Fluorescent lamps flash on, then turn off

mark32

mark32

Senior Member
Location
Currently in NJ
Hello all,

Today I changed lamps in a two lamp G24Q-3 fixture because the existing lamps (LED replacements) had a slight and odd flicker to them. I noticed the lamps were pretty darn warm, approaching hot, when I removed them, almost couldn't handle them with a bare hand. Anyway, I put in some new LEDs, but they didn't work. I then changed the ballast, and when I turned the switch back on, the lamps flashed on for maybe two seconds and went off. I tried another brand of LED'S along with a set of fluorescent, but they all did the same thing. I had to leave it as is for the time being, but will investigate more tomorrow. Any idea as to what is taking place here? Full disclosure, I did not take any voltage readings.
 
hillbilly1 said:
Wrong ballast for direct replacement LED’s. Get rid of the ballast and use direct wire. Even easier than changing the ballast in most fixtures.
Click to expand...
Yeah man, I do electrical maintenance for a hospital and I told my boss we should go that route going forward. As it stands though, even the fluorescent lamps acted the same way. Oh well, I'll dig into it a bit more tomorrow. Thanks!
 
My first guess would be mismatched ballast/bulb combo. If you can go with led bypass, it’s the way to go. It’s actually faster than replacing a ballast, and you’ll never have to worry about it again. As long as the tombstones are in good shape.
 
OK this may be a stretch but have had a wiring short that only opened after a load was applied, without a load the meter saw 120V, add the load the meter rapidly dropped to 0V over very short time, maybe 15-30 sec. Such could be in OP case, as heating can be sign of high resistance on the wiring.

I agree with most to use a bypass LED vs a ballasted one, why even use a ballast type as other than possibly a slightly lower power consumption you've saved nothing. The ballast still consumes, and the ballast is still another point of failure and replacement.
 
hillbilly1 said:
Sounds like it may be a shorted socket since changing the ballast didn’t help. Or a wire popped out of the socket.
Click to expand...
Thank you all for the replies! And hillbilly, when you're good, you're good :) It turned out that one of the leads coming from the ballast had indeed popped out of one of the sockets! You da man!
 
Seven-Delta-FortyOne said:
My first guess would be mismatched ballast/bulb combo. If you can go with led bypass, it’s the way to go. It’s actually faster than replacing a ballast, and you’ll never have to worry about it again. As long as the tombstones are in good shape.
Click to expand...
Bypassing ballast seems dangerous. They are there for a reason?
 
Jpflex said:
Bypassing ballast seems dangerous. They are there for a reason?
Click to expand...
Think "removing" the ballast, whether physically or electrically.

Almost all LED tubes don't require a ballast just like other LEDs.

For the lazy or unqualified, some LED tubes can run on ballasts.
 
LarryFine said:
Think "removing" the ballast, whether physically or electrically.

Almost all LED tubes don't require a ballast just like other LEDs.

For the lazy or unqualified, some LED tubes can run on ballasts.
Click to expand...
Yea i wasnt referring to LED bulbs so much but removing ballast for florescent bulbs.

I belelieve the ballast step up voltage while limiting current
 
Jpflex said:
Yea i wasnt referring to LED bulbs so much but removing ballast for florescent bulbs.

I belelieve the ballast step up voltage while limiting current
Click to expand...

An LED bypass bulb is an LED though.

I remove the ballast and rewire the fixture for direct connect LED bulbs.

Fluorescent bulbs won’t work without a ballast.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top