Any electricians here?

[Keeno]

Our kitchen light has been taking a long tine to come on...anything up to a minute.

Last night when I tried to use it, only the ends of the T8 light came on (rather dimly) and nothing in the middle of the light at all.

Thinking the bulb had gone, I went to B&Q to get a new light. Installed it. Same problem.

I think it may need a new fitting, and when I looked at them, they seemed rather cheap. Then saw that it was the fitting only and doesn't come with a ballast or driver. (not that I knew it needed them.)

We're going to have an electrician in as it's too risky for me to touch it. Any idea where the problem is, or could be?

Thank you.

[Keeno]

Our kitchen light has been taking a long tine to come on...anything up to a minute.

Last night when I tried to use it, only the ends of the T8 light came on (rather dimly) and nothing in the middle of the light at all.

Thinking the bulb had gone, I went to B&Q to get a new light. Installed it. Same problem.

I think it may need a new fitting, and when I looked at them, they seemed rather cheap. Then saw that it was the fitting only and doesn't come with a ballast or driver. (not that I knew it needed them.)

We're going to have an electrician in as it's too risky for me to touch it. Any idea where the problem is, or could be?

Thank you.

Im no electrician as you know but i did have these types of light fittings in the garage. Have you tried changing the starter?

Round thing that should be protruding from the fitting somewhere on the outside or bottom where the bulb runs along, It should twist and pull free.

[duke]

Im no electrician as you know but i did have these types of light fittings in the garage. Have you tried changing the starter?

Round thing that should be protruding from the fitting somewhere on the outside or bottom where the bulb runs along, It should twist and pull free.

I wondered what that button was for. I haven't touched it, mate.

I can't do it now as it's dark down there and I am accident prone at the best of times.
Are they available to buy? Do you take one out and put the other one in?
I don't want to waste money on something I don't need, yet don't want to pay for an electrician, even if the landlady has to pay.

[MrNice]

aspie if your light has Fluorescent Starter round thing change it if its old style

if it new you need a new electronic ballast is it a 5ft tube if so cud send you a ballast for free if you lik think got some in a box some where

[Keeno]

aspie if your light has Fluorescent Starter round thing change it if its old style

if it new you need a new electronic ballast is it a 5ft tube if so cud send you a ballast for free if you lik think got some in a box some where

Thanks, mate, but it's 4ft

Now I know the button is the starter (thanks @Keeno ) I then googled it and found this...



It looks easy enough to do. I just hope that's all it needs.

[Keeno]

Im no electrician as you know but i did have these types of light fittings in the garage. Have you tried changing the starter?

Round thing that should be protruding from the fitting somewhere on the outside or bottom where the bulb runs along, It should twist and pull free.

I wondered what that button was for. I haven't touched it, mate.

I can't do it now as it's dark down there and I am accident prone at the best of times.
Are they available to buy? Do you take one out and put the other one in?
I don't want to waste money on something I don't need, yet don't want to pay for an electrician, even if the landlady has to pay.

https://www.diy.com/departments/b-q-whi ... 032_BQ.prd

https://www.diy.com/departments/b-q-whi ... 033_BQ.prd

This is them, check the wattage of your bulb once you can see in there tomorrow. 1 link is to the lower wattage and the other to the higher. Your new bulb will have it written on there what wattage it is.

They are similar to the bayonette bulbs in the way they go into the light and come out. Twist and pull. Make sure the switch/power is off when doing so. Might be worth turning the lighting switch off on the actual power board if you want to be extra safe.

Have a look at the button thing you mentioned. Im sure this is what you have.

[Keeno]

aspie if your light has Fluorescent Starter round thing change it if its old style

if it new you need a new electronic ballast is it a 5ft tube if so cud send you a ballast for free if you lik think got some in a box some where

Thanks, mate, but it's 4ft

Now I know the button is the starter (thanks @Keeno ) I then googled it and found this...



It looks easy enough to do. I just hope that's all it needs.

No worries, they are cheap, may aswell get 2 so you got spare for the price. Just match the wattage on the starter to the bulb. Anything within the ranges stated in the description on the starters description is fine.

[MrNice]

aspie if your light has Fluorescent Starter round thing change it if its old style

if it new you need a new electronic ballast is it a 5ft tube if so cud send you a ballast for free if you lik think got some in a box some where

Thanks, mate, but it's 4ft

Now I know the button is the starter (thanks @Keeno ) I then googled it and found this...



It looks easy enough to do. I just hope that's all it needs.

Yh rule of thumb aspie wen changing the tube change the starter aswell make sure the starter matchs the wattage of the tube

[MrNice]

aspie if your light has Fluorescent Starter round thing change it if its old style

if it new you need a new electronic ballast is it a 5ft tube if so cud send you a ballast for free if you lik think got some in a box some where

Thanks, mate, but it's 4ft

Now I know the button is the starter (thanks @Keeno ) I then googled it and found this...



It looks easy enough to do. I just hope that's all it needs.

Yh no chance of you killing yr self from the light not sure how stable you are on steps

yh put a spliff on it thtas all thats wrong

apprentice days use relamp office floors change tubes and starters cut down on call outs for O my lights not working crap

[MrNice]

Im no electrician as you know but i did have these types of light fittings in the garage. Have you tried changing the starter?

Round thing that should be protruding from the fitting somewhere on the outside or bottom where the bulb runs along, It should twist and pull free.

I wondered what that button was for. I haven't touched it, mate.

I can't do it now as it's dark down there and I am accident prone at the best of times.
Are they available to buy? Do you take one out and put the other one in?
I don't want to waste money on something I don't need, yet don't want to pay for an electrician, even if the landlady has to pay.

https://www.diy.com/departments/b-q-whi ... 032_BQ.prd

https://www.diy.com/departments/b-q-whi ... 033_BQ.prd

This is them, check the wattage of your bulb once you can see in there tomorrow. 1 link is to the lower wattage and the other to the higher. Your new bulb will have it written on there what wattage it is.

They are similar to the bayonette bulbs in the way they go into the light and come out. Twist and pull. Make sure the switch/power is off when doing so. Might be worth turning the lighting switch off on the actual power board if you want to be extra safe.

Have a look at the button thing you mentioned. Im sure this is what you have.

Thanks,, mate.
I found a torch, so with that in my gob, I managed to get the starter out.
It is an Osram st 111

IIRC The light I bought was a G13
I'll check tomorrow, as I am knackered going down and up stairs.
https://www.diy.com/departments/g13-36w ... 036_BQ.prd

I don't know if the ones you should would fit as it's an old light fitting. When we first changed the actual light a few years back, it was a lot wider than the one that replaced it. Knowing my luck, the starter could be old style, or are they standard.

What problems could arise if I put in the wrong wattage?

Thanks, mate.