Easy Fixes for Slow to Start, Flickering or Faulty Fluorescent Tubes (2024)

1. 

   Osram 549mm 14w 840 T5 Fluorescent Tube - Cool White

   £2.19

   £2.08

   Special Price £2.50 £2.63 Save 5.02%

   As low as £2.39
2. 

   Osram 549mm 24w 840 T5 Fluorescent Tube - Cool White

   £2.33

   £2.21

   Special Price £2.65 £2.80 Save 5.15%

   As low as £2.57
3. 

   Osram 1449mm 49w 840 T5 Fluorescent Tube - Cool White

   £2.49

   £2.37

   Special Price £2.84 £2.99 Save 4.82%

   As low as £2.65
4. 

   Osram 1449mm 35w 840 T5 Fluorescent Tube - Cool White

   £2.49

   £2.37

   Special Price £2.84 £2.99 Save 4.82%
5. 

   Osram 1449mm 35w 840 T5 Fluorescent Tube - Cool White

   £2.49

   £2.37

   Special Price £2.84 £2.99 Save 4.82%

   As low as £2.69
6. 

   2ft 18w T8 Fluorescent Tube

   £1.80

   £2.16 £2.27 Save 4.76%

   £2.59

   As low as £1.19
7. 

   4ft 36w T8 Fluorescent Tube

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   Out of stock

8. 

   Vezalux 4ft 40w 840 T12 Fluorescent Tube - Cool White

   £5.77

   £5.48

   Special Price £6.58 £6.92 Save 5.03%

   As low as £4.76
9. 

   Philips 18" 15w 830 T8 Fluorescent Tube - Warm White

   £6.24

   £5.93

   Special Price £7.12 £7.49 Save 4.97%
10. 

    Philips 2ft 18w 835 T8 Fluorescent Tube - White

    £1.91

    £1.81

    Special Price £2.17 £2.29 Save 5.24%

    As low as £2.03
11. 

    Philips 549mm 14w 830 T5 Fluorescent Tube - Warm White

    £2.49

    £2.37

    Special Price £2.84 £2.99 Save 4.82%

    As low as £2.75
12. 

    Bell 12" 8w 835 T5 Fluorescent Tube - White

    See Also

    Ballast Repair vs Ballast Replacement by Premium ElectricThe Complete Guide to Ballasts for Fluorescent LightsDiagnosing and Replacing a Bad Ballast on a Fluorescent Light FixtureCommon Faults and Treatment Methods of Fluorescent Lamp

    £2.46

    £2.34

    Special Price £2.81 £2.95 Save 4.88%

    As low as £1.79
13. 

    Bell 12" 8w 840 T5 Fluorescent Tube - Cool White

    £2.49

    £2.37

    Special Price £2.84 £2.99 Save 4.82%

    As low as £2.75
14. 

    Osram 22w 840 T9 Circular Fluorescent Tube - Cool White

    £7.58

    £7.20

    Special Price £8.64 £9.10 Save 5.01%

    As low as £7.79
15. 

    Sylvania 32w 865 T9 Circular Fluorescent Tube - Daylight

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    £7.49

    £7.12

    Special Price £8.54 £8.99 Save 4.94%

    As low as £8.39

    Out of stock

16. 

    Eveready 32w 835 T9 Circular Fluorescent Tube - White

    £5.29

    £5.03

    Special Price £6.04 £6.35 Save 4.91%

    As low as £5.76
17. 

    Crompton 60w 830 T9 Circular Fluorescent Tube - Warm White

    £7.47

    £7.10

    Special Price £8.52 £8.96 Save 4.95%

    As low as £8.39

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Key Points

If you are experiencing any of the following problems with your fluorescent tubes then this page will tell you how to fix them, including information on what has likely caused the problem and how to check your starters and ballasts:

• The fluorescent tube won't turn on
• Checking and fixing starters
• Checking and fixing ballasts
• Other problems that can be identified and fixed with the above checks
  • The middle of the tube won't light but the ends are lit
  • The tube constantly flickers on or off
  • The tube takes a long time to warm up and come on
    

If you need any help at any point or want to order new tubes, starters, or ballasts
Call the team today on 0113 8876270 or email sales@lampshoponline.com

Fluorescent tubes have long since been a practical lighting solution for offices, garages, warehouses, kitchens, and more. However, there a multiple issues that can go wrong with these lights, their starters, and their ballasts (control gear) over time. The most common warning signs are;

1. The fluorescent tube won't turn on (and is or isn't buzzing)
   
2. The tube takes a long time to warm up and come on
   
3. The middle of the tube won't light but the ends are lit
   
4. The tube constantly flickers on or off

We are going to tell you what has caused the problem and how to check your starters and ballasts. The following fixes will make sure you get the most out of your fluorescent light. If you're in need of a replacement, browse our range of Fluourescent Tubes to find what suits you.

View our full range of Batten Fittings here

1. 

   Bright Source 5ft Twin 52w LED Batten Fitting - CCT

   £20.16

   £18.75

   Special Price £22.50 £24.19 Save 6.99%
2. 

   Bright Source 6ft Twin 60w LED Batten Fitting - CCT

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   £32.49

   £29.24

   Special Price £35.09 £38.99 Save 10%

   Out of stock

3. 

   PowerMaster SINGLE 5FT T8 LED READY Batten Fitting Body

   £11.65

   £11.07

   Special Price £13.28 £13.98 Save 4.98%

   As low as £12.95
4. 

   PowerMaster SINGLE 6FT T8 LED READY Batten Fitting Body

   £12.97

   £12.32

   Special Price £14.78 £15.56 Save 5.01%

   As low as £14.15
5. 

   Powermaster 5ft Twin 45w LED Batten Fitting 4000k - IP20

   £16.64

   £15.81

   Special Price £18.97 £19.97 Save 4.99%
6. 

   Sylvania 5ft Single 18w LED Batten Fitting 4000k

   £17.89

   £17.00

   Special Price £20.40 £21.47 Save 4.97%

   As low as £18.31
7. 

   PowerMaster TWIN 5ft 58w T8 IP65 Rated Fluorescent Non-Corrosive Fitting

   £24.99

   £23.74

   Special Price £28.49 £29.99 Save 5%
8. 

   PowerMaster 1x58W 5ft T8 Fluorescent Batten Fitting c/w FREE Fluorescent Tube

   Subscribe to back in stock

   See Also

   What to do if your T12 magnetic ballast goes bad

   Out of stock

9. 

   PowerMaster 2x58W 5ft T8 Fluorescent Batten Fitting c/w FREE Fluorescent Tubes

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   Out of stock

10. 

    Bright Source 5ft Single 32w LED Batten Fitting - CCT

    £17.65

    £16.41

    Special Price £19.69 £21.18 Save 7.03%
11. 

    5ft LED Emergency Twin T8 Surface Modular Fitting with Cat 2 Louvre

    £188.09

    £225.71 £237.59 Save 5%

    £270.85
12. 

    Bright Source 6ft Twin 60w LED Batten Fitting CCT - Microwave Sensor

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    £43.97

    £39.57

    Special Price £47.48 £52.76 Save 10.01%

    Out of stock

13. 

    Knightsbridge 600mm x 600mm Emergency Recessed Modular 4x LED Tube Fitting c/w CAT2 Louvre

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    Out of stock

Potential causes:

• No electrical power due to a tripped breaker or blown fuse
• A dead or dying ballast
• A dead starter
• A dead bulb

Checks:

Check the power supply to the bulb

Start by checking the fuse hasn't tripped the power supply. Usually when this happens, more than one light will have tripped so check a few light switches and if none of them turn on, check your fuse box.

Test the tube

1. Turn off the power switch to the bulb
2. Rotate the tube 90 degrees until it stops turning, then slide the tube downwards
3. Check both ends of the tube for darkened glass. If the tube is dark at each end then it's either defective or near the end of its life, so will need changing anyway
4. If the colour of the bulb looks OK then try it in a different fitting which you know is working to see if it lights.
5. If it doesn't light then the bulb needs replacing. If it does light, then the issue is likely to be with the starter

What Are Starters?

• A starter is a small box in the light fitting which the tube sits next to.
• The function of that starter, as the name suggests, is to feed enough energy into the tube so it lights it up.
• Starters are only found in fittings that are 15 years old or older.
• They cost as little as 20p - the easiest way to test a starter is to buy a new one and replace the old one.

How to find and replace your starter

1. If you can't see the starter, then remove the tube as sometimes starters are fitted underneath the tube, but remember that only older fittings have starters - if the fitting is modern then you could be looking for something which isn't there.
2. Turn off the light switch and remove the starter by gently pushing it in and twisting it to the left.
3. Simply replace the starter and see if the light works.

View our full range of Starters here

1. 

   Philips 4-65w Universal Fluorescent Starter Switch

   £1.29

   £1.23

   Special Price £1.48 £1.55 Save 4.65%

   As low as £0.78
2. 

   Philips S2 4-22w Series Fluorescent Starter Switch

   £1.97

   £1.87

   Special Price £2.24 £2.36 Save 5.08%

   As low as £0.47
3. 

   Philips S10 4-65w Fluorescent Starter Switch

   £1.97

   £1.87

   Special Price £2.24 £2.36 Save 5.08%

   As low as £0.83
4. 

   GE 70-125w Fluorescent Starter Switch 155/800

   £1.39

   £1.32

   Special Price £1.58 £1.67 Save 5.04%

   As low as £0.59
5. 

   Sylvania 4-22w FS-22 Series Fluorescent Starter Switch

   £1.71

   £1.62

   Special Price £1.94 £2.05 Save 5.26%

   As low as £0.38
6. 

   Philips S16 70-125w Fluorescent Starter Switch

   £1.97

   £1.87

   Special Price £2.24 £2.36 Save 5.08%

   As low as £1.79
7. 

   Osram ST111 4-65/80w Fluorescent Starter Switch

   £1.93

   £1.83

   Special Price £2.20 £2.32 Save 5.18%

   As low as £0.49
8. 

   Osram ST151 4-20w Series Fluorescent Starter Switch

   £1.93

   £1.83

   Special Price £2.20 £2.32 Save 5.18%

   As low as £0.49
9. 

   Eveready 4-65w Fluorescent Starter Switch - S1092

   £1.77

   £1.68

   Special Price £2.02 £2.12 Save 5.08%

   As low as £0.83

What Are Ballasts?

• Ballasts are also known as the Control Gear
• A ballast gives a bulb enough voltage to start it, but then limits the amount of current going to the bulb, enabling the bulb to give off a steady light.
• A giveaway that a ballast isn't working properly is a buzzing sound coming from the bulb.
• If you have more than one bulb in a fitting and all the bulbs are flickering or out then it's highly likely to be the ballast.

How to find and replace your starter

1. Turn off the light at the switch and turn off the power supply to the light via the circuit breaker.
2. Remove the tube from the fixture, as the ballast is usually found behind the bulb or between the bulbs in a fitting with more than one tube.
3. The ballast will usually have a cover on it so remove the ballast cover using a screwdriver and check the ballast, which is usually a rectangular shaped grey or black box, to see if it's leaking oil or if it looks burnt.
4. Firstly, check all the wires are connected properly as loose wires could cause the ballast not to work properly, if the wires are properly connected, then the problem is likely to be with the ballast itself.
5. Ballasts come in all shapes and size so if you do need to buy a new one, check the measurements carefully when buying online, or take the old ballast into the lighting shop with you.
   Your ballast is likely to have a wiring diagram on it (or if not there should be one in the box) which will show you which wires go where when replacing a ballast. Usually, the wires will be coloured red, white, blue, yellow and black and the corresponding colours on the ballast wires will match up with those in the fitting.

Plus: There's plenty of videos on YouTube which demonstrate how to change a ballast safely, this is one of our favourites for changing a T8 ballast.

1. Check the starter.
2. If the issue persists, the tube needs to be replaced.

1. Check the starter.
2. Check the ballast.
3. Check the lamp you've used in the fitting is the correct size and fitting.
4. If the issue persists, the tube needs to be replaced.

1. Check the starter.
2. If the issue persists, the tube needs to be replaced.

• Fluorescent Tubes
• Starter switches
• Emergency combo ballasts – Normal high frequency ballasts and an emergency backup feature in one for fluorescent lamps to be used with an emergency battery.
• Electronic HID ballasts – To run high intensity discharge lamps with a flicker free start (HID) e.g. Metal Halide lamps.
• HF ballasts – High frequency ballast to run a fluorescent lamp (turn on turn off without flickering).

Delivery & Returns

Delivery

• Orders above £65 - free delivery.
• Bulk purchasing options apply to many products listed in our GU10 ranges.
• Royal Mail Tracked 2nd Class - £3.32 + VAT
• Royal Mail Tracked 1st Class - £4.99 + VAT
• Orders with items over 2ft long have a mandatory cost of £7.49 + VAT (Unless the value is over £65.00 + Vat).

Returns

If you're not happy with your purchase you can return items to us within 30 days of receiving your order providing the goods are unused. To return your items, please e-mail sales@lampshoponline.com with your order number and we will send a returns number and return instructions to you.

Customer Service

LampShopOnline take pride in looking after our customers and endeavor to reply to every query. It can take up to 48 hours for a reply, however we typically respond within a couple of hours Monday to Fridays.

CONTACT US DIRECTLY AT

Tel: 0113 8876270

sales@lampshoponline.com