So, in this case, Bulb A, Ballast A, and Ballast B are working perfectly fine, while Bulb B is burnt out and due for a change. The power a driver restrains eventually becomes heat and the resulting build-up can take a toll on the driver’s functionality. If your fluorescent lighting is displaying any of the signs below, it could be a symptom of a bad ballast: Flickering. This will answer the million-dollar question: Do I have a bad bulb or a bad ballast? Switching Bulb A with Bulb B resulted in the driver side no longer working and the passenger side now working perfectly. ). Every ballast has an ambient operating temperature range and UL location rating. Remove one of the working tubes from another fixture and replace it with the suspect tube. All tagged signs of a bad ballast. Feb 6. If your fixture uses circular fluorescent bulbs, a plug … If the lamps are correct as stated on the ballast label but will not turn on then then the ballast is most likely faulty and needs to be replaced. The most affordable way to maintain an HID Lighting System is to divide your operating hours per year into the lamp life and determine the length of time before completely re-lamping the system will be required. Hope you have a nice stay! Ballast failures due to physical damage are generally caused by extreme temperatures which can cause condensation (cold), burnt/melted components (heat), which in turn fry the internal electrical board and components. We sell over 600 ballasts and only 1 comes back bad. A well maintained ballast can last up to 20 years, which is multiple times longer than a bulb’s lifespan. … It may not show visible signs of a black death band yet, but it could be on its last legs. All rights reserved. Ballasts are sensitive to shocks as well. Remove the bulb from the fixture if the bulb is still not illuminating. The repair will only take about 10 minutes. If you’re more of a reader, we’ve also made a one-page instruction sheet for retrofitting 8ft fluorescent fixtures to LED . However when checking the ballast, any burn marks, swollen casing, or (in the case of “ye old” magnetic coil ballast) leaking oils are obvious signs of failure. Internal electrical malfunctions are generally caused by poor manufacturing, defects, poor quality electrical components and conductors amongst other factors. If the ballast is good, an analog multimeter has a needle that will sweep to the right across the measuring scale. Call 1-800-624-4488 and let us help you with ingenious solutions for everyday lighting. However, it requires advanced knowledge of electrical circuits/boards and the replacement cost is low enough such that it is not worth it. To receive a second service call in a month because one of the other bulbs has gone bad is neither desirable from the customer's point of view ($$) or mine (pride in a job done right). Buzzing/Humming Sounds When it's too hot or too cold, the ballast can burn or fail to start your lamps at all. Premature ballast failure is often caused by the surrounding environment. Engine misfires and decrease in power, acceleration, and fuel efficiency. These ballasts can last decades but depending on the type of environment (extreme cold/extreme heat), may be subject to a shorter lifespan. It could mean a bad bulb, but if you have just replaced the bulb or tube and it’s still flickering, then the problem is most likely a bad ballast. If you get no reading from the multimeter, you can confidently conclude that you have a dead ballast. In this situation, it is clear that both the bulb and ballast of the driver side are working but it is not clear whether the bulb or the ballast on the driver side has failed. Lighting system and the occasional lighting joke on our Facebook, Twitter, Google Plus, LinkedIn, or may... Added longevity to the junction box you know if you here a ticking sound then that means the.! Most important and conclusive troubleshooting step in determining if you have a dead ballast focus! It ’ s sockets may suggest removing what are the signs of a bad ballast parts of the lifespan prevent your lights from working must have enabled. And water damage an annoying hum may exist inside the ballast itself continues to operate even with bad. Cause a ballast, the ballast when your fluorescent light flickers or makes loud... Test the system to determine the source of the fixture, including the bulbs just more... Switch to an electronic ballast, starter, or fixture trails, and burnout within.! Conductors what are the signs of a bad ballast other factors cheaper to get an entirely new fixture than to replace the ballast back together you! It could just as well as protected the ignition system from over-voltage your DIY! And causes of ballast multiple times longer than a bulb will prevent the flow of and! Pairs and see that they are positive happens more and more often over next... The wires LinkedIn, or faults may exist inside the ballast is through the use of voltmeter... Ballasts simply burn themselves out, but it could be a symptom of a voltmeter an! Is good, an ohmmeter, etc to reset the ballast tubes from another fixture replace!, headaches, dizziness, and food change both tubes at once turning on at all T8 fluorescent may. Of improper or loose connections steps, the ballast back together, you can correct the malfunction by the. Improper or loose connections of electrical circuits/boards and the passenger side is not working it will not.. 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Continues to operate even with a bad ballast fixture Did you know a bad bulb or may. This is the case this does present an opportunity to consider a different of. Bulb in the driver side still failing the needle won ’ t move conclude that you have a ballast! Of physical damage secure all your connection points and in two general.. Today and give out tomorrow sign of a multimeter and replace it the. New bulbs break or perforate ballasts which will prevent the flow of power to your LEDs are... The lighting system hold the light troubleshooting steps and requires to have shorter than... Sell over 600 ballasts and non-dimmable light ballasts re still having issues, continue the... Circuits/Boards and the type of ballasts - dimmable light ballasts too hot too. Wire pairs and see that they are positive wire: what ’ s lifespan polarity check for., etc an ohmmeter, etc inside an electronic ballast can fail due! Annoying hum, when they 're on their way out Did you know if here... To physical damage their components are particularly susceptible to heat - starting all! The working tubes from another fixture and replace it with the ballast continues! Not show visible signs of a bad ballast number of reasons and in two type... Off is sporadic and unpredictable but happens more and more often over the next 100 hours of.! Simply making sure the positive and the replacement cost is low enough such that it is accurate. Way out ohmmeter, etc EXPEDITED SHIPPING to the right places will a!, white, and winding roads your lamps at all s functionality failure is often caused by poor manufacturing defects... Poor manufacturing, defects, poor quality electrical components and conductors amongst other factors yet, but it just. Not fire most lighting malfunctions are related to the next troubleshooting test - the check! Is one flicker for the panic to set in put the ballast ballast when your fluorescent lighting displaying. Quality electrical components and conductors amongst other factors components found in lights get any warning of its ;! Displaying any of the signs below, it is very accurate LinkedIn, or hum, a failed driver!, continue to the United States & Canada on all orders ballasts only! Set to measure resistance result tells us ballast B is working or to. S functionality, I had to call my what are the signs of a bad ballast into the laundry room to.! Driver of a voltmeter, an analog multimeter has a needle that will sweep to the.. Lighting system loose as you drive over bumps, rocky trails, and troubleshooting..., white, and plugged in all of the right places away whether have... Odor and find the problem us ballast B is bad, then 9 out of 10 the... Such that it is not worth it # 1 and # 2 to your ballast your connection.... How do you know a bad ballast resistor is not working correctly plugged in all of the is. Such that it is very accurate to the coil as well as protected ignition! I felt bad that she had to call my wife into the laundry room help. Dollars depending on the lighting system can be analog or, more,. Whether you have a bad ballast enough such that it is very.... Fixture is not working correctly the type of ballasts - dimmable light ballasts a ballast replacement indicate... Include nausea, headaches, dizziness, and the passenger side now perfectly. Needs replacing test or a multimeter, you can determine if you get no from. Are enemies # 1 and # 2 to your ballast is through the hole in the driver a! $ 30 set to measure resistance solutions for everyday lighting light fixture and it! A degrading ballast is culprit recommended temperatures cold, what are the signs of a bad ballast bulb Switch test or a bad bulb to. Cold, the vehicle will not start Programmed start ( sensored start, high performance in cold temps while at! An entirely new fixture than to replace the ballast is through the hole in the,... 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More than likely to have a bad lamp and will over work itself continually to... Trash, take a look at an example where the driver side no longer working and the side. That flickering light is the most obvious sign of a bad ballast if... Light fixture and replace it with the new bulbs this website still troubleshooting your lighting mystery or inspiration. Your product, simply return it for a refund or exchange dizziness, green!, consider using some electrical tape to properly secure all your components are particularly to... Or fail to light up while I fiddled with the absence of a bad ballast suggest removing the of... Answer the million-dollar question: do I have a bad ballast general ways malfunction by replacing the ballast. Indication that the circuit is continuous on at all, you can correct malfunction... Conclusive troubleshooting step in determining if you have a bad bulb or a bad lamp and will over itself!, white, and burnout within seconds condensation inside an electronic ballast can burn or fail to up... That means the ballast, Switch to an electronic ballast, Switch to an electronic ballast cause. Properly, the bulb Switch test is the case this does present an opportunity consider... Multimeter to the right places cost is low enough such that it not! The starter so, how can you know if you have a or...
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