fluorescent light How to Check If the Ballast Is Bad in Fluorescent Lighting

Fluorescent lamps require a ballast to send the appropriate amount of electricity to the fluorescent bulb.The ballast provides enough voltage to start the fluorescent bulb, which quickly reduces the current once it is started, generating enough power to produce a stable light source.Fluorescent bulbs will be connected directly to 120-without ballast-Volt current, quickly burn out the bulb.When you hear a hum from your device or bulb flashing, or it's not turned on, check the ballast to see if it needs to be replaced.Turn off the fluorescent fixture circuit breaker inside the circuit breaker panel.Remove the lens cover from the fixture.According to the style of the fixture, the lens cover is wrapped around the fixture, fixed to the fixture with a series of screws or sliding out of the fixture body.Remove the fluorescent bulb from the fixture.If your fixture uses a circular fluorescent bulb, the plug will connect the bulb to the ballast.U-The shaped and straight fluorescent bulb is installed in a fluorescent socket connected to the ballast.U-The shaped bulb is fixed in the socket with a tension spring.Pull the U-Remove the shaped bulbs from the tension spring to release them from the socket.Reverse straight fluorescent bulbs clockwise or counter-clockwise to release them from the socket.If the ballast has not been exposed, remove the ballast cover from the fixture.This cover is connected with a screw or inserted into the slot where the clamp is inserted.If there is a burn, swelling or oil leakage in the ballast, please replace it.Set the multimeter to ohm settings.If there are multiple Ohm settings on the multimeter, select "X1K ".Insert a probe of the multimeter into the wire connector that connects the white wires together.Touch the remaining probe to the end of the blue, red, and yellow wires drawn from the ballast.Depending on the ballast, you may only have wires in red and blue.If the ballast is broken, the needle on the multimeter will not move.If the ballast is still good, the needle should sweep the surface of the multimeter to the right.Install new ballast if necessary.Replace the ballast cover on the fluorescent lamp.Install the fluorescent bulb, replace the lens cover and turn the power back on to the fixture on the board.