How To Repair A Florescent Light

Repairing a florescent light can be done easily and quickly. If you change out the bulbs and the lights do not light up bright, it is probably the ballast. Make sure the light switch is turned off. This will insure that there is no power at the light fixture. The tools required for this procedure are wire strippers, lineman pliers, nut driver and multimeter.

Remove the bulbs and the center cover. The center is usually held by tabs. You can squeeze the cover and get it out of the tabs on either side and drop it down from the fixture. Carefully remove the wire nut from the black wire coming out of the ceiling and connected to the ballast. Note: this is the "hot' wire. Use the lineman pliers to seperate the black wires. You can put the wire nut on the wire that comes out of the ceiling for safety while removing the ballast. Disconnect the white wire in similar fashion. Next use the wire strippers to cut the remaining wire connected to the ballast within 2 or 3 inches of the ballast. Use the nut driver to remove the nuts holding the ballast in place. Note: the ballast me be physically warm to touch. you can use a rag or cardboard to hold the ballast while removing the wire nuts. The ballast will have a model number on it. Most home florescent lights have 120volt ac ballasts that can be purchased at the local hardware store.

Use the nut driver to install the ballast. Connect the red wire to red wire and the blue wire to blue wire. The 2 yellow wires on the ballast are then connected to the 2 yellow wires going to the light sockets. You can twist the slack wire together to keep it tucked under the cover. Connect the white wire to white wire and last connect the black wire to black wire. Replace the cover and bulbs and you are done!

For more information on household electrical repairs visit Household Electrical Repairs

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