HO T5 flickering (new bulb)

ACBlinky · 04/15/2008, 08:54 PM

Anyone experienced with wiring and/or fluorescents, I could use some advice.

I have a 48" all-in-one type MH fixture -- two 400W SE MH bulbs in the middle, with two 54W T5 bulbs on the outside (actinics). Each T5 is on its own switch, one operates just the bulb, the other operates the bulb as well as the cooling fans on the ends of the fixture.

I hadn't changed the T5s for about 16 months (they're really just for dawn/dusk, so I only worry about changing the MH religiously) and noticed one day that one had burned out. When I removed it, I saw that the bulb actually had a tiny hole in it, and had turned dark grey along its entire length.

I bought a new 54W T5 bulb at the LFS a week or so ago and installed it, and now it's flickering. One end is turning grey (about 2"). I'm concerned something is wrong with the wiring, and this is the switch that controls the fans so I don't really have the option to just leave it off.

Any advice? I don't think there's a way for me to remove the reflectors and get inside the fixture -- I didn't look too closely today, but I believe certain parts are riveted on, so I can't just unscrew things and then put them back later.

ACBlinky · 04/16/2008, 08:55 AM

Bump for the morning crowd -- anyone who has ANY ideas, I'd like to hear them

supertech3 · 04/16/2008, 09:11 AM

Try the new bulb in the working fixture, but do not put the other bulb in the suspect bad fixture to keep from possible burning out another bulb. This will tell you the status of the new bulb.

ACBlinky · 04/16/2008, 09:26 AM

Hmm, well I just took the fixture down, turned on the flickery bulb and it's now completely burned out

I tried it on the working side, nothing happened. I then switched the T5s (nothing much to lose, as the old bulb needs replacing anyhow), and the old bulb is still fine, the dead one is still dead. Leads me to believe it's not the fixture, it was somehow a faulty bulb.

Monsta · 04/16/2008, 09:28 AM

Do you know if both T5's run on one ballast? Many people make the mistake and buy only replacment for the broken flourescent bulb. That way bullast has very different workloads (new bulb vs old)....Usually you get the flickering problems as a result or worse .... ballast damage. <<<<====Anyways, this info I got a year ago from educational video on fluorescent lighting.

ACBlinky · 04/16/2008, 09:29 AM

Ack! I don't know. I think what I'm going to do is just turn off the T5s for now, get two new bulbs, and go from there.

04/15/2008, 08:54 PM	#1
ACBlinky Premium Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: Peterborough, ON, Canada Posts: 4,954 Blog Entries: 20	HO T5 flickering (new bulb) Anyone experienced with wiring and/or fluorescents, I could use some advice. I have a 48" all-in-one type MH fixture -- two 400W SE MH bulbs in the middle, with two 54W T5 bulbs on the outside (actinics). Each T5 is on its own switch, one operates just the bulb, the other operates the bulb as well as the cooling fans on the ends of the fixture. I hadn't changed the T5s for about 16 months (they're really just for dawn/dusk, so I only worry about changing the MH religiously) and noticed one day that one had burned out. When I removed it, I saw that the bulb actually had a tiny hole in it, and had turned dark grey along its entire length. I bought a new 54W T5 bulb at the LFS a week or so ago and installed it, and now it's flickering. One end is turning grey (about 2"). I'm concerned something is wrong with the wiring, and this is the switch that controls the fans so I don't really have the option to just leave it off. Any advice? I don't think there's a way for me to remove the reflectors and get inside the fixture -- I didn't look too closely today, but I believe certain parts are riveted on, so I can't just unscrew things and then put them back later. __________________ "The cure for anything is salt water: sweat, tears, or the sea." - Isak Dinesen Current Tank Info: 150g mixed reef, 30g sump/refugium, LED lighting, 100lbs LR, coral beauty, flame angel, blue & yellow tangs, gobies, damsels, 6-line wrasse, lawnmower blenny, dottyback, clown pair, rabbitfish, shrimp, crabs, CUC.

04/16/2008, 08:55 AM	#2
ACBlinky Premium Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: Peterborough, ON, Canada Posts: 4,954 Blog Entries: 20	Bump for the morning crowd -- anyone who has ANY ideas, I'd like to hear them __________________ "The cure for anything is salt water: sweat, tears, or the sea." - Isak Dinesen Current Tank Info: 150g mixed reef, 30g sump/refugium, LED lighting, 100lbs LR, coral beauty, flame angel, blue & yellow tangs, gobies, damsels, 6-line wrasse, lawnmower blenny, dottyback, clown pair, rabbitfish, shrimp, crabs, CUC.

04/16/2008, 09:26 AM	#4
ACBlinky Premium Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: Peterborough, ON, Canada Posts: 4,954 Blog Entries: 20	Hmm, well I just took the fixture down, turned on the flickery bulb and it's now completely burned out I tried it on the working side, nothing happened. I then switched the T5s (nothing much to lose, as the old bulb needs replacing anyhow), and the old bulb is still fine, the dead one is still dead. Leads me to believe it's not the fixture, it was somehow a faulty bulb. __________________ "The cure for anything is salt water: sweat, tears, or the sea." - Isak Dinesen Current Tank Info: 150g mixed reef, 30g sump/refugium, LED lighting, 100lbs LR, coral beauty, flame angel, blue & yellow tangs, gobies, damsels, 6-line wrasse, lawnmower blenny, dottyback, clown pair, rabbitfish, shrimp, crabs, CUC.

04/16/2008, 09:29 AM	#6
ACBlinky Premium Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: Peterborough, ON, Canada Posts: 4,954 Blog Entries: 20	Ack! I don't know. I think what I'm going to do is just turn off the T5s for now, get two new bulbs, and go from there. __________________ "The cure for anything is salt water: sweat, tears, or the sea." - Isak Dinesen Current Tank Info: 150g mixed reef, 30g sump/refugium, LED lighting, 100lbs LR, coral beauty, flame angel, blue & yellow tangs, gobies, damsels, 6-line wrasse, lawnmower blenny, dottyback, clown pair, rabbitfish, shrimp, crabs, CUC.

04/16/2008, 09:11 AM	#3
supertech3 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: El Paso Posts: 1,206	Try the new bulb in the working fixture, but do not put the other bulb in the suspect bad fixture to keep from possible burning out another bulb. This will tell you the status of the new bulb.

04/16/2008, 09:28 AM	#5
Monsta Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Canada Posts: 107	Do you know if both T5's run on one ballast? Many people make the mistake and buy only replacment for the broken flourescent bulb. That way bullast has very different workloads (new bulb vs old)....Usually you get the flickering problems as a result or worse .... ballast damage. <<<<====Anyways, this info I got a year ago from educational video on fluorescent lighting.