8' light problem in new garage? Help!

[Crazy Legs]

Hello again, well i've got 9 T12 8' flouresent lights and they are great, only problem is the other day 1 light didn't come on when i flipped the switch on.

They are all wired in series and 2 other lights after the 1 that doesn't work, they work fine.

So i attempted to check power to the "Basic-12" ballast and yes it has power, so i swapped bulbs from one light that worked, no luck. So i checked all connections going to the 4 individual bulb mounts or recepticles, all good. So i took my multimeter and tested the bulb mounts. i stuck the black/ground on the ground screw and put the red/positive in the bulb mount .834 amps - all 4 were the same at .83-.84 amps. The little label on the ballast says it should have .9 amps, is this my problem?

i do have another ballast i could put in it but i haven't got that far.

Whats my problem??? Thanks!!!

 

[bassman]

Forget testing the ballast with a VOM, you can't. See you're splices where the ballast black and white are connected to you're 120V feed. The're small, and the wirenut may not be grabbing them tight. then tug on the wires we're they connect to the lampholders, see that there in there good. Check to see if its wired *** per the diagram on the ballast. The fixture needs to be grounded also.If you then try bulbs that work in another fixture, but don't in this one, replace the ballast. Oh, also be sure non of the lampholders is burnt up.

 

[LoneGunman]

Hmmmmmm, I may be wrong but the only "basic 12" ballasts I have seen are for 48" T-12s, I probably install 20 or so a month at times. Check on the ballast sticker to see if it's rated for 96" lamps, if it is and your connections are good replace the ballast.

 

[Crazy Legs]

yep all connections are good, oh btw this light has worked for about 6 months, just 1 day up and decided to stop.
10-4 on the VOM, i wasn't sure if that'd work.
Yes on the 96" lamps, all the others work like a champ.

I'll see if i can swap out the other ballast. Thanks!

 

[Aceman]

Like posted above check wiring first. Tug on all the ballast wires, make sure they haven't pulled out of the tombstones. Make sure fixture is grounded. If it all checks out and tombstones look ok(not burned up) try some known good bulbs. If it still doesn't work, replace the ballast.

 

[Flatmotor]

[QUOTE
They are all wired in series and 2 other lights after the 1 that doesn't work, they work fine.

Series? You sure they aren't wired in parallel?

If they are butted end to end make sure you dont have sockets mixed between two different fixtures.

 

[Crazy Legs]

yeah in parallel sorry bout that.

update Menards gave me a new ballast, i wired it up last night and BAM! works like a charm. i have no idea why it just up and died though.

Thanks.

 

[kbs2244]

Electronics
If they make through the first year they will probably last a while.
But it can be a dice roll in that first year.

 

[Crazy Legs]

Thats funny i did a search on my issue and came up with my original post 5 years ago so i figure i'll add to the mess and give you an update after 5 years........lol

Since the original post I've had to replace all 9 of my ballasts in these light fixtures now, Fortunately AFX (American Flouresent) sent me all new ballasts about 2 years ago but ironically I just had a replaced ballast die..... These are still using the same bulbs after 5 years of operation and there are no black ends and they are super bright.

Anyway i'm just trying to figure out why these ballasts up and die like this........

 

[Falcon67]

yeah in parallel sorry bout that.

update Menards gave me a new ballast, i wired it up last night and BAM! works like a charm. i have no idea why it just up and died though.

Thanks.

Because they do. If the supplier put a real quality ballast in the lamps, it's bump the cost by X2 or maybe X3. Example - $20 paid for a 3' dual T8 fixture for a pantry. Ballast dies about 45 days after install. Replacement ballast $17.95. Light still works 5 years later. Such is life LOL. I put in 14 8' T8 $40 fixtures, knock on OSB all are still working going on 2 years.

 

[Crazy Legs]

That makes a bit more since cuz the entire unit was $30 (without bulbs) originally if I remember correctly. I was just worried there was something wrong with my wiring or something like that......

 

[SALIV8]

t 12's are phased out of production now and if i had your scenario I would replace the ballast, when it dies, with a t8 ballast and then change the bulbs as well... if your bulbs are not HO's and have the 2 pins on each end the same lampholders that are installed should work.