Possible Faulty/Failing 20W T4 Strip Light?

[eveares]

As some may know, I have 3 T4 fluorescent strip lights for under cabinet lighting in my kitchen.

The other day I noticed the middle 20W one was not lit. Tried the switch on the strip light, but nothing. Then tapped it a couple of times and it came back to life and lit up.

It has been playing up in the same way since then with the same issue of wont light up until it is tapped. I have all ready removed and reinserted the bulb, but that so far has not helped.

My guess at the moment is a poor connection on the contacts, but not 100% sure.

If it's the ballast and I have to remove the unit... well maybe I should have used something other than a grab adhesive when I fitted them....

 

[Iggifer]

Swapped the tube?

 

[eveares]

Swapped the tube?

Note yet, the middle one is the shortest and I don't have a spare at the moment. Would it really be the tube, it's only two years old.

 

[Taylortwocities]

It could be the tube, or something else….I have known those fittings fail fairly readily, especially if they are under a cupboard where steam is a regular visitor.
Not much help I know, but start with the easy option first. Change the tube.

 

[ericmark]

I would agree change the tube. With fluorescent lamps stroking the tube was an old method to get an ageing tube to light. So likely the presence of your hand is enough to fire it up. Very likely new tube will cure it, you will also likely find new tube much brighter so may want to swap them all.

 

[Echo the husky]

They look like Eterna fittings to me. If you don't change the tubes as soon as they start to fail (flickering is a good sign), the electronics get blown up and you will then have to replace the whole fitting. Switch off the little switch on the fitting now before it's too late!

 

[eveares]

They look like Eterna fittings to me

I believe the brand of them is Knightsbridge, but this is the range I used.

Will go ahead and replace the tube/s as people say, sensible to try the cheap and easy option first.

 

[Echo the husky]

They certainly look the same, just re-branded.

 

[Steve]

Look like the ones I've got, from B&Q. One of mine started flickering, by the time I got to change the tube it had melted the ends of the diffuser. I got a new fitting. Mine was 3 years old. The problem with these fittings is they are instant start, which means the tube is put under a lot of strain when starting. If you turn them on and off frequently, say every time you go in and out of the kitchen, then this will shorten the life of them significantly compared to long periods of running once a day for example.

I wish they were a gentler start, I like the ones that look like they gently strike the tube from one end to the other over a couple of seconds - they seem optimised for long lamp life.

I keep telling the OH she should use the LED downlights rather than the fluorescent strips on her short jaunts to the kitchen, but she won't listen. If we weren't moving house I'd have splashed out on LED strips, but its on the market so I just swapped it for another fluorescent for the cheapest.

 

[Echo the husky]

My mother has them at her house, they provide a really good light to work under, but the tubes only last 2 years at the most.

 

[eveares]

flickering is a good sign

Oh forgot to say, mine thankfully don't flicker due to the electronic ballasts.

 

[jj4091]

If you turn them on and off frequently, say every time you go in and out of the kitchen, then this will shorten the life of them significantly compared to long periods of running once a day for example.

Why would you want to leave them burning when not in the kitchen, surely if you leave a room for any length of time then you switch the lights off( e.g. going for a bath in a morning, going to another room to eat, etc). Personally I just think they are a load of c**p.

 

[Iggifer]

It's all about LED now anyway. Haven't fitted a floro under cabinet light for a long time

 

[Steve]

If you turn them on and off frequently, say every time you go in and out of the kitchen, then this will shorten the life of them significantly compared to long periods of running once a day for example.

Why would you want to leave them burning when not in the kitchen, surely if you leave a room for any length of time then you switch the lights off( e.g. going for a bath in a morning, going to another room to eat, etc). Personally I just think they are a load of c**p.

Exactly my point - they aren't well suited to domestic kitchens for lamp life. In domestic kitchens in general people make several short visits through the day. Many times, they want gentle light not the big light, so they put on the under cabinet lights. Which don't like short running and frequent switching. Not good. This is why I tell R lass to use the big light (7x 3w LEDs) which will tolerate being switched on and off all day long!