It is Ducati related as my ST2 is on my bike workshop stand directly underneath! And my exercise bike is next to it. The light is reluctant to come on and when it does, it may go off after 10 minutes. It's either the tube or the starter. As I am not very mobile it will be a struggle for me to sort out. I will probably have to get help (my physio won't help as she hates bikes - so I don't get to stare with my mouth wide open as she goes up the ladder! And if she caught my staring I don't doubt that she could bash me straight to the floor as she knows my weak points!). So to the question: the light is reluctant to start so I would think that it is the starter. But when it does start, it can be going for about 10 minutes and then goes out. You can see light at both end of the tube but then I am back to square one. I think that I have answered my own question. I'll buy a starter tomorrow and try that. If no better than I will replace the tube.
Save your money the LED strip lights from screwfix are a lot better. The ones that look like a fluorescent fitting
New tube. The starter is only active for, er, starting. Once the tube has fired the starter does sweet f.a. and the tube will remain on if it's ok.
Is the tube black at both ends as I tend to agree with Keith. The best option is definitely replace with LED though.
I just changed to LED in the garage, such a difference, instant fire up, no flicker, no hum, half the energy usage and awesome bright light I bought from a place in Leeds, way cheaper than Toolstation and Screwfix for 6ft T8's https://www.lampshoponline.com
I thought that the starter does nothing after startup but it does go out (the tube) sometimes well after startup - which is why I think it might be the tube. I will look into those LEDs though.
LEDs do have flicker, it’s just not as pronounced as a fluorescent on magnetic gear but nowhere near as good as fluorescent on HF gear. (100Hz/200Hz/20kHz) This is important to consider if using moving machinery in your garage where the strobe affect can make a spinning machine appear stationary. Doesn’t happen with HF fluorescent which has a flicker rate of 20kHz
what has happened is that people stand on a pair of steps in the middle of the tube and put on end of the tube in the light fitting, then put their fingers across the two pins at the other end to make sure they are lined up correctly. With an AC fluorescent lamp, this is not a problem. With an LED tube which has electronics in the end cap to convert to DC, this is a problem. A dead on the spot from get a big bolt of DC problem. Sweden (EU member making its own laws) banned them. Some of the more reputable manufacturers solved it by building in a safety but I have never heard of any change in our laws and assume they are still available. Better to replace it with a proper LED fitting with a dedicated driver. Last much longer and maintain its output much better as well
I went for the Energizer T8’s. I’ve used older generation LED’s in house fittings and could see the flicker The tubes I replaced in the garage I can’t see any noticeable strobing and for what turned out to be £9 a tube I was willing to take a punt. First time I’ve heard of anyone getting fried when changing a tube, Do you think he had power to the fitting when he changed the tube or did he try and put an LED tube into a fitting with a tridonic ballast
I had a flourescent tube problem as you describe. Replaced the tube and the starter to no effect. Turns out theres another bit of electrical gubbins in the fitting that went Tits up. Only solution was a new fitting. TB
There is a choke (aka Ballast), basically a big resistor ....I cannot recall a failure of one, apart from Noise...
yes, with the power on, but with fluorescent you can change them with the power on. It’s habit Tridonic is a brand name. the strobe effect is an issue when the rate of rotation of a machine part = the rate of flicker thereby making the machine appear to be not rotating. Hand goes on the rotating part = bloody mess
I had a ballast conk out in our circular kitchen light (so now you've heard of one going) now replaced with an LED panel, much better.
