Question About Florescents

[RbrtAWhyt]

What would make a T12 florescent light fixture blow bulbs?

I bought a good working Dixie-Narco Pepsi machine. It's 110V, works fine, cools and dispenses as it should, etc.

When I bought it I noted that the florescent bulbs were not working. I bought four new T12s just like was in it and installed them. When I plugged the machine back in it blew all four of them. Pissed me off to no end. Two of the bulbs were 24" and cheap but the other two were 32" and I had to go to four different stores to find them. They were pricey to at $17 each.

Any ideas?

Any trouble shooting tips?

 

[nehog]

First I'd check the ballasts and see what type/model bulbs they are rated for. Perhaps the wrong kind of bulbs were installed...

Also, of course, consider going to new electronic ballasts, they have much better specifications and enhance bulb life.

 

[sams]

this is a classic sign of internally shorted ballasts, they either don't work or they just give the globe full current.

 

[RbrtAWhyt]

Thanks yall. It appears that there are four different fixtures and each has what appears to be a ballast and a starter. I'm thinking about taking it all out and replacing with new fixtures...

 

[ddawg16]

Robert.....I think you would be wise to go ahead and replace the ballasts...

Check out this link....even though the bulbs might have been T12's....there are 2 different styles...

Fluorescent Lights

 

[Norcal]

What would make a T12 florescent light fixture blow bulbs?

I bought a good working Dixie-Narco Pepsi machine. It's 110V, works fine, cools and dispenses as it should, etc.

When I bought it I noted that the florescent bulbs were not working. I bought four new T12s just like was in it and installed them. When I plugged the machine back in it blew all four of them. Pissed me off to no end. Two of the bulbs were 24" and cheap but the other two were 32" and I had to go to four different stores to find them. They were pricey to at $17 each.

Any ideas?

Any trouble shooting tips?

Read the ballast label very carefully for the type of lamp it is designed to be used with, there very well may be a mix up in the lamp / ballast combination.

 

[RbrtAWhyt]

Robert.....I think you would be wise to go ahead and replace the ballasts...

Check out this link....even though the bulbs might have been T12's....there are 2 different styles...

Fluorescent Lights

Read the ballast label very carefully for the type of lamp it is designed to be used with, there very well may be a mix up in the lamp / ballast combination.

Thanks for those bits of advice. I simply replaced the bulbs with exactly what I took out of it. I took it for granted that it had the correct type in it. I'll see if I can find some specs on the ballasts...