Fluorescent lights flickering?

[Stuey]

It's not garage related, but bathroom related.

My parents have relatively new fluorescent lamps in the the bathroom. All of a sudden, it now flickrs a LOT before it begins to output constant light.

Flip the switch, flicker, flicker, flicker (repeat for 10 seconds), and then BAM lamp appears to be normal.

What could be the issue? In the meantime, I'll do some googling, but I figured someone here might be familiar with the issue offhand.

 

[ddawg16]

Are they the circular type? Everyone of those that I have seen have the same problem.

About the only suggestion would be to try a new bulb.

 

[Stuey]

As far as I remember, it has four or so short straight tubes, and all of them behave the same. I'll ask them to check, or I'll check the next time I'm there.

Could it be the fixture? But why would this start happening all of a sudden?

 

[AZ Garage]

It may be the fixture, but it is most likely the ballast. The spiral fluorescent fixtures are inherently more likely to have ballast failures.

 

[tfi racing]

Most likely the ballast,however a bad switch or a loose connection could also be a culprit.How old is it?I just replaced a ballast in a brand new store sign that has only been open five months,but the ballast was a no name POS that was manufactured in 06!

 

[Falcon67]

If it has an newer electronic ballast, I'd replace the ballast and maybe the lights if they look "abused" on the ends. I've had a couple of electronic ballast failures and one ruined a set of bulbs. Our circuline bath light is going on two years and already has eaten a set of bulbs and has re-developed a switch off "flicker" problem, so it may need a ballast.

 

[Stuey]

Thanks, guys, I'll see if I can make any new observations if I can make it there next week. If it's a bad ballast, hopefully that's something I can replace for them myself.

 

[darrenalex]

hi there...

I have recently replaced two compact fluoro lights in my house with higher voltage ones (18W--> 23W). When they are off, both flicker every minute or so. They are just attached to normal on/off switches - not on the same light switch panel, but it would be on the same lighting circuit for the house.....