how to tell if a fluorescent bulb is blown

Check the ends of the tube. When using direct fit LEDs, the ballast is still using energy and eating into your possible energy savings. Set your multimeter to test the resistance between the two pins And just to be thorough, you've also checked the main service panel for a tripped breaker or a blown fuse. It’s light's out, and you've already determined that a burned-out bulb isn't the culprit. Check to see if the bulb is tight in the socket. By checking for surface-level issues, cleaning the parts, and looking at the electronics, you can determine whether you have an easy fix or a trip to the hardware store. Unlike fluorescent tubes, LEDs don’t require a ballast to regulate current. Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 52,369 times. By creating an account you agree to the Hunker, The Natural Handyman: Repairing and Troubleshooting Fluorescent Fixtures and Tubes, United Nations Environment Programme: Reducintg RIsk From Mercury. If there is significant yellowed staining of the plastic at the vent where the two glass tubes enter the base then the bulb has blown. Step 3. Many of us don’t pay attention to our light bulbs until they burn out and when they do, it can be difficult to know exactly which size, shape or style you need to replace the bulb in your fitting exactly. Regardless of whether you're looking to use retrofit or ballast compatible LED tubes in your existing fluorescent fixtures, you'll need to know what kind of ballast your fixture has. http://articles.chicagotribune.com/1988-09-23/entertainment/8802010971_1_tube-fluorescent-sockets, https://www.naturalhandyman.com/iip/infelectrical/inffluor.html, https://sciencing.com/why-do-fluorescent-lights-flicker-5031263.html, consider supporting our work with a contribution to wikiHow. A dead fluorescent can be caused by lack of electrical power (tripped breaker or blown fuse), a dead or dying ballast, a dead starter or a dead bulb (s). They can be generally divided as compact fluorescents or fluorescent tubes. Step 2. Replace it with a fresh one. Visually inspect ; 3. If they appear darkened this indicates the bulb is burned out. The burned fluorescent bulb has a darker end of it. There are some usual reasons a bulb can go bad, and we can do some quick checks to find out if it’s fixable or a replacement is necessary. Last Updated: March 29, 2019 Fluorescent tubes are filled with mercury gas and can shatter into very small pieces. Fluorescent light bulbs typically last many years, but when one flickers on and off, or the end turns light gray to black in color, you'll just need replacement light bulbs. If darkness forms on one side of the tube, rotate the tube by 180 degrees from how it used to sit. % of people told us that this article helped them. I don't have a lot of faith in the $10-tier LED replacement "tubes", and their CRI is not up to where real fluorescent tubes are. Rotate the tube in the fixture if the bulb is not darkened on either end. You will usually … Make sure the power is turned off to avoid any electrical damage. Lamp Type. By signing up you are agreeing to receive emails according to our privacy policy. If so, replace the bulb. If the fluorescent bulb fails to come on, turn the switch off. Step 2. Check the main power source for the house and see if the circuit breaker has been tripped or a fuse has blown. How to Tell If Fluorescent Bulbs Are Blown? If the bulb still does not light, the gas may have leaked out and the bulb will need to be replaced. You can also use a multimeter to determine if the electrodes still hold conductivity. She holds a Bachelor of Arts from Luther College and a Master of Fine Arts from the University of Idaho, both in stage design and painting. Well, first you need to find out if power is actually getting to the light socket. We know ads can be annoying, but they’re what allow us to make all of wikiHow available for free. Replace the bulb with the same size bulb. You can easily tell if a fluorescent bulb is burned or not. Turn the fluorescent bulb clockwise to see if it's firmly seated in the socket. Turn the fluorescent bulb clockwise to see if it's firmly seated in the socket. Do not let go of the tube while working with it in the fixture, especially when rotating it. Check the ends of the tube. How to Remove a Broken Light Bulb. Remove the bulb from the fixture if the bulb is still not illuminating. For tips on replacing the starter bulb, read on! With a CFL, is there any way to tell if a bulb is bad without plugging it into a socket and trying it out? Another common … Install a new ballast, if necessary. If they appear darkened this indicates the bulb is burned out. wikiHow is where trusted research and expert knowledge come together. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/8\/83\/Test-Fluorescent-Bulbs-Step-1.jpg\/v4-460px-Test-Fluorescent-Bulbs-Step-1.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/8\/83\/Test-Fluorescent-Bulbs-Step-1.jpg\/aid9822564-v4-728px-Test-Fluorescent-Bulbs-Step-1.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"