How Do You Replace The Ballast In A Fluorescent Lighting Fixture?
All fluorescent light fixtures consist of at least lamp(s), lamp holders, ballast and internal wiring. Some older types have “starters”, too. The ballast is used to create the voltage and current necessary to start and illuminate the fluorescent lamp. In time, the ballast may need to be replaced. Read on to learn how to swap out the old with an approved replacement ballast of the same technology. Please read the entire article and warnings before attempting. • “Bad” lamps Determine if the problem is the ballast, lamps or with case of very old fixtures, the “starters” by replacing the starter and / or lamps with new replacements. There is one starter per lamp. The starter is a 3/4-inch diameter x 1 1/4-inch or so “can” that is twisted into a separate socket usually located near the end of the fixture or behind a lamp. It is difficult to determine if starters are functional by mere inspection. Swap with a known “good” starter to check. The lamps are usually bad when they have turned blac
