Shop Light Pendant Fluorescent

11 years ago

We have a hanging shop light in out tiny basement laundry room. It takes two 40 watt 48 inch long fluorescent bulbs. Both went out, so I purchased new bulbs and installed them. Hung up, plugged in but still no light. Perhaps I installed the bulbs wrong? Is there a right or wring way to place the bulbs (long fluorescent)? Do they need to be put a certain direction, with polarity, like batteries are? Any help is appreciated. I don't want to call an electrician over this. He charges too much!

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Comments (4)

David
11 years ago
Check the ballast.
ionized_gw
11 years ago
T12 or T8 bulbs?
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jannie
Original Author
11 years ago
I solved the problem. I was trying to install 40 watt bulbs. Went to Home Depot, bought 48 inch, 32watt T8 bulbs and stuck them in the fixture. All is well! Let there be light! Thanks to those who responded! I'm no electrician, just a semi-handy old lady!
ionized_gw
11 years ago
The old lamps were T8 and you tried to run T12s? (There is a T10, but I've never seen one on a shelf.)

Safety is not an issue but between T8 and T12 you can not use the same ballasts with both lamps. I don't remember how it works but wrong combinations of bulbs and ballasts will yield non-functioning or poorly-functioning results. I am concerned that you may have the latter. Did you replace with like lamps in the end?