Faulty Lights

[tormentz]

Currently have a 2nd hand 2ft eballast PL lights that is giving some problems. Lights goes on and off intermittedly. Giving it a few taps on the hood usually brings the lights back up again.

Suspect that its some loose connections but i do not seems to be able to detect the area of concern. Lights were fine on the first night that i brought them back, however, on the 2nd day the problem started occuring.

1) What are the parts of the light which i should check for loose connections, not too sure as this is the first PL eballast light i have gotten.

2) Should i fail to self-fix the problem, where could i possibily go to repair the lights for a reasonable price? Preferably locations in the east, takes quite some time for me to travel all the way to NA.

Thanks in advance~

[eyebm]

Check all wires connection points, look for lose contact with power off. Isolate by replacing to your normal ballast if you have. If problem solve replace with new e-ballast. The next time will be your PL tube. Hope this help.

[tawauboy]

you can open the light casing to check for any loose connections. for eballast, there are connections for ac input (2x) and light tube (4x). check these.
do this only if you know electricity. else bring it to a light shop or lfs for help.

[Shadow]

Many thing can happen, it might as well cable break internally. If you have multimeter and some electrical knowledge it quite easy to fix it, if not better let the professional do. I'm sure you don't want to catch fire due to faulty wiring.

[tormentz]

Figured out it was cable break as the lights turned on once the eballast cables were bent, however, was careless and didn't notice that one of the parts with exposed wirings were in contact with the lights cover. Resulted in the eballast going "ka-boom" right in my face.

Will bring it over to N.A to see if any of the parts can be salvaged or replaced.

[BFG]

Were you hurt when the ballast explode? My expertise in electrical is during plugging and unplugging of the plug. Anything else, will always remind me of the time I was electrocuted.

[tawauboy]

do you mean the cables from eballast to the light tube touched the light casing?
if so, most likely you'll need to replace the eballast.

[Shadow]

you have very dangerous lightning, exposed wiring, lucky you are not electricuted.

[tormentz]

Its the small exposed part where the wires are connected with the "on/off" switch, so not actually the wiring. The ballast gave a "pop" and went up in a puff of smoke in my face thats all... haha... and the power supply was tripped.

Anyway, i have already bought myself an identical new lightset. So no other damage other than my gf nagging about having to retype her blog post, due to the power trip, as well as the damage to my wallet.