Lights

[evad102]

Does anybody know how to check fluorescent lights in coolers. The one's that operate with a starter. How do you know if the starter is good? Also for a freezer do you need special bulbs or starters for that application.

Thanks.

[licensed to chill]

Most electrical supply houses have a neat tester for checking floresent lights. It has a metal wand that you hold up to the bulb and if the bulb lights up you know the problem is in the ballast or starter.

low temperature applications do require a special bulb. A reputable electrical supply house should be able to help you pick the right bulb.

[tjc76]

http://ca.answers.yahoo.com/qid=2007306094826AAgi7Zh
if it does not come up, enter check a ballast in search

[bryan l]

what I do is take a bulb that is working a few doors down and put it in. If it works its bulbs. If not I look at the ballast.

[pctech]

that works good execpt when you have a bad ballest that blows that bulb you took from a few doors down then you have to change 2 bulbs:) have done that a few times in the places i have done lights for.

[jonbailey19808]

Just another example of how refrigeration techs have to know a little about everything. :)

[kerndt]

I had one of those testers, and took it back. The tester will light any flourescent blub that has not lost its gas, if the connectors or heaters at the end of blubs were bad the tester would still light the bulb, but it wouldn't work in the fixture.

To troubleshoot flourescent fixtures, you almost have to be a parts changer.

1. check power, and for burnt contacts at blub holders
2. replace blub with a new one that works.
3. replace starter, if it has one
4. replace ballast

All florescent fixtures are rated for minium temperatures, and there are some special fixtures "vapor tight" and other specifically rated for coolers and frezzers. Like Chill said goto a good electrical supply house, they will have this information

[fordrules]

Everything you want to know about commercial lighting. Their online training is free and very informative

http://www.advancetransformer.com/university/