Why does my fluorescent light bulb keep blowing out?

Why does my fluorescent light bulb keep blowing out?

A dead fluorescent can be caused by lack of electrical power (tripped breaker or blown fuse), a dead or dying ballast, a dead starter or a dead bulb(s). defective starters, defective bulbs or a defective ballast. IMPORTANT: Flickering fluorescent tubes can cause the ballast to overheat and fail prematurely!

How long do fluorescent bulbs last?

Typical lamp life for a fluorescent bulb is about 20,000 hours, but this can degrade as a consequence of frequent switching (turning on and off). Burning life is extended if lamps remain on continuously for long periods of time.

Will a bad ballast burn out bulbs?

The ballast itself can go bad, which causes lights to flicker or even appear to be burnt out, when in fact they aren’t. They require maintenance and energy to power, on top of the power used to light the fluorescent bulb. They are a large part of the equation when using fluorescent lamps.

Does turning lights on and off shorten bulb life?

All lightbulbs have a nominal or rated operating life, which is affected by how many times they are turned on and off. The more often they are switched on and off, the lower their operating life.

How can you tell if a fluorescent light ballast is bad?

If your fluorescent lighting is displaying any of the signs below, it could be a symptom of a bad ballast:

  1. Flickering.
  2. Buzzing.
  3. Delayed start.
  4. Low output.
  5. Inconsistent lighting levels.
  6. Switch to an electronic ballast, keep lamp.
  7. Switch to an electronic ballast, switch to a T8 fluorescent.

How can you tell if a headlight ballast is bad?

Another method of testing a ballast is through the use of a multimeter. Simply put, a multimeter is a tool that measures a wide range of electrical data such as amps (current), volts, resistance, etc. By connecting the multimeter to the ballast, you will see right away whether you have a working or a bad ballast.

How do you know if it’s the ballast or the bulb?

Take out your current bulbs and replace them with the new bulbs. If the bulbs fail to light up, then 9 out of 10 times the ballast is culprit. If the ballast is good, an analog multimeter has a needle that will sweep to the right across the measuring scale. If the ballast is bad, then the needle won’t move.

How can you tell if a fluorescent light is bad?

How to Tell If a Fluorescent Tube Is Bad?

  1. Check the ends of the tube. If they appear darkened this indicates the bulb is burned out.
  2. Rotate the tube in the fixture if the bulb is not darkened on either end.
  3. Remove the bulb from the fixture if the bulb is still not illuminating.

When should fluorescent bulbs be replaced?

Fluorescent bulbs can go for years without replacement—even when the ends start to blacken. Don’t worry about them until the light they put out starts to weaken.

Why are my light bulbs burning out so quickly?

If you find that light bulbs burn out too quickly in a particular lamp or light fixture, open the fixture globe or cover and check to see if the bulb wattage is too large for the rating of the fixture.

Why does my CFL light bulb keep going out?

Compact fluorescent bulbs (CFLs) are supposed to last much longer, but this is not always the case. If you have replaced bulbs recently and the lifespan doesn’t seem to be all that it should, the cause may be in the fixture itself or elsewhere in the circuit.

What happens to the life of a fluorescent lamp?

With fluorescent lamps the life span will decrease if the lamps are turned on and off frequently. A bad ballast will also affect the lifespan of a lamp as well. When installing fluorescent lamps make sure both pins are in the sockets and if the ballast needs to be replaced it is best to replace the lamps in pairs for a two lamp fixture.

Why does the light bulb in my oven keep blowing?

Habitually loose connections, either at the socket or with the wire connections, can burn out the bulb quickly, as well as cause flickering. These loose connections increase the electrical resistance and the heat passing through the filament of the bulb, which can shorten its life.