Overheated fluorescent lights can cause fires! Overheating of the ballast could result in the following: Ignition of nearby combustible materials. Molten compounds from within the ballast dripping on stock, equipment or furnishings.
What causes a ballast to burn out?
Causes of Ballast Failure Heat and moisture are enemies #1 and #2 to your ballast. Every ballast has an ambient operating temperature range and UL location rating. When it’s too hot or too cold, the ballast can burn or fail to start your lamps at all.
Can a fluorescent ballast shock you?
UL said in a release that its recent testing confirmed that luminaires with magnetic ballasts intended for F40T12 fluorescent lamps may pose a risk of electric shock during installation of LED lamps intended for direct substitution of a fluorescent lamp while the circuit is energized.
Are ballast supposed to get hot?
Ballasts usually run hot, about 140 degrees F, but if one is so hot that you can’t keep your hands on it, it is likely the culprit. An overheating ballast can become hot enough to ignite combustible ceiling tiles or any other combustible it contacts.
Why is my fluorescent light smoking?
This can happen at the end of its useful life. At that time, the arc contained in a fluorescent light sometimes elevates the temperature of the plastic near one end of the tube, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Energy Star. It can produce limited smoke and odor.
Do fluorescent ballasts hold a charge?
When your fluorescent light flickers or makes a loud and annoying hum, a degrading ballast is the cause. The ballast takes in electricity and then regulates current to the bulbs. A typical ballast will generally last about 20 years, but cold environments and bad bulbs can decrease this lifespan significantly.
Do light ballasts hold a charge?
They don’t usually hold a charge but I always short the terminals out with a screwdriver.
