How To Repair Fluorescent Light Fixtures

Here is how to troubleshoot a fluorescent light fixture that will not turn on or flickers. Many times when a fluorescent light starts to flicker or takes a long time to turn on the ballast or light starter is going bad. If just one of the fluorescent tubes does not light (with a fixture with 2 or 4 bulbs), obviously it could be a burned out bulb. Before doing anything that involves replacing parts, try the DIY steps below to fix it yourself.

Fix-Fluorescent-Light

To troubleshoot a fluorescent light fixture:
First start by making sure you have power being supplied to the light fixture. If flipping on the switch does not turn the light on, check the circuit breaker. Once you confirm you have power going to the light, the next thing to do is make sure the fluorescent tubes are not burned out. If you have only one bulb out, it is most likely just that bulb has burned out and replacing it should fix the problem. If all of the tubes DO NOT turn on, then most likely it is a bad ballast. However it is possible for all bulbs to burn out at once but this is not likely. To rule out a bad tube or bulb, you need to determine if you actually have a burned out tube.

To determine if the bulb or bulbs are burned out, install new fluorescent bulbs into the fixture. To be completely sure, replace all bulbs to be certain it is not a bulb issue. If the tubes light up then you know you have a bad bulb or tube. If the light still continues to not light up or it just flickers, then a starter or ballast is most likely bad. Most newer fluorescent light fixtures do not have a starter. The newer fixtures just have a ballast. So if you turn on the light and no bulbs light up even after the bulbs have been replaced, change out the ballast. Most common T8 ballast for 2 bulb lightMost common T8 ballast for 4 bulb lightNew fluorescent light fixture 2 bulbNew fluorescent light fixture 4 bulb

location of ballast in fluorescent light fixture

If you would like to test the ballast to be sure it is bad before replacing it, follow these steps:

  • First turn off power. (turn off power at the breaker)
  • Remove bulbs.
  • Remove the metal cover that shields the ballast.
  • Turn power back on.
  • Turn on your voltage detector and hold it next to the wires supplying power to the ballast.
  • If power is being supplied to the ballast but not out to the bulbs, it is a bad ballast and needs to be replaced.

fluorescent light fixture wiring

To remove and replace the ballast, follow these steps:
There are many different types of fluorescent lights. Your light fixture may be slightly different from the description we provide but the principal is the same.

  • First turn off power. We recommend to turn the power off at the breaker to prevent accidental power being supplied to the light while you are working on it.
  • Remove the bulbs.
  • Remove the metal cover that shields the ballast.
  • Find out the type of ballast your light fixture has. Purchase the same type of ballast or compatible at your local home improvement store or online. NOTE: Sometimes a ballast is MORE EXPENSIVE than a completely new fluorescent light fixture. Do some research to find out which is cheaper before you purchase anything.
  • Once you have your new ballast, remove the old ballast by following the instructions that came with the new ballast. (If no instructions were provided, you can usually just cut one of the old wires from the old ballast and wire it to the new ballast according to colors and markings on the wires. Doing this one wire at a time can help you wire the ballast correctly and with less confusion if no instructions are provided)
  • Once the old ballast is removed, screw the new ballast into place using the screws provided. Wire it up according to the schematic and instructions provided. If you have to cut wires, it is recommended to use electrical tape on top of the wire nuts for reasons of safety.
  • Once the new ballast is wired up, replace the ballast cover.
  • Install the fluorescent tubes back into the fixture.
  • Turn the light back on and test to be sure the light works.

parts of fluorescent light fixture


How To: Change a ballast in a fluorescent light fixture

If you know of an easier way or method to troubleshoot or repair a fluorescent light fixture, please let us know by leaving a comment below. Thanks!

5 thoughts on “How To Repair Fluorescent Light Fixtures”

  1. I have a Kitchenaid hood with a fluorescent light and fan. The fan works but the light does not. I have changed the starter and bulb without success. How do you check the tombstones to see if they are good? This unit does not have a ballast.

  2. My bathroom fluorescent fixture is driving me up a wall. The last bulb burned out. I bought a new one today (4 foot, 28W) and it works sporadically but not on its own when I turn on the light, which is connected to a ceiling fan (no problems with that). The light will light up perfectly when I fiddle with it, turn it around a bit so it connects properly. The,–and this has happened all the time since I put the bulb in–it won’t start on it own when I turn the switch off and then on,–and yet the fan works fine. It’s fort-five year old condo apartment complex that I lived in much older buildings, for several years on occasion, with no major plumbing or electrical issues. My unit alone has had many problems, with plumbing more than wiring.

    Any suggestions would be enormously appreciated; and yes, I know that I’m a rank amateur in these matters and some of the lingo is obscure to me.

  3. John Schwendler

    Electrician suggested I replace three fluorescent light fixtures by simply unscrewing them from ceiling, screw in new ones, and voila.
    So I get back from HD with three new units.
    I open the first one and now have it assembled, but there is no electrical plug for it, and no extra wiring to connect it to if I had one.
    At one end of my four-footer, two-lite fixture I have red and white wires connected to one bulb point, and a single white wire connected to the 2nd, same end.
    At the other end.
    I have a blue and white wire connected to one bulb point, and a single white wire connected to the 2nd.
    The single black wire I have grounded to the green screw in center of fixture.
    I have it on table next to old fixture I took down, which has an electrical cord and plug coming out the one end, and spliced into a plastic doohickey which also has a white wire connected to it.
    Had I known it was going to be this hard….
    I thought fixtures would at least come with electrical wiring and plug.
    I have it assembled correctly, w/o an electrical cord for power.

  4. DIY Project Help Tips

    Ben,
    Is the old ballast and tombstones removed? Is it not possible to cut one wire at a time from the old ballast to make sure you have the wiring correct to the new ballast? Turn the fluorescent lights off, cut one wire off at a time on the old ballast and connect that color coded wire to the new ballast, do this until all the wires are connected to the new ballast.

    If the ballast is not in the light fixture and you cannot figure out the wiring, check all over the light to see if there is a wiring diagram. There should be a small picture somewhere on the light fixture to tell you how to wire it. Please let us know if you need additional assistance.
    -RR

  5. I have T5hd high bay lights with six lights in them the tombstones were broken by a coworker when changing the bad lights out. There isn’t any videos out there to help me see how to change and wire the new ballasts and tombstones into the t5 high bay lights. I do know how to change t8 and t12 lights tombstones and ballasts, but the wiring is very different in the t5 high bay lighting. Any help is appreciated.

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