What to do when the fluorescent light starts buzzing?

[mobiusnu]

I have a fluorescent strip light that recently started buzzing. It's my understanding that's a problem with the ballast. Is there any way to replace the ballast in fluorescent strip lights?

Thanks.

Edit -- Would something like this fix the problem? http://tinyurl.com/g7oor

What I've tried so far: I switched the bulb from the noisy light with a bulb from a quiet light. That didn't fix the problem. I switched the starter from a quiet light to the noisy light. That didn't do anything either.

 

[greenmaji]

yes.. you need a new ballast.
yes.. the link, that's a replacement (looks to be an old style magnetic replacement ballast)

Is the bulb flickering yet? Sometimes the old magnitic ballasts will make the buzzing noise long before they go bad. I would suggest looking for a electronic replacment ballast.

and before you ask me what to look for in a replacement electronic ballast I would need to know what bulb type (size), length, and the number of bulbs that are in your fixture.

the electronic ballasts are labled like this [#-F##T#(#)] number of bulbs-F(wattage of the largest set of bulbs the ballast will work with)T(the size of the bulbs in diamiter in eighth's of an inch (T-8 being one inch diamiter bulbs T12 being one and onehalf inch diamiter bulbs)
example.. a ballast made to drive two one inch diamiter four foot length maximum bulbs looks like this 2-F32T8

 

[mobiusnu]

and before you ask me what to look for in a replacement electronic ballast I would need to know what bulb type (size), length, and the number of bulbs that are in your fixture.

It's a 24" fixture with 1 18" T-8 bulb. The bulb in it is a 15 watt bulb. But I have another tank with a similar light strip that has an 18 watt bulb, so I'd probably want to be able to use an 18 watt bulb if I need to.

 

[greenmaji]

the electronic ballasts are used for 12" to 48" bulbs.. you would be looking for a 1-F32T8 ballast

they might not bother putting the 1 in front..

your local lighting department (hardware store or what have you) might have one of these in stock

 

[greenmaji]

btw. the ballasts sences the load needed to fire the bulb is why its compatable with 12-48" lamps.

 

[mobiusnu]

yes.. you need a new ballast.
yes.. the link, that's a replacement (looks to be an old style magnetic replacement ballast)

How do you tell whether it's magnetic if it doesn't say?

 

[greenmaji]

The seperate starter (electronic ballasts have the starting circtry inside the ballast).. the shipping weight is also a dead giveaway (magnitic ballasts are MUCH heavier, my electronic ballasts are in the ounces in weight and there rated four bulbs)..

Home Depot or Lowes should have what I suggested above..
If you want to just see what one is suppose to look like.. here is a link..
http://www.servicelighting.com/catalog_product.cfm?prod=MG19981