I'm in the dark here!

[loracs]

We have a fluorescent light in our kitchen with 3 48" T8 tubes. One tube had been going out for a while. Finally all three went. Yesterday I replaced all three tubes. I think I put them in correctly. The two prongs on each end go in and then twist them to make contact. 2 of them went on pretty easily, but third (middle one)didn't want to make contact. For a short time (less than a minute) all three were on. Then the middle went out. Then the other two went out also. We "played" with them, trying to twist them in either direction to see if we could make them work. I had purchased an extra set and we tried them too. Nothing. No light.

Is there a trick to this? How many people does it take to replace fluorescent light bulbs? All suggestions, with or without humor, greatly appreciated.

Comments

[kightp.livejournal.com]

Have you checked your circuit breaker?

[loracs.livejournal.com]

Those are fine or else a few other kitchen things wouldn't work. Thanks for the double check.

Pardon the technical jargon.

[sogwife.livejournal.com]

I have a vague recollection that flourescent fixtures have a starter thingie (name ends in "-stat" I think) that might maybe possibly have gotten fried??? Or I may be whistling Dixie out my ass. 'Cause you know I'm an expert on starter thingies. :P

[ptor.livejournal.com]

If the original tubes in the lamp were three 48" T8, and you've replaced them with 3 more of the same type and model, then I don't see a reason for the lamp not to light up.

Maybe the ballast?

I have seen cheap shop 2-tube lamps where the lamp would light up one model of tube and not another, even when the tubes were all supposed to be the same type.

I have seen tubes with damaged pins on the ends, that wouldn't snap in properly.

I've seen some tubes that have the filament in the end of the tube glowing, but never seem to get the arc started.

The wikipedia article has some interesting info:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fluorescent_tube