Anyone here know much about flourescent light fixtures?

[Jand3rson]

I've got an 8' flourescent light fixture in my garage at my new house, that would probably light my garage up like daylight, if it worked. I bought new bulbs for it about a month ago, but it still won't power on. It's plugged in and everything, the only thing I can think of is that the ballasts may be no good. Beyond that, (knowing that a flourescent light fixture has one), I don't have the first clue what they do or how to go about changing them. Does anyone here know anything about flourescent fixtures that could give me some idea as to how to get this thing working?

[svn2002s]

If it's the old type, they usually have a starter (small gray cylinder, 1 inch tall by 3/4 round) go to Ace and replace it, if it doesn't work, then buy a new ballast from HD. If they don't have the starter, buy the ballast and you are done.

[Jand3rson]

So would those parts be up on top of the fixture itself?

[ivo316]

The starter is flush on the metal part of the ballast, you can't miss it, it's just a little cyl. like svn says, the ballast are usually inside the metal part of the fixture.

good luck

[browntown]

between the two bulbs is a sheet metal cover, usually just bend in tabs, sometimes theres a screw or three. Ballast can be replaced. Here's the thing, bend is cold, and if you don't have the wiz-bang electronic ballast with rapid start and cold start capability, and just have a cheap 12$ fixture it might never light up in this weather. I suggest plunking down the 40$ for a good shop light and replace the whole thing.

Notice, make sure you throw the breaker before playing with wires in the ceiling.

[der affe]

before you throw $ at fixing the fixtures. check on the price for new ones at the depot or lowes they are pretty dam cheap and it may be a better deal to just go new and maybe get some more fixtures. i put up 6 4' in my 2 car garage makes it like daylight W/O and shadows! with only 1 fixture you may have some shadowing issues when working on your car in the garage, multiple fixutes will eliminate this and most of the time eliminate the need for a drop light.
greg

[mrsleeve]

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
what he said more lights the better, I have 2- 8 footers and 4- 4 footers in my 2 car garage its great just like day time, any time I want it.

[Simon S]

mmm.. a clean, well-lit shop is a joy to work in.

.

[mrsleeve]

mmm.. a clean, well-lit shop is a joy to work in.

.

I got the light but the clean part................... Got to take care of that

[SchnellerVert]

I have a dozen cheap 8 dollar 4 foot one in my garage. six on ceiling and six on the walls. Trust me the light up the place. One box of tubes and 12 units all for under 100 bucks.

[BDSax]

only thing bad about 8 footers is the humming, but damn do they put out some light.

[dgspikes]

i have two 400 watt high pressure sodium lights that i bagged from a job at work in my garage as well as two 4 foot flourescents. its as bright as you can get and the hps lights have been very productive for more than just working in the garage.. it also helps to wire everything yourself and since my daytime job is an electrician, my garage is hooked up with all sorts of cool electric stuff(heaters) and set up for more in the future.

[Beej '86 325es]

My buddie's a big car nut. He has cable TV, heat, A/C, and carpet in his garage. Oh, and flourescent light fixtures down low on the walls to see under the cars.

[e30tom]

between the two bulbs is a sheet metal cover, usually just bend in tabs, sometimes theres a screw or three. Ballast can be replaced. Here's the thing, bend is cold, and if you don't have the wiz-bang electronic ballast with rapid start and cold start capability, and just have a cheap 12$ fixture it might never light up in this weather. I suggest plunking down the 40$ for a good shop light and replace the whole thing.

Notice, make sure you throw the breaker before playing with wires in the ceiling.

2nd. It might just be easier and cheaper to replace the whole fixture.

[f u z z]

Have you tried pissing on it yet?