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Fluorescent Lighting Question

320090T
I bought a bunch of used fluorescent lights salvaged from a redo in a grocerey store. They are three tube, small tube units. I installed eight of them in my shop, all wired to one switch. I am having strange happenings with the middle bulb in the middle unit in the run. If you turn the switch off real slow, the middle bulb of the three stays on. If you hit the switch quickly or hard, it goes off with the others. 24 bulbs and one will stay on, what could be causing this?????
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Comments

15 comments

Date Votes
  • tysonagreen
    Have you verified that the switch is installed and working properly? If it is and its in the off position there shouldn't be any current supplied to the light to power it.
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  • tacking1
    I have no clue but if I was you I would sue someone.
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  • He Dog
    I would say your switch is bleeding some current when gently turned off, and you have one decent bulb left that lights.
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  • daveald
    I think that you have crossed a wire in the circuit, I would go back and check my connections you may have a hot wire touching ground, I know that hte wires are stranded so it only takes one little wire to touch. then you can use a ohm meter and check the switch to make sure when the swich goes off its actually dead.
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  • tobefree
    To ez,, you have too much POT under them!!!!
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  • D1
    quote:Originally posted by tobefree
    To ez,, you have too much POT under them!!!!


    Uh oh. If you need help clearing it out....................

    cartman-ceramic.jpg
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  • 1911a1-fan
    what kind of switch?


    not all switches are rated for fluorescent use
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  • 320090T
    Got it at HD, wasn't the cheap ones, maybe $3.00? Why would only one bulb in 24 be affected? I need to get the ladder out and check it out, 12' ceiling in the shop.
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  • 1911a1-fan
    what kind? dimmer, auto, remote, flip,

    do you know its rating?
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  • hdwrench
    are you sure you are using proper voltage ? some of the smaller bulbed light fixtures are 220 .....been there ....
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  • Rosie
    Bleeding from the ground.
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  • linthicum
    quote:Originally posted by hdwrench
    are you sure you are using proper voltage ? some of the smaller bulbed light fixtures are 220 .....been there ....


    Also could be 177volts. Check the label on the ballast. But to me sounds like a bad switch. It may be new but that does not mean anything, Manufacturing has gone to crap, just another fine item made in China.
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  • 1911a1-fan
    quote:Originally posted by linthicum
    quote:Originally posted by hdwrench
    are you sure you are using proper voltage ? some of the smaller bulbed light fixtures are 220 .....been there ....


    Also could be 177volts. Check the label on the ballast. But to me sounds like a bad switch. It may be new but that does not mean anything, Manufacturing has gone to crap, just another fine item made in China.



    thats what i keep saying, not all switches are rated for fluorescent use, and if i'm reading correctly he's using 960 watts in bulbs alone, not including the ballast which could easily reach well over most regular wall switches ratings, which could cause a fire at anytime
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  • soop
    If it`s one unit,take it apart and check to see of it has a battery back up next to the ballast.It will look like two ballasts side by side.It sounds like you have an emergency light.Have you ever been in a store when the power goes out? Emergency lights stay on so you can find your way out. Just a thought.
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  • 320090T
    I shut the breaker off and the bulb didn't come on so no battery backup, good thought though. It is just a simple flip switch. I need to get the ladders out and dive in, has to be a wire touching where it shouldn't. I have seven of these in the other part of my shop and they act like they are suppose to so must be a stray wire.
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