Either way, Lights Out Electric specializes in ballast and bulb replacement. We install, repair, upgrade and replace light and ballasts units in both residential and commercial settings.
An electronic ballast operates at a high frequency to reduce light bulb flickering and noise. The electrodes used in a modern ballast create less heat and use less power than older style ballasts. Because of the reduced heat load, a ballast manufactured with modern electrodes lasts longer. Replacing an older ballast with one manufactured with modern electronics lowers that light energy usage between 12 and 30 percent.
A ballast with six wires taps into a single power source and operates two light bulbs. Learn more about ballasts.....
A dedicated circuit is a circuit set up with its own circuit breaker and intended for a single use. In some cases, a receptacle may be wired to the circuit so that it can be connected to an appliance such as a stove or a refrigerator. In other cases, an appliance can be wired directly into the circuit, as is commonly seen with electrical water heaters.
Do you need a new bulb or ballast?
Usually if a light/ballast bulb needs replacement it will start turning black on the ends. A bad ballast can also cause flickering. if you pinched a wire with the ballast cover this will also cause light flickering. Lastly some lights have starters that cause light flickering when bad. You will see a round silver canister near the light bulbs somewhere, it will stick out so you can grab it. Starters are not very common any more. If this is a 4' fixture you probably do not have a starter. I replace bulbs first, if problem remains its something else I mentioned.
Why do fluorescent light bulbs need a ballast?
Fluorescent light bulbs need a ballast because they use a gas to create light. Regular light bulbs (also known as incandescent light bulbs) create light by heating a filament inside the light bulb. The heat makes the filament white-hot, producing the light that you see. In a fluorescent light bulb, when the gas is excited by electricity, it emits invisible ultraviolet light that hits the white coating inside the fluorescent light bulb. The coating changes the ultraviolet light into light you can see. (A lot of the energy used to create the heat that lights an incandescent bulb is wasted. Because fluorescent bulbs don't use heat to create light, they are far more energy-efficient than regular incandescent light bulbs.)
TIPS:. If a light bulb is flickering, wiggle the tubes to make sure they are properly seated. Replace any tubes that are dark or have damaged pins. Replace the starter if there is one. Always replace all the light bulbs in a fluorescent fixture at the same time, even if only one is having trouble.