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Please copy/paste the following text to properly cite this How Stuff Works article:
Club, Fix-It. "How to Do Home Electrical Repairs." 02 May 2006. HowStuffWorks.com. <http://home.howstuffworks.com/how-to-do-home-electrical-repairs.htm> 15 May 2008.
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Fix-It Club
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How to Install a Fluorescent Light
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How to Install a Fluorescent Light
How does a fluorescent lamp work? In a fluorescent circuit, beginning at the left-hand prong of the plug, current goes through the ballast, through one of the lamp filaments, through the closed switch in the starter, through the other filament in the lamp, and out the right-hand prong of the plug. The current heats the two small elements in the ends of the fluorescent tube; then the starter opens and current flows through the lamp.
The ballast is a magnetic coil that adjusts the current through the tube. It makes a surge of current arc through the tube when the starter opens, and then it keeps the current flowing at the right rate once the tube is glowing. In most fluorescent fixtures, the starter is an automatic switch. Once it senses that the lamp is glowing, it stays open. The starter closes whenever you deenergize the fixture.
 ©2006 Publications International, Ltd. A fluorescent fixture has three main parts -- the bulb, ballast, and starter. When one of these components malfunctions, replacement is usually the answer. |
Since there are only three primary parts in a fluorescent lamp, you can usually take care of any repairs yourself. All fluorescent lamps grow dimmer with age, and they may even begin to flicker or flash on and off. These are warning signals, and you should make the necessary repairs as soon as you notice any change in the lamp's normal performance. A dim tube usually requires replacement, and failure to replace it can strain other parts of the fixture. Likewise, repeated flickering or flashing will wear out the starter, causing the insulation at the starter to deteriorate.
 ©2006 Publications International, Ltd. To install a new fluorescent tube, insert the tube's prongs into the holder and twist the tube to lock it into place. Change the tube when it dims, flickers, or flashes on and off. |
 ©2006 Publicatioins International, Ltd. To install a starter in a fluorescent fixture, simply insert the starter and twist it to secure it in its socket. |
The ballast is also rated according to wattage, and a replacement ballast -- like a replacement starter -- must match the wattage of the tube and the type of fixture. The ballast is the least likely part to fail and most difficult to replace, so leave the ballast for last when you start replacing parts. If neither the tube nor the starter is defective, the problem must be the ballast. To replace a faulty ballast, deenergize the circuit, disassemble the fixture, transfer wires from the old ballast to the new one -- one at a time, to avoid an incorrect connection -- and, finally, reassemble the
fixture.
If the tube, the starter, and the ballast are all working properly but the lamp still doesn't light, check for a defective switch. If the lamp is controlled by a wall switch, replace the switch, as detailed in the next section. If the lamp has a push-button switch, the old switch can be replaced by a new one of the same type. To deenergize the circuit before working on the switch, remove the circuit's fuse or trip the circuit breaker.
In most cases, the switch screws into a threaded mounting nut on the inside of the lamp. Two wires from the switch are connected, usually with wirenuts, to four wires from the fluorescent tube. Disassemble the fixture as far as necessary to gain access to the back of the switch, then screw in the new switch and transfer wires from the old switch to the new one, one at a time to avoid an incorrect connection. Reassemble the fixture, and reenergize the circuit.
If you're considering installing a new ballast or a new switch, consider putting in an entirely new fixture. An old fluorescent fixture suffers the same aging effects that an incandescent fixture does. Of course, you can also replace an old incandescent lamp with a new fluorescent model. Either replacement is well within the capabilities of the do-it-yourselfer.
Here are the steps to take when installing a fluorescent fixture:
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Step 2: Remove old hardware that holds existing lamp fixture in place, and disconnect lamp wires from circuit line wires. Then disassemble new fluorescent lamp as far as necessary to gain access to fixture wires.
Step 3: Connect fixture wires to line wires with wirenuts or crimp-type solderless connectors. Match wires by color: white wire to white, black to black.
Step 4: Position fixture against ceiling, and fasten it with screws packaged with new lamp. You may have to reassemble fixture, either before or after mounting it, depending on its style. Restore power.
Keep reading to learn how to troubleshoot and repair your doorbell.
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How to Install a Fluorescent Light
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Please copy/paste the following text to properly cite this How Stuff Works article:
Club, Fix-It. "How to Do Home Electrical Repairs." 02 May 2006. HowStuffWorks.com. <http://home.howstuffworks.com/how-to-do-home-electrical-repairs.htm> 15 May 2008.
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