T12 or T8, with magnetic ballasts, fixtures are unable to start at low temperatures. The lowest temperature where they start dependably is around 55-60F. Could it be that cold where the aquarium is? If not, I don't think it will be the starters that are faulty, since having two starters fail at the same time is unusual. When I had T8 fluorescent shop lights in my garage a few years ago I could never get them to come on in the winter, because of the cold start problem.
Old fluorescent fixture not working - starter question, or?
Hi,
I got a double lamp fixture with the 40 gallon I got used.
The problem is that it doesn't work. One bulb will glow a bit on the ends, and the other will for a second, then not work at all. I searched for reasons, and when that happens, it is supposed to be the starters. So, I replaced the starters. They are 30 watt bulbs, so I picked up appropriate starters at Home Depot. That didn't do the trick.
One of the old starters is metal and says it is a starter with a condenser. The new ones are just plastic and do not say condenser on them. The only info I could find online says that it doesn't matter what starter you use. Is this true, or do I need to find starters with condensers.
I have not tried replacing the bulbs. Will bad bulbs glow? The info I found says that bad bulbs will just plain old not work.
Also, he had one t8 and one t12 in the fixture. They are interchangable, are they not?
Thanks!
Laura
I got a double lamp fixture with the 40 gallon I got used.
The problem is that it doesn't work. One bulb will glow a bit on the ends, and the other will for a second, then not work at all. I searched for reasons, and when that happens, it is supposed to be the starters. So, I replaced the starters. They are 30 watt bulbs, so I picked up appropriate starters at Home Depot. That didn't do the trick.
One of the old starters is metal and says it is a starter with a condenser. The new ones are just plastic and do not say condenser on them. The only info I could find online says that it doesn't matter what starter you use. Is this true, or do I need to find starters with condensers.
I have not tried replacing the bulbs. Will bad bulbs glow? The info I found says that bad bulbs will just plain old not work.
Also, he had one t8 and one t12 in the fixture. They are interchangable, are they not?
Thanks!
Laura
1 - 7 of 7 Posts
Thanks Hoppy. Nope, not cold. Temp is in upper 60s.
Bad bulbs will do that. What's happening is the filament is glowing but it is either not hot enough (powerful) to ionize the gas between the ends or there aren't enough metal atoms in the gas to ionize. In the latter case they usually show as darkened ends.Hi,
I got a double lamp fixture with the 40 gallon I got used.
The problem is that it doesn't work. One bulb will glow a bit on the ends, and the other will for a second, then not work at all.
After new bulbs, starters are the second thing to check.I searched for reasons, and when that happens, it is supposed to be the starters. So, I replaced the starters. They are 30 watt bulbs, so I picked up appropriate starters at Home Depot. That didn't do the trick.
All replaceable starters are condenser starters. If you open one up you will see the prongs are connected to a mercury light bulb and a capacitor shorting between the prongs.One of the old starters is metal and says it is a starter with a condenser. The new ones are just plastic and do not say condenser on them. The only info I could find online says that it doesn't matter what starter you use. Is this true, or do I need to find starters with condensers.
Not entirely true. They can glow at the ends as mentioned above.I have not tried replacing the bulbs. Will bad bulbs glow? The info I found says that bad bulbs will just plain old not work.
No, and maybe.Also, he had one t8 and one t12 in the fixture. They are interchangable, are they not?
What you have is ancient technology (that still works - inefficiently) in your fixture. Here is a good article on the subject.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electrical_ballast
The inductor ballast in your fixture may allow mixing a T8 and a T12 bulbs, but not necessarily.
If you are happy with the fixture in other respects, a new electronic ballast for about $15.00 would improve efficiency, remove a need for starters, allow T8 bulbs, not make a humming noise, and not flicker at 60 Hz.
Thank you so much! That helps! :thumbsup:
Now I just have to figure out if this fixture is worth it, or if I should invest in some better lighting. (Probably plan b makes the most sense.) Even if it is just the bulbs, I could get new bulbs, but then I just spent $20+ that I could put toward a better fixure. (I looked at home depot, they didn't have any 36" bulbs that would work for plants.)
Now I just have to figure out if this fixture is worth it, or if I should invest in some better lighting. (Probably plan b makes the most sense.) Even if it is just the bulbs, I could get new bulbs, but then I just spent $20+ that I could put toward a better fixure. (I looked at home depot, they didn't have any 36" bulbs that would work for plants.)
if the fixture used starters to ignite the original lamps it probably doesnt have room for a ballast. it can be remanufactured to use an electronic ballast but that would take some doing and i'd recommend you have an electrician do that. if youre gonna keep your tank low tech id just use t8s and starters. F25T8s are 36" long and would fit in your fixture but make sure you use F25 or 25watt starters. go to your local electrical supply house. ask them for f25t8s 6500k and matching starters. should cost ya about $15 at most for 2 bulbs and 2 starters. when replacing the bulbs also replace the starter. good luck.
Thanks. I did that, and it didn't work. So I took it apart, and I couldn't see any loose wires or anything, and decided it isn't worth my time. I ordered a new fixture.if the fixture used starters to ignite the original lamps it probably doesnt have room for a ballast. it can be remanufactured to use an electronic ballast but that would take some doing and i'd recommend you have an electrician do that. if youre gonna keep your tank low tech id just use t8s and starters. F25T8s are 36" long and would fit in your fixture but make sure you use F25 or 25watt starters. go to your local electrical supply house. ask them for f25t8s 6500k and matching starters. should cost ya about $15 at most for 2 bulbs and 2 starters. when replacing the bulbs also replace the starter. good luck.
1 - 7 of 7 Posts
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