Flourescent tube flashing

[diyplumber1980]

Hi guys, my kitchen tube lights are flickering like crazy and wont light up. Its a double tube, 4 foot long. They are about 6 years old. Both tubes flicker on and off, kitchen looks like a nightclub, but the lights just wont stay on.

Ive never fit one of these so have no idea what could be wrong. Any advice would be much appreciated.

 

[EFLImpudence]

First step, try a new starter - unlikely both tubes would go together.

 

[JohnW2]

First step, try a new starter - unlikely both tubes would go together.

Wouldn't a twin-tube fitting have two starters - hence, again, 'unlikley to both go together'? However, we are not told explicitly that both tubes started flickering at the same time. As you say, it's certainly likely to be a starter and/or tube problem.

Kind Regards, John

 

[riveralt]

First step, try a new starter - unlikely both tubes would go together.

Wouldn't a twin-tube fitting have two starters

I know this one is six years old but from memory all of the twin tubes I have fitted have only one starter.

 

[JohnW2]

First step, try a new starter - unlikely both tubes would go together.

Wouldn't a twin-tube fitting have two starters

I know this one is six years old but from memory all of the twin tubes I have fitted have only one starter.

Interesting. Admittedly, it's many years (certainly far more than 6) since I fitted a twin-tube fitting in my house, but I have several (in cellar, garage and a few other places,)and all have two starters. If that's changed, I guess that it's 'penny-pinching' again, since (as we're discussing), failure of the starter will stop both tubes working.

Kind Regards, John

 

[Adam_151]

Cant recall seeing anything other than a single starter per tube on that length fitting. Shorter fittings sometimes utilise a series starter for two tubes

HF fittings often require both tubes to run together though, but thats not what the topic is about

 

[JohnW2]

Cant recall seeing anything other than a single starter per tube on that length fitting.

As I said, that's my experience - but I don't think I've used/got one anything like as 'young' as '6 years old', so I don't know whether things have changed!

Kind Regards, John

 

[333rocky333]

Shorter fittings sometimes utilise a series starter for two tubes

series starters can only be used singerly to do one tube at 110 volt
At 240v series starters are always used as a pair for two lamps.
They are 4-22 watt, with two 2ft 18 watt tubes using a single 36 watt choke being the most common

 

[AdrianUK]

I've never, ever, in my 40 odd years seen a twin fitting with only ONE starter.... I don't believe its possible.

Back to the OP's question .... when the tube attempts to strike (flashing) what colour are the ends of the tube?

Red - the tube is at the end of its useful life. Replace the tube.

White - the starter is faulty. Replace.

These simple guidelines don't always work...... but they've been good for 99% of problems I've seen.

 

[JohnW2]

I've never, ever, in my 40 odd years seen a twin fitting with only ONE starter.... I don't believe its possible

I'm glad it wasn't just me - all of you (with one exception) seem to have the same experience as me - riveralt seems to be in a distinct minority with his experience

Kind Regards, John

 

[Adam_151]

I've never, ever, in my 40 odd years seen a twin fitting with only ONE starter.... I don't believe its possible.

Its not unknown of on smaller fittings, for example 600x600 fittings with 2 foot tubes sometimes have 4 tubes and 2 series starters, also seen series starter arrangements in fly zappers etc.

As I've said, I've never seen a 5' or 6' fitting with such an arrangement

 

[AdrianUK]

I've never, ever, in my 40 odd years seen a twin fitting with only ONE starter.... I don't believe its possible.

Its not unknown of on smaller fittings, for example 600x600 fittings with 2 foot tubes sometimes have 4 tubes and 2 series starters, also seen series starter arrangements in fly zappers etc.

As I've said, I've never seen a 5' or 6' fitting with such an arrangement

Interesting. I've seen series starters used on 2' tubes when two tubes have been wired onto a single ballast - that's common..... but each tube has always had its own starter.....

 

[riveralt]

I'm glad it wasn't just me - all of you (with one exception) seem to have the same experience as me - riveralt seems to be in a distinct minority with his experience

I know age is catching up to me and my memory is not as good as it was but I'm positive I fitted one of these with a single starter about six months ago - I will try and dig out the make and model and find the instructions.

 

[riveralt]

I've never, ever, in my 40 odd years seen a twin fitting with only ONE starter.... I don't believe its possible

I'm glad it wasn't just me - all of you (with one exception) seem to have the same experience as me - riveralt seems to be in a distinct minority with his experience

Kind Regards, John

http://www.tabelek.co.uk/datasheets/UM2-UM3-Datasheet.pdf
UM3 version

Still looking for the instructions for the lamp I fitted recently.

 

[JohnW2]

I've never, ever, in my 40 odd years seen a twin fitting with only ONE starter.... I don't believe its possible

I'm glad it wasn't just me - all of you (with one exception) seem to have the same experience as me - riveralt seems to be in a distinct minority with his experience

http://www.tabelek.co.uk/datasheets/UM2-UM3-Datasheet.pdf
UM3 version. Still looking for the instructions for the lamp I fitted recently.

Thanks. So there are at least some starters designed for twin loads - so all we need to find are the fittings which use them. Given the existence of these starters, I presume you must be right that there are some such fittings - but it does seem (from people's comments above) that they are far from being common, so I think your:

I know this one is six years old but from memory all of the twin tubes I have fitted have only one starter.

...could reasonably described as a pretty atypical experience, and a marked overstatement of the general situation - again perhaps indicating the rarity of 2-tube ones.

The other thing is that this UM3 is somewhat of a 'fancy' starter, designed specifically for 2-tube use, and I've personally never seen a anything other that 'generic' bog-standard starters.

Kind Regards, John