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Republic of the Philippines

Department of Education
REGION I
SCHOOLS DIVISION OF CANDON CITY

11
Electrical Installation and
Maintenance

Quarter 3 – Module 1

Prepared by:

WILBERT E. ELECCION
Subject Teacher
 LESSON 1: Troubleshooting Defective Fluorescent Lamp Fixture

I. Objective/s:
1. Know and understand the different cause of problems of fluorescent
lamp;
2. Identify the steps or actions needed in troubleshooting and
3. Observe safety in the work place.
II. Guide Questions:
1. What will you do if the problem is the ballast?
2. What will you do if the problem is the lamp?
3. What will you do if the problem is the starter?

III.
Fluorescent lamps have more components compared to
incandescent lamps and when installed in pairs or groupings, things may
go wrong and things get more complicated. In this scenario,
troubleshooting is necessary. Troubleshooting is problem detecting and
solving, often applied to repair defective gadgets or products like
fluorescent lamp fixtures. It is a systematic search for the source of a
problem so that it can be solved, to make the gadgets or product
operational again.

Troubleshooting Guide Table for Defective Fluorescent Lamp

Fixtures
Problem Possible Cause Corrective Action
A. Lamps fails to light.  Leak in the tube  Inspect visually the
No flickering. lamp tube for
possible cracked or
damaged. If there
is, replace with a
new one.
 No power to the  Check the power
lamp fixture. source. Make sure
that all power
control such as
circuit breaker and
switch are turned
ON.
  Loose contact  Adjust the lamp
between the lamp and set it properly.
and the lamp Clean dirty sockets
holder. thoroughly. Check
the spacing of the
lamp holders. If
they are too far a
part, make needed
adjustment. If
damaged, replace
the lamp holders.

 Improper wiring  Checked the wiring

connections to see
whether it follows
the diagram on the
ballast label.

 Defective ballast  Check the ballast.

This may be
determined by
checking continuity
between the leads
of the ballast. If the
pointer of the multi
tester deflects a
little the ballast is
good; if its deflect
fully, the windings
of the ballast is
shorted and if it
will not deflect, the
winding is open.
Replace the
ballast.
F. Slow or Intermittent  Loose contact  Adjust the lamp
starting between the lamp and set it properly.
and the holder. Clean dirty sockets
thoroughly. Check
the spacing of the
lamp holders. If
they are too far a
part, make needed
adjustment. If
damaged, replace
the lamp holders.
 Inactive starter  Test starter in
adjustment fixture.
 If does not work,
replace the starter.

 Improper wiring  Checked the wiring

connections to see
whether it follows
the diagram on the
ballast label.

H. Short life span of  Constant switching  Avoid unnecessary

the lamp. ON and OFF of the turning On and
circuit. OFF the circuit, to
maximize the life
span of the lamp.

 Loose contact  Adjust the lamp

between the lamp and set it properly.
and the holder. Clean dirty sockets
thoroughly. Check
the spacing of the
lamp holders. If
they are too far a
part, make needed
adjustment. If
damaged, replace
the lamp holders.

 Improper wiring  Checked the wiring

connections to see
whether it follows
the diagram on the
ballast label.

 Defective starter  Remove the starter

while the lamp is
ON. If the flashing
stops, the starter is
defective. Replace
it.

L. Blinking or  Impurities inside  At times, the arc in

flickering the lamp the lamp may swirl
during normal
operation. Trying to
turn the lamp ON
and OFF usually
solve this, if this
does not work
 replace the lamp.
 Loose contact  Adjust the lamp
between the lamp and set it properly.
and the holder. Clean dirty sockets
thoroughly. Check
the spacing of the
lamp holders.
If they are too far a
part, make needed
adjustment. If
damaged, replace
the lamp holders.

 Improper wiring  Check the wiring

connections to see
whether it follows
the diagram in the
ballast label.

 Defective starter  Remove the starter

while the lamp is
ON. If the flashing
stops, the starter is
defective. Replace
it.

 Defective ballast  If the ballast

frequency rating is
not the same as
the line frequency,
flickering may
occur. Replace
with a ballast with
proper rating.

IV. Exercises: Direction: identify the cause or corrective action to complete

the Troubleshooting Guide Table.

Troubleshooting Guide table for Defective Fluorescent Lamp Fixtures

Problem Possible Cause Corrective Action
Q. Lamps fails to light.  Leak in the tube 1.
No flickering.

2.  Check the power

source. Make sure
that all power
control such as
circuit breaker and
switch are turned
ON.

 Loose contact  Adjust the lamp

between the lamp and set it properly.
and the lamp Clean dirty sockets
holder. thoroughly. Check
the spacing of the
lamp holders. If
they are too far a
part, make needed
adjustment. If
damaged, replace
the lamp holders.

 Improper wiring 3.

4.  Check the ballast.

This may be
determined by
checking continuity
between the leads
of the ballast. If the
pointer of the multi
tester deflects a
little the ballast is
good; if its deflect
fully, the windings
of the ballast is
shorted and if it
will not deflect, the
winding is open.
Replace the
ballast.
V. Slow or Intermittent 5.  Adjust the lamp
 starting and set it properly.
Clean dirty sockets
thoroughly. Check
the spacing of the
lamp holders. If
they are too far a
part, make needed
adjustment. If
damaged, replace
the lamp holders.

 Inactive starter 6.

7.  Checked the wiring

connections to see
whether it follows
the diagram on the
ballast label.

Y. Short life span of  Constant switching 8.

the lamp. ON and OFF of the
circuit.

 Loose contact  Adjust the lamp

between the lamp and set it properly.
and the holder. Clean dirty sockets
thoroughly. Check
the spacing of the
lamp holders. If
they are too far a
part, make needed
adjustment. If
damaged, replace
the lamp holders.

 Improper wiring  Checked the wiring

connections to see
whether it follows
the diagram on the
ballast label.
 9.  Remove the starter
while the lamp is
ON. If the flashing
stops, the starter is
defective. Replace
it.

CC. Blinking or 10.  At times, the arc in

flickering the lamp may swirl
during normal
operation. Trying to
turn the lamp ON
and OFF usually
solve this, if this
does not work
replace the lamp.

V. References: Technical – Vocational – Livelihood Industrial Arts

ELECTRICAL INSTALLATION and MAINTENANCE
Learner’s Material: Module 1 Depart of Education