How Fluorescent Light Fixtures Work

By Tom Sanderrs

When you use fluorescent lighting you are conserving energy and the bonus is you help the planet, but there are other benefits from using them instead of incandescent light bulbs. They also do cost more initially but in a short time(3-12months) you will see that they pay for themselves as your electric bill will show an with the newer generation of them the "yellow glow" has been eliminated, don't flicker and light up quickly.

It is important to know how fluorescent lights work and basically they are made up of a glass tube which is sealed with a phosphor powder covering on the inside walls of the glass tube. The tube also has an electrode located on each end and those electrodes have wires that form an electrical circuit. This is then connected to the AC power supply source.

After the fluorescent lamp is turned on, current will flow through the electrical circuit to the pair of electrodes. The electrons will then start to move through the gas from one end of the tube to the other. Some mercury that is inside the tube then turns from its liquid form into its gaseous state. Electrons and ions move along the tube and as they do so crash into gaseous mercury atoms, which in turn leads to an increase of energy for the atoms' electrons. As the electrons return to their original energy level light photons are emitted.

However, that process does not always work as it should and if you experience that happening then the following steps will help you to find the problem and solve it.

Step 1: Make sure that the lighting fixture is powered. Check the switch to ensure that it's on, and also examine the breaker to verify that the area isn't tripped.

Step 2 - Examine the fluorescent light bulbs to make sure that nothing is broken. If any are not working, then they have to be replaced. Once again switch on the power and see if the new light bulbs in the fixture turn on.

When it comes to a multi-bulb fixture if one bulb is out it is best to replace all since extra strain on the new bulb.

Step 3 - Examine the light bulb socket. You should look for breaks and cracks, which do happen because of things like overheating. If the socket is really broken, the best thing to consider is buying a new fixture to solve the problem.

Step 4: Examine the fixture's power. You'll need a circuit tester to do this, which you can find at your friendly neighborhood hardware store.

Step 5 - If it is worth the costs, then replace the ballast instead of the entire fixture. This is relatively easy to do for someone with basic knowledge of electronic components.

While a fluorescent light fixture certainly is a wise investment, you may need to do some minor maintenance. These easy steps will ensure that the fixture won't leave you in the dark-for long! - 29956

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