We moved into a house that has fluorescent bulbs in the bathroom and we've never had them before. When we changed to bulbs, they don't light up all the way. What are we doing wrong?:confused:

Each fluorescent light fixture also has a small transformer inside the fixture, a little "black box" called a ballast. This component is probably defective and needs to be replaced also.


The fixture needs to be removed form the wall/ceiling to replace the ballast. Each size and quantity of Fluorescent lamp has it's own ballast, so if you cannot read the label on the ballast, you can ask for one for your for your lamp.

For example, if you have a fixture with 1 F20, then ask for a ballast for 1-F20 lamp or if you have 2 F40 then there is a different ballast for that.



Depending on the age of the fixture, you may just want to change the entire fixture to a new one. The cost of the ballast may be close to the cost of a new fixture.

Some of the older fixtures also have starters, little round silver cans , that can be replace also. If your fixture has those they are usually mounted near a socket. Remove that by twisting counter clockwise. Again there is a size for each different fluorescent lamp.