Are fluorescent lights temperature sensitive?

Temperature: fluorescent lamp starting and light output are affected by surrounding air temperature. Most ballasts will start standard lamps down to 50°F. Special electromagnetic ballasts for standard rapid start lamps will start lamps down to 0°F.

Does high humidity affect fluorescent lights?

Fluorescent bulbs use a hermetic seal, which means no humidity will penetrate the bulb itself. This seal is necessary to keep the toxic mercury vapor from leaking out into the environment. Humidity can cause corrosion of the metal fixtures on the ends of a fluorescent bulb, impeding its ability to transmit electricity.

How do you tell if the ballast is bad in a fluorescent light?

If your fluorescent lighting is displaying any of the signs below, it could be a symptom of a bad ballast:

Flickering.
Buzzing.
Delayed start.
Low output.
Inconsistent lighting levels.
Switch to an electronic ballast, keep lamp.
Switch to an electronic ballast, switch to a T8 fluorescent.

Do fluorescent bulbs use more energy?

Fluorescent lamps, including compact fluorescent lights (CFLs), use about 75 percent less energy than incandescent bulbs and last six to 15 times as long, according to the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE). Otherwise, turn the light off.

Do fluorescent tube lights need to warm up?

All compact fluorescent lamps require a slight warm-up time for the electrical current to fully heat the cathodes and reach their full lumen output. Covered CFLs typically have longer warm-up times – up to three minutes – because they have amalgam.

Why do fluorescent lights work intermittently?

A flickering fluorescent bulb means that it or one of a dependent pair of bulbs in the fixture has bought the farm. In many fluorescent fixtures, power is sent through a pair of bulbs. If either bulb is bad, they may both flicker or one may flicker and the other show no life.

How to know cold temperature of fluorescent lights?

Cold Temperatures and Garage Fluorescent Lighting 1 Ballast. The ballast in a fluorescent lighting system is the part of the light fixture that controls the starting of the lights and the operation and control of the lights 2 Temperature Range. 3 Ballast Identification. 4 Light Selection.

Are there any lights that work in cold weather?

Temperature Range. Magnetic ballasts don’t work in cold temperatures. Electronic ballasts, however, can operate when the air is quite cold and are often rated to work at 0 degrees Fahrenheit. Some will even work below 0 degrees.

Why do fluorescent lights not start up in humid weather?

I didn’t know humidity could affect them. They are a sealed glass tube with gas in them. I know temperature affects them but never heard of humidity. I have 4 out of 8 double fluor lights in the shop that reliably do not start in high humidity.

What to do if your light fixture won’t turn on?

Change the fixture to one with electronic ballast and T8 bulbs. Your problems should go away (assuming you have a good ground at the fixture). Your flourescent is working properly you do not not have a cold weather ballast (expensive) fixture . Easiest thing is live with it until warm weather comes .