Flourescent light

Discussion in 'Electricians' Talk' started by Ant62, Feb 19, 2019.

  1. Ant62

    Ant62 Member

    Up in our loft we have a 4ft T8 36w flourescent light screwed to a roof beam..
    This flourescent as never really worked since we bought the house...
    So as we decided to board the loft floor out.for better storage its essential to have the light working..
    The light is connected to a fused light switch so i changed the fuse(5amp) to chk why its not working still no difference.
    So i changed the starter still.it made no.difference..
    So i removed the tube and the cover and tested the supply and feed and no problem there..
    So i removed the entire unit and took it down stairs to test..
    I wired 3core 1mm flex to the light and a 3pin plug and a 5amp.fuse....
    Bingo the light worked no flickering nothing..
    So i decided to put the light back and change the light switch...
    Once done nothing not even a flicker..
    But there is supply to.the ballast and from the ballast......

    Any ideas.......
     
  2. seneca

    seneca Screwfix Select

    Sounds a bit of a puzzle! Check the other end of the cable in the loft, perhaps someone has connected it wrongly at that end.
     
    Ant62 likes this.
  3. Ant62

    Ant62 Member

    I will tomorrow....
    But the brown is live into the switch and from the switch and to the light ballast and from the ballast.

    So really doesnt that say its wired ok from.under the flooring.....
     
  4. seneca

    seneca Screwfix Select

    Did you check the neutral also?
     
    Ant62 likes this.
  5. Ant62

    Ant62 Member

    Yes....
    As they say..
    Btown to btiwn.
    Blue to blue.
    Yeklow to yellow..
     
  6. Hans_25

    Hans_25 Screwfix Select

    Sounds like a loose connection somewhere, possibly the switch?
     
    Ant62 likes this.
  7. chippie244

    chippie244 Super Member

    Do they?
     
    Ant62 likes this.
  8. Bazza-spark

    Bazza-spark Screwfix Select

    After half a bottle of whiskey lol :D
     
    Ant62, KIAB and chippie244 like this.
  9. Ant62

    Ant62 Member

    ???????????

    I will take up the 2 boards sometime in the morning and follow the light wiring to see where it connects..
     
    Last edited: Feb 19, 2019
  10. Comlec

    Comlec Screwfix Select

    Why go to all that bother just replace it with one of these from our hosts Takes about 10 minutes to put up.
    upload_2019-2-19_16-19-16.png
     
    Ant62 likes this.
  11. KIAB

    KIAB Super Member

    Last edited: Feb 19, 2019
  12. Comlec

    Comlec Screwfix Select

    Now now, don't be too harsh. I fitted few of these in garages and lofts, given no trouble and customers happy with the light output. As I say easy peazy to fit. Ideal DIY project.
    I now have on a plug as a temp site light
     
  13. KIAB

    KIAB Super Member

    [​IMG] [​IMG]

    Maybe it's a quailty item then, that's been rebranded....[​IMG]
     
  14. Hans_25

    Hans_25 Screwfix Select

    I just fitted a LAP triple spotlight in my kitchen...cheap but cheerful and its only temporary.
     
  15. Comlec

    Comlec Screwfix Select

    @KIAB I am ok with LAP for this sort of use - does what it says on the tin and all for the price of single Collingwood downlighter :) Had to buy two today as replacements at a customer's lovely kitchen, not much change for £50, ouch!
     
    KIAB likes this.
  16. MGW

    MGW Screwfix Select

    Simple too much volt drop, using a wire wound ballast the voltage is critical, and with the voltage being dropped from 240 volt to 230 volt to allow for micro generation many old florescent fittings now don't work, swap the wire wound ballast for an electronic HF ballast and it works great.
     
    Ant62 likes this.
  17. DIYDave.

    DIYDave. Screwfix Select

    As Seneca has said above, have you checked the Nuetral as well ?

    By checking, not simply that it’s wired blue to blue as you’ve posted, but that you have a circuit

    What are you using to ‘test’ with ? Neon screwdriver perhaps ?

    Could be a Nuetral fault but you will need more serious test equipment
    to confirm this. A 2 prong tester or a multi meter for instance

    As a simple test, just connect a lamp holder and bulb up to florie cable and see what happens
     
    Ant62 likes this.
  18. Ant62

    Ant62 Member

    So far..
    My mates dad had some 1mm 3core spare and just enough to wire up the ight to a plug...
    So that works all fine....

    I have traced the wire from the switch and it heads towards the ceiling rise in the back bedroom....

    Before i can actually have a poper look i need to put down another loft board so im not balancing on joists.....

    I have also removed the wiring from the switch to the light.....
     
  19. DIYDave.

    DIYDave. Screwfix Select

    Before you do all that faff - what are you using to test that you have power at florie end ?

    And have you only checked Live core, what about Neutral ?
     
    Ant62 likes this.
  20. Ant62

    Ant62 Member

    I used one of those fused screw drivers...
    I fo have a mulitmeter though somewhere.....


    How do i use the multimeter.....?
     

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