Could be bad end caps or lose wiring. They are put together so fast I'm surprised 50% don't work but there's really not much to them. I'd just exchange it if possible. If not have a look inside and gently twist and pull on the wires at the end caps and have a close look where the bulb pin touches. That spring could be broke or bent.

Thanks. I'll give it a closer inspection and see if I can find a physical problem with any connection points.

Thanks
Jamie

Jamie,

Do you know whether your fixtures have magnetic ballasts or electronic ballasts? If they are really cheap, the ballasts are probably magnetic. You can replace magnetic ballasts with somewhat more expensive electronic ballasts but, obviously, if your fixtures come back to life, the ballast isn't gone.

I like the form factor of some cheap fixtures, and plan to replace their ballasts as required. My cheap ballasts are typically not lasting as long as my T8 bulbs. So I am replacing more ballasts than bulbs. I am staying with ballasts that can be "overdriven" for brighter light.

ZM

They were the cheapest fixtures I could find, I though the form was nice also, many of the more expensive ones were much wider. I'll have to see if it says, but my guess is that it is the magnetic ballasts.

Do you just pick up the ballasts locally or do you order them from somewhere?

Thanks
Jamie

I looked at it and it doesn't say if it is magnetic or electronic. It does say, if fixture stops working, unplug and plug fixture back in. lol.

Do I have to actually take the ballast apart to see if it magnetic or electronic?

Thanks
Jamie

Jamie,

"Do I have to actually take the ballast apart to see if it magnetic or electronic?"

Don't bother. If it's not broke, don't fix it. However, electronic ballasts are sensitive to voltage spikes, and I have all of my fluorescent fixtures on surge protectors. My Park SL15 ballasts (old Home Depot commercial shoplights) burn out before my bulbs do anyway, so I will be upgrading those to better ballasts as they burn out.

I have bought some replacement ballasts from Nextech Lighting and I will buy from them again. When you buy a replacement ballast, you have the opportunity to buy a better one. I am in the process of converting all of my plant lights to the "overdrive configuration", in which you use twice as many ballasts per fixture for increased light from your T8 bulbs, and I will be buying some more ballasts to do that. The technique of overdriving fluorescent lights has been discussed in several message threads here.

ZM
(Not associated with any product or vendor mentioned)

You don't have to use twice as many ballasts just use one for twice as many lights.
Are you using a timer?

My cheap Walmart fixtures did that last year drove my nuts. Ha Ha To make the story short run them in for a week or two before returning them. Don't ask me why but mine would blink or go on and off. It took 2-3 weeks of that then they were OK. they have worked for a year now with no problems at all. It is possible that the t-8 bulbs needed to be ran in? Mine look just like yours.

Curt

Thanks for the info.

And thanks curt, I will give them some more time and see if they stabilize.

Taz, yes, I am using a digital Imtermatic timer.

Jamie

That could be part of the problem. You should not use digital timers with fluorescents. If you had read the directions you would have noticed that. You should use a mechanical timer.

Hmm. I saw no warning on the timer, it is rater for inductive, resistive and motor load. I used this same timer to run a T12 fixture for over a year with no problem and that fixture is still running. I had asked an electrician about this setup as well and he did indicate that some timers can be a problem, I told him I was using the digital Intermatic and what it said about inductive, restive and motor load on the tag and he indicated it was fine.

I have a manual plug in timer, but it says the exact same thing about being rated for inductive, resistance and a motor load. The problem with the manual timer is that it is not grounded.

I can put in a hard wired mechanical timer if I need to.

What problems do the digital timers normally cause?

Jamie

When the lights come on there's a power surge and that can fry electronics. Check the instructions for the lights not the timer.

It was the electronic timer I asked the electrician about. I looked up the manual for the electronic timer and there isn't anything in it that says not to use it with florescent fixtures.

I can put a clamp meter on it and see what the inrush current is.

However, it has been 5 days and all the fixtures have continued to work, so maybe I did just have some glitchy fixtures.

Manual timer package, this is the one that does not have the ground, so I am not using this one, but it is the same brand as the electronic one I am using:

Electronic timer I am using:

Please let me know if you do think I have misinformation about this timer.

Thanks for your help, I'll let you know how it goes as a little more time passes.

Jamie

Check the instructions for the lights not the timer

Sorry. I checked the lights directions this time. There is no mention of not using a timer, only says not to use a dimmer.

Jamie

I have 10 T8 shop lights none of the fixtures or the lights said anything about not using digital timers. My CFL lights say not to use digital timers. It was the use of them that had me seeking information on the type of timers to use. Had I not had them I would not have known the difference.

I really hate when people yell to get their point across it. It shuts me off as far as listening to anything they may have to say even if the info is correct.

Thanks I will now go back to learning and lurking.

Hill60

I have come across information as I learn a

Just for what it is worth my timer is one of the old 24 hr. dial and peg type. So that was not the cause of the flickering on and off. I also direct plugged into the wall socket to test them and they did the same thing. My bulbs are GE 32watt 41k t-8.

Curt

The problem is the cheap fixtures. I have 5 of them and most have been replaced, some work and some don't. The ballast are a cheap electronic type, I have ballasts to replace them so I can overdrive them.