Light bulb flicker when turning on after long time off.

[sew333]

Hello. I have question. I dont know if i have faulty wiring,bad installation or its bulb. When i have lights off long time and turn on lightning ( bulb halogen ) , there is a for 2-3 second bulb dimm/flicker and its normal. Happens only when lightning is off long time and i turn on.

When i turn off lights and turn on again its fine. That flicker/dimm happens only when lights are off long time.
That happens for example if i have lights off 2-3 hours and turn on.
Thx

[stj]

Re: Light bulb flicker when turning on after long time off.

if it really is halogen then you have a bad socket, switch or a problem with the wiring.
maybe a terminal needs tightning.

[sew333]

Re: Light bulb flicker when turning on after long time off.

Why it happens only after lights are off for long time?


Bulb looking like that here:
https://www.destinationlighting.com/...17150~zoom.jpg

[stj]

Re: Light bulb flicker when turning on after long time off.

that is a PL type flourescent lamp, not halogen.
so forget everything i said.

for a flourescent lamp it could indicate the tube is getting old.
but they always start a bit dim when they are cold anyway.

one thing i found with those, if your using an adapter that goes into a regular lamp holder then they have a capacitor in them that will fail over time.
but it's easy to clip them open and replace it.

[eccerr0r]

Re: Light bulb flicker when turning on after long time off.

Not sure if it's "new" versus "always like this" behavior?

Those four pin fluorescent tubes all seem to do that for me if you have a traditional/old type auto starter coupled with a magnetic ballast. The two pin PL-13 has the old starter built in, and coupled with a magnetic ballast, and thus it behaves the same way.

Replacing the starter with an electronic starter will help, though I'd swap the starter and the ballast to an electronic one, I hate those old starters lol...

[stj]

Re: Light bulb flicker when turning on after long time off.

the one in the pic is 4pin so probably driven by a high frequency invertor

[eccerr0r]

Re: Light bulb flicker when turning on after long time off.

That remains to be ascertained but for sure the neon starter + mag ballast system will flicker before lights on as normal behavior ...

... and after using electronic/high frequency inverter ballasts, I hate the flickering. I have one of those linear T8 13W desk lamps that I threw out the old starter and magnetic ballast and replaced them with the guts of an "instant on" electronic ballast CFL whose heater burned out...

Lights On Flicker Free Bliss.

[petehall347]

Re: Light bulb flicker when turning on after long time off.

my desklamp just has the on off switch that you hold in for about 6 to ten seconds then let it out and it lights up . no starter . and no flicker .

[eccerr0r]

Re: Light bulb flicker when turning on after long time off.

Yep, that's the "manual start" fluorescent... which I despise even more than the flickery auto-start. It's good to fire and forget lamps like incandescent, having to hold the button down until it strikes is annoying

[sam_sam_sam]

Re: Light bulb flicker when turning on after long time off.

There issues with this type of light bulb and the blast if it the old fashion is the starters if it is electronic version sometimes depending on the version it has a tendency to fry the bulbs if they are in a can type of fixture

[RJARRRPCGP]

Re: Light bulb flicker when turning on after long time off.

but they always start a bit dim when they are cold anyway.

Many CFLs are usually only a bit dim when cold-started, but some are extreme, some look like I'm starting up a metal halide or an HPS!

I've seen TCP CFLs start up like an HPS!

CFLs usually are somewhat dim at startup, but not as pronounced as 48-inch T12s and 48-inch T8s, where the Phillips Alto II 48-inch T8s often have a wavy pattern when cold, especially my 6K-rated Alto II 48-inch T8s.

[stj]

Re: Light bulb flicker when turning on after long time off.

only a communist "green eco nut" would create a 4foot T8!!

besides, they may be the same length as a T12 or the older big ones, but they obviously have a much smaller surface area.
so your overdriving the fuck out of it to get the Lumens and the lifespan will be short.
followed by a trip to the landfill to add a bit more phosfor and mercury to the pile!!!

i really miss my 5foot 65w "fat" tube i had in my old place.

[sam_sam_sam]

Re: Light bulb flicker when turning on after long time off.

only a communist "green eco nut" would create a 4foot T8!!

These are crap light bulbs 4 foot T8 54 watt you would be lucky if they last a year

[RJARRRPCGP]

Re: Light bulb flicker when turning on after long time off.

These are crap light bulbs 4 foot T8 54 watt you would be lucky if they last a year

Mine are 32-watt.

I also have plenty of 48-inch T12s! (40-watt)

IIRC, the 54-watt ones are usually T5s!

[eccerr0r]

Re: Light bulb flicker when turning on after long time off.

Using the F32T8's in the old magnetic ballasts will probably burn out in that year...
Should be using electronic ballasts with the T8's.

[RJARRRPCGP]

Re: Light bulb flicker when turning on after long time off.

Using the F32T8's in the old magnetic ballasts will probably burn out in that year...

None of my F32T8s are connected to a electro-magnetic ballast. They are all the new type, much like T5s.

But I still get that familiar wavy pattern with my 6K-rated ones when cold.

[sew333]

Re: Light bulb flicker when turning on after long time off.

So why that bulb dimm/flicker shortly for a moment only when lights was off few hours?

[brethin]

Re: Light bulb flicker when turning on after long time off.

Post a picture of the bulb and the socket.

[RJARRRPCGP]

Re: Light bulb flicker when turning on after long time off.

Without removing any of the bulbs:

(The cord was scuffed when I bought the fixture, IIRC, LOL)

[stj]

Re: Light bulb flicker when turning on after long time off.

So why that bulb dimm/flicker shortly for a moment only when lights was off few hours?

a flourescent tube contains a drip of mercury,
when you turn it on from cold it has to heat the mercury to make it vaporise and spread through the tube for the tube to start and light evenly.
thats why sometimes when you turn it on you may see the ends glow - that's the heaters