Kitchen Ideas Faqs

The florescent lights in my kitchen flicker when I turn them on? ?

It's been like this forever whenever I turn on my kitchen light they flicker but never kick on. I want to fix them but I don't know how. I've replaced the bulbs before but it didn't work. Any ideas on what it could be and how I fix it?

Public Comments

1. Older fluorescent fixtures have devices called starters that look like little metal cylinders (2 inches long and about 1 inch around) that plug into the fixture near the ballast. If these go bad, your lights could flicker. If you have the type that doesn't have a starter, your ballast (transformer) is probably going bad. These are not cost-effective to replace. That is, the cost of a new fixture is about the same or less than the cost of a new ballast.
2. the starter needs replacing.
3. You probably need to replace the ballast. I'm guessing you have fluorescent tubes. Remove the cover. Remove the lights In the center is a cover that hides the ballast underneath With the power off to the light, you can clip the wires close the lamp holders and disconnect the black and white wires. You can get a replacement ballast at your local home improvement store. Make sure it will light the correct bulbs, this is on the label. i.e. (1)F30T12 or (2)F40T8 and so on Replace the ballast and reinstall. You can also check if you have a loose wire on one of your lampholders. this could also cause the light to flicker
4. You probably need to replace the ballast in the lights. http://www.wikihow.com/Replace-the-Ballast-in-a-Fluorescent-Lighting-Fixture http://www.naturalhandyman.com/iip/infelectrical/inffluor.html
5. The flicker is a result of using AC electricity as opposed to using DC. The electricity we use in the US is alternating & it reverses polarity 60 times per minute. When you see the flicker, you are seeing the polarity reversal. Florescent lights work by electricity exciting/energizing a special gas inside the tube. It's much like somebody standing at the light switch turning it on & off 60 times per minute. All fixtures today are equipped with electronic ballasts/transformers that are more energy efficient than the old mechanical ballasts. Electronic ballasts also smooth out the 60 cycle flicker to where it is no longer noticeable. Since your lights never come on, your ballasts need to be replaced. These can range from about $16 to $48 each, depending on the type of fixture & ballast you have. In some cases it is cheaper to replace the whole fixture than to replace the ballast, however, this is usually reserved for the inexpensive shop lights that are surface mounted & do not have any type of lens/diffuser. Turn the breaker off, remove your light tubes & remove the metal cover(s) under the tubes. Disconnect the two power feed wires, then cut each of the light socket wires, being careful to make your cuts about 6" from your existing ballast. Take your old ballast to your local home improvement store to get your replacement. Unless you already have some, you will need wire nuts to connect your new ballast...2 orange wire nuts for the power feed wires & one each for the remaining wires (4-6)...can be blue or orange wire nuts. When you're ready, just reverse your removal procedures. Good luck...
6. try the starter first. thats the small round thing like a photo film canister, except white. push and twist anti-clockwise to remove it, then fit the new one. (cheap as chips) if not that, it would be better buying a new fitting altogether, rather than risk putting new stuff in an old fitting.
7. Paul and W C both have the right idea. Before you spend any money, though, I'd follow their steps to look at the ballast and be sure the fixture is grounded. If fluorescent lights are not properly grounded the may not start.
8. Replace the ballast. take the old one with you so you're sure to get the right replacement. You twist the wires with connector caps to wire it together. Be sure to shut off the power at the box.