Fluorescent lighting

Fluorescent Lighting:
Although there are a large number of lighting options, the majority of lighting in homes is done by either incandescent (screw in bulbs) or fluorescent tube lights. Fluorescent lights including compact fluorescents - CFL's - are the most energy efficient form of lighting for households and can produce 50-100 lumens/watt compared to about 15 lumens/watt for incandescent bulbs. They are ideal for areas where lighting is required for long periods of time, such as the living room and kitchen, and for security lighting.

Historically, fluorescent lighting tended to only be available in "colder" colors of light than the accepted "warm" color produced by incandescent lighting. The non-warm colors produced by most fluorescent lighting systems seemed inappropriate for residential applications. However, recent technological improvements have produced "warmer" lamp colors, smaller fluorescent lighting systems, and with growing concern over energy costs, there has been a renewed interest in using fluorescent lighting in residential locations.

The initial cost of fluorescent lighting is more expensive to install than incandescent lighting, but they are considerably cheaper to operate and the lamps last far longer than incandescent lamps. Therefore, the long term cost-of-operation for fluorescent lighting far less than incandescent lighting.
Fluorescent fixtures come in many different styles, from clouds and sunshine ceilings in the kitchen, to wall sconces in the living room, and desk lamps in the home office. Chose fluorescent light for the many different lighting jobs you may have around the house, from general illumination, decorative, accent, and even task lighting.

Fluorescent tube lighting is ideally suited for cabinet lighting in the kitchen, valance lighting in bedrooms or the office, and strip lighting on either side of the bathroom mirror. Compact fluorescent lamps can be used to replace incandescent bulbs in nearly every fixture in the home, providing a low cost, energy efficient alternative to traditional bulbs.

In addition, special fluorescent lamps are also sold as 'bug lights' designed for porches or other outdoor areas where light is needed but insects are not desired; fluorescent grow lights are used for plant and flowers; aquarium fluorescent lights for fish; specialized fluorescent lamps for reptiles, and black light lamps (also known as black light blue) used for lighting indoor areas for parties.

Typical Problems and Answers on Fluorescent Fixtures:
- tube is constantly flickering - change the tube.
- tube constantly flickered and now nothing happens - change the tube.
- the tube flickers a lot before finally coming on - change the starter, and then remember to change it each time you change the tube.
- if there is a wavy effect in the way the tube lights up - give it some time… some new tubes need a few days to get use to the fixture, it will disappear on its own.
- if the light flickers when you wiggle the tombstone shaped sockets - check for loose wires at the sockets, if not replace the sockets.
- on some days it works fine, others it only starts when you rub your hand along the length of the tube - the ground wire is not correctly attached.
- it starts fine, but goes out after a few hours, then comes back on after a few more hours etc. - the thermal protection circuit in the breaker is shot (provided your not in the middle of major heat wave), change the ballast.
- it smells like burnt tar and/or there is tar dripping out of the fixture - the thermal protection circuit is defiantly not working, replace the ballast.
- it worked fine yesterday, but today nothing - change the ballast, it died of old age.
- it doesn't work, and you don't know what the symptoms were, you just know it doesn't work - change the tubes, check for loose wires, change the sockets, change the ballast, call an electrician, buy a new fixture.

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