

Kind Regards, John

 

[Roger465]

As I understand it, each one comes with a mains lead, so that you could use it alone.

If you want to link several together, you have to buy the required number of 'link cables' (i.e. one less than the number of lights to be linked), also available from TLC, in which case you only have to use one of the supplied power leads, presumably connected to the end light of the 'chain'.

Kind Regards, John

Thanks John, that's really helpful

 

[333rocky333]

When you say Mains point are you talking about that plug in your picture, thats unlikely to fit the new lights, you will likely need to remove that old lead and connect the new lead at the same source.

Each light comes with

• 2mtr Power Cord, Coupler & Fixing Clips.
• Linkable end to end by coupler (included) or using link leads (not included)

They come with a End to End butt coupler so if needbe you can plug 1 direct into the next one without buying a link lead

 

[Roger465]

All done, thanks so much everybody

I was even able to use the existing cables and clips as they were all the same!

PS the kitchen is currently my workshop, so is a tip

 

[Iggifer]

PS the kitchen is currently my workshop, so is a tip

Either you're single or sleeping on the sofa!!