Kitchen Ideas Faqs

Why does my flourescent kitchen light not want to turn on at first?

This has been happening for about 8 months now - when I first turn on the kitchen light switch, the light usually does not turn on at first. Sometimes it lights up dimly, or flickering, but usually not at first. After repeatedly flipping the switch on, off, on, etc, it will turn on eventually. I just replaced one of the tubes a few months ago, so I don't think its the tube itself. Could it be the electronic assembly? I suppose that's about the only other component... Thanks.

Public Comments

1. Older fluorescent fixtures have starters.
2. may be the switch
3. Two reasons one the fluorescent bulbs are bad or going bad tell tale signs are flickering when on and dark black circles at either end of the bulb two the ballast in the starter is going bad and will probbaly die sooner or later with the newer ballasts it is hard to tell when it will die. form your description it is the ballast unless it is the type with a external starter (little round can on the fixture) and then it could be this. hopefully it is not a voltage problem and since you haven't mentioned anything else not working I would say it is one of the options above