You might weigh replacing some of your old incandescent fixity with fluorescent lamp . Fluorescent ignitor provides even and shadow - free illumination , but , respectable of all , fluorescent bulbs are more effective than incandescent bulb . In an incandescent bulb , much of the electric mightiness is discharged as high temperature instead of light . The fluorescent fixture bulb , in contrast , stay cool .
How does a fluorescent lamp work ? In a fluorescent circuit , beginning at the left-hand - hand prong of the plug , current live through the ballast , through one of the lamp filament , through the unopen transposition in the dispatcher , through the other fibril in the lamp , and out the ripe - hand prong of the chaw . The current heat the two humble elements in the ends of the fluorescent tube ; then the starter opens and current menses through the lamp .
The ballast is a magnetic curlicue that adjust the electric current through the tube . It makes a spate of current arc through the tubing when the starter opens , and then it prevent the electric current flowing at the veracious rate once the tube is beam . In most fluorescent fastness , the starter is an robotlike replacement . Once it senses that the lamp is glowing , it stays clear . The starter closes whenever you deenergize the habitue .
Many fluorescent fixedness have more than one pipe to bring home the bacon more Christ Within . These lamp must have individual newcomer and ballasts for each tube . The fastness may come out to have two tubes working off one barretter , but actually there are two ballasts build into one case . fixity with four tubes , likewise , have four starter motor and four ballasts . In some variety of fixture , the starters are built in and can not be individually replace . Since there are only three elementary parts in a fluorescent lamp , you’re able to usually take caution of any repairs yourself . All fluorescent lamp produce dimmer with age , and they may even begin to quiver or flash on and off . These are warn signals , and you should make the necessary repairs as presently as you notice any change in the lamp ’s normal performance . A dim tube normally requires replacement , and failure to replace it can distort other part of the fixture . Likewise , repeated flickering or flashing will wear out the appetizer , causing the insularism at the appetizer to deteriorate .
fluorescent fixture fixtures can be serviced quite simply by the replacement method . If you suspect that a part may be defective , replace the part with a Modern one . Start with the fluorescent pipe or bulb . you could either set up a new one or , if you ’re not sure the thermionic vacuum tube is burned out , test the old tube in another fluorescent fixture . bump off the old tube by twisting it out of its socket in the fixture . add the new thermionic vacuum tube the same room – insert the thermionic vacuum tube ’s prongs into the socket and wriggle the tube to lock it into situation .
If the job is not in the tube , taste changing the starter . fluorescent fixture lamp crank are rated by wattage , and it ’s important you use the correct crank for the vacuum tube in your fixture . Remove the old freshman the same direction you removed the sometime tube , by twisting it out of its socket in the fixture . put in a new one by introduce it into the socket and wrench it to lock it into place .
The ballast is also shop according to electrical power , and a replacement light ballast – like a replacement fledgling – must equal the electrical power of the metro and the type of fixture . The light ballast is the least probable part to flush it and most difficult to replace , so leave the light ballast for last when you start supervene upon parts . If neither the tube nor the starter is faulty , 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 wrong connection – and , last , reassemble the
fixture .
If the underground , the entrant , and the ballast are all working properly but the lamp still does n’t dismount , check for a defective shift . If the lamp is controlled by a wall electric switch , exchange the electrical switch , as detailed in the next section . If the lamp has a get-up-and-go - button substitution , the old switch can be supplant by a novel one of the same type . To deenergize the racing circuit before work on the switch , remove the circle ’s fuse or actuate the electrical circuit breaker .
In most cases , the permutation screws into a threaded mounting nut on the inside of the lamp . Two wires from the permutation are connect , usually with wirenuts , to four wires from the fluorescent fixture pipe . take apart the fixture as far as necessary to gain ground access to the back of the switching , then hump in the raw substitution and shift wires from the old switch to the new one , one at a time to forfend an incorrect connection . Reassemble the fixture , and reenergize the electric circuit .
On the next page , we ’ll discuss the steps you ’ll need to take to install a new fluorescent fixture secureness .
Installing a New Fluorescent Fixture
If you ’re considering install a new barretter or a new switch , consider arrange in an alone new fixture . An sometime fluorescent fastness suffers the same aging event that an incandescent fixedness does . Of course , you may also replace an old incandescent lamp with a new fluorescent model . Either substitution is well within the capabilities of the do - it - yourselfer .
Here are the dance step to take when installing a fluorescent fixture :
Step 4 : military position fixture against ceiling , and secure it with screws packaged with new lamp . You may have to reassemble fixture , either before or after mounting it , depending on its manner . Restore power . Fluorescent lamps are a gravid inflammation option for your rest home . And now you’re able to take full advantage of this luminance source. © Publications Internatioinal , Ltd.
