Why does tube light blink

Start by checking the fuse hasn't tripped the power supply. Usually when this happens, more than one light will have tripped so check a few light switches and if none of them turn on, check your fuse box.

Please note that there are many different types of ballast and each one will have different instructions for changing. There is risk of electrocution when changing a ballast so please ensure you know what you're doing or ask an electrician to do the job for you if you are unsure. If you have any questions about fluorescent tubes then we'd love to know!

Contact us on sales lampshoponline. The store will not work correctly in the case when cookies are disabled. After reviewing the causes of flickering lights we continue with the most-likely repair: diagnosing a bad bulb or lamp.

This article series explains how to diagnose the causes of flickering or dimming fluorescent light fixtures in buildings. Watch out : flickering or dimming lights might indicate a dangerous condition risking a building fire or an electrical shock. If the simple bulb or starter repairs we describe here don't cure the flickering, switch off the bad-acting light fixture, leave it off, circuit and ask for help from a licensed electrician.

Properly-functioning fluorescent lights should not produce a flickering that is noticeable. Standards for ballasts typically state:. However, when fluorescent bulbs flicker, the situation is more than just a minor annoyance. If your fluorescent lights flicker, you should fix the problem immediately because flickering can cause the ballast to overheat or fail.

We offer electrical services in Northern Virginia , and we can help you if your fluorescent bulbs flicker. If your fluorescent bulbs flicker, most likely the problem is with the bulb itself. If the bulb is very dark on either end, it may be defective and burned out.

The best way to test the functionality of a bulb is to put it into a fixture you know works. The problem could be with the starter in your bulb, but most new bulbs do not have starters.

However, if your bulb has a starter, you should be able to see it at the bottom of the bulb! Fluorescent bulb starters generally look like gray metallic cylinders and require a simple replacement! Make sure that your bulbs are screwed in tightly, as loose bulbs can cause flickering.

Fluorescent bulbs look like tubes, and they should appear bright throughout the entire tube. If you notice that a flickering bulb is dark near either end of the tube, it could be close to its end.

In this instance, replacing the bulb should fix the flickering problem. Flickering can occur in otherwise healthy bulbs when they are exposed to cold, such as the fluorescent bulbs in a garage in winter.

If everything else about the fixture is okay, the flickering will go away once both the room and bulb temperatures rise, but there are also measures you can take to prevent any flickering due to the cold. If your lights are somewhere regularly exposed to temperatures below 50 degrees Fahrenheit, check to make sure that you have an electronic, as opposed to electromagnetic, ballast, as an electronic ballast withstands the cold much better.