Also, compare the cost of the ballast vs. a new fixture; sometimes it's a better investment to replace the entire fixture. Unscrew the ballast and remove it. 99% of the time it will be one of the tubes that is the culprit. Remove the metal cover in the middle of the fixture. The lights come with a warranty but removing the light and returning it about once a year isn't worth the trouble. Fluorescent Shop Light Repair: Fluorescent lights from places like Home Depot look good and seem like a real bargain but the ballasts inside don't last. Every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy and safety of this information. Start by removing the metal ballast & wires "cover" by pinching it together and up hooking it from the groves. If it's plugged in, you can simply unplug it, but if it's hardwired, follow this procedure: Turn off the breaker controlling the light circuit. Restore power by switching on the circuit breaker and test the fixture for proper operation. Remove the fluorescent light bulbs from the end light holding fixtures also called the tombstones. Fixtures with four tubes, similarly, have four starters and four ballasts. Don't rely on the light switch to cut off power to the area.Set up a stepladder below the light. I have sever… They are also much less prone to problems. On these, grab the outer edge and gently pull the cover away from the fixture and down. Whatever you do, don't drop them. On either side of the cover, there will be tabs that catch in slots in the fixture. It may be attached with nuts or clips or simply snapped into place. Mount the new ballast to the fixture, using the mounting nut(s) or bolt(s). Most T8 tubes will have a hidden ballast, covered with a casing and resting behind the tube light. Difficult to remove lens from fluorescent fixture doityourself tips for replacing fluorescent bulbs home electrical repairs how to replace the lens for light how to replace fluorescent lighting with a pendant fixture young replacing fluorescent lighting with images makeover tips for replacing fluorescent bulbs. Introducing "One Thing": A New Video Series. Just remove one of the still-working pair of fluorescent tubes and replace it with each of the questionable tubes, one at a time. A hot wire carries the power to the fixture. Test the light afterwards to make sure it doesn’t turn back on. This can’t be stressed enough! Note: The attachment method for ballast covers varies widely among manufacturers. Avoid skin contact with the tar-like substance inside a ballast. Remove the cover from the fixture and remove the bulbs. A hot wire carries the power to the fixture. The cover is in the middle of the fixture, and there are wires coming out of the endcaps going to the lightbulbs. Lenexa, KS 66215 Carefully position a step ladder under the fixture. I cannot find a way to remove the ballast cover on one of my fluorescent light fixtures. Remove the light cover. I am replacing an old fluorescent ballast with a energy saving electronic ballast. How to remove the wrap around the cover of a fluorescent lamp Place your thumbs on the bottom of the cover and your fingers on the top, inside edge of the cover. Telephone: (913) 888-0808 The Spruce uses cookies to provide you with a great user experience. The fixture may appear to have two tubes working off one ballast, but actually there are two ballasts built into one case. The bottom of the dome may also have a nut that loosens to release the cover. Locate the ballast cover on one end of the fixture, unscrew it and remove it. Be careful when handling fluorescent light bulbs as they contain some amount of mercury, which can be harmful to children and pets. I want to replace the whole light fixture. Look for the black wire and white wires connected to the ballast. Turn off the breaker supplying power to the fluorescent light fixture. Remove the Bulbs and Fluorescent Light Fixture Cover. younghouselove.comImage: younghouselove.comHow to Remove a Fluorescent Ceiling Light Fixture Turn off the breaker supplying power to the fluorescent light fixture. If the fixture has a lens inside of a framed lid, look for locking clasps that pull down and allow the lens to swing down. ... with the ballast cover off to expose the wiring. With one hand supporting the cover, use your other hand to pinch and loosen the clips until the cover is completely free. Timothy Thiele is an electrician who advises residential DIYers on how to make home installation projects safe and easy. Step 2. Squeeze the sides of the cover inward to slip the tabs out of the slots, and pull the cover down. Remove the fluorescent ballast compartment cover to expose the internal wiring and ballast. Replace the fluorescent light ballast in four steps. Photo 4: Install the new ballast. Grab the bulb and twist it about 90 degrees until you see the metal contacts at its ends. Use the wire cutters to cut the wires connected to the sockets. Place a ladder to access the lighting fixture. (Unlike other fixtures, I do not need to remove the light bulbs to access the ballast cover.) Unwire the hot wire, then the ground wire. Carefully position a step ladder under the fixture. On either side of the cover, there will be tabs that catch in slots in the fixture. Join Ace Rewards for exclusive offers and savings. Magnetic ballasts are those that tend to hum when the lights are on, and when they go bad, they can drip a tar-like black substance down into the fixture. Don’t just turn the lights off at the light switch. Do not sell my personal information. Dispose of the old ballast, following the recommendations of local authorities for proper disposal practice. Uncover the ballast compartment to reveal the ballast and the internal wiring. Remove the cover from the fixture and remove the bulbs. 10 July 2020. Turn off the breaker to the light fixture, and confirm that the power to that light fixture is off. Set the bulbs in a safe place so they do not break. To remove an acrylic cover from a fluorescent light fixture, push up on one of the short ends of the cover while supporting the other short end with your other hand. Unplug the fixture or turn off the power at the main panel. Remove the case, lamp, and any cover that prevents you from reaching the ballast. Remove the lens, or diffuser cover, from the fixture. Remove the metal cover in the middle of the fixture. Remove the magnetic ballast Note the black and white wires coming from the house circuit connected to the power wires on the ballast. Repeat the process for the remaining tubes. The type of ballast in the fixture will depend on the age of the light fixture. 1. Put your fluorescent tubes in and replace the cover. Check your state and local codes before starting any project. Now is a good time to inspect the sockets holding the tubes at each end of the light fixture. If the light plugs into the wall, unplug it from the outlet to disconnect it from the room’s electrical current. The light works, the ballast works, It’s just ugly. Remove the screws holding the fluorescent fixture to the ceiling. Neither Westlake nor any contributor can be held responsible for damages or injuries resulting from the use of the information in this document. Before you go to the trouble of replacing the ballast, you should determine if a bad ballast is indeed the likely cause of the problem. The test should indicate that there is no voltage present in the wires. Turn off power to the fixture; Open fixture and remove the bulb and ballast casing; Using the wire cutters, cut both power (brown) and neutral (blue) wires coming into the fixture; Cap the wires with wire nuts. As you push up on one short end, angle that end of the cover up into the light fixture a little bit. Bring the ballast with you to the store to find a suitable replacement. [1] X Expert Source Allen Lee Home Improvement Specialist Expert Interview. Some fixtures have a clear plastic lens that wraps around the outside of the fixture. Before touching any wires or wire connections, confirm that the power is off by testing each wire with a non-contact voltage tester. Remove the fluorescent tube(s) and carefully set aside. If you had to cut the wires earlier, or if the wire ends are damaged, strip about 1/2 inch of insulation from the end of each of the fixture wires, using wire strippers. Locate The Ballast On The fluorescent Light Fixture Now, locate the ballast on the existing fluorescent fixture. Clean the floor area under the light fixture whose cover you want to remove. Find two clips between the fixture and the ceiling, if your fixture is flush to the ceiling. The cover on my kitchen fluorescent light fixture broke off. If these ballasts are leaking, they should be regarded as hazardous waste and treated very carefully. Than remove the 10mm nuts 1 … Replace the whole fixture. Squeeze the sides of the cover inward to slip the tabs out of the slots, and pull the cover down. If you are troubleshooting a 4-tube fluorescent fixture, this is easy! Cut the hot and neutral wires. Untwist the wire connectors holding the wires from the ballast to the black, white and bare copper wires from the house wiring. If you have circline fluorescent light bulbs in your kitchen, the cover will likely be a spring-loaded ceiling light fixture. Follow all safety precautions. This will expose the ballast and its wiring. How to Remove Fluorescent Light Cover Step 1. Older fluorescent light ballasts (those manufactured before 1979) likely contain polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), classified by the EPA as an environmental toxin. Connect the ballast wires to the fixture wires to match the original wiring, using wire connectors. This will expose the ballast and its wiring. These lamps must have individual starters and ballasts for each tube. Turn off the power to the circuit containing the light fixture by switching off the appropriate breaker in your home's service panel (breaker box). If your lights flicker or turn themselves off—and you're sure it's not due to bad tubes or bad sockets—it's time to replace the ballast. Pull out on the lip to disengage from the side of the attachment. The cover is in the middle of the fixture, and there are wires coming out of the endcaps going to the lightbulbs. Westlake Ace Hardware Store Support Center, 14000 Marshall Drive Be sure to find a replacement ballast with the same wiring configuration and voltage rating as the original. Don't rely on the light switch to … Photo 2: Cut the old ballast wiring. Locate the wiring cover plate, usually in the center of the fixture. Locate the wiring cover plate, usually in the center of the fixture. Remove the fluorescent tube bulbs from the fixture. Remove the light bulbs (fluorescent tubes). Remove the ballast from the fixture. Remove the fluorescent bulbs from the fixture. Photo 3: Unscrew the old ballast. Remove it by pushing the sides of the metal cover together or unscrewing the screws, whichever is required on your fixture. Nothing special holds the cover in place, other than the ledge of the frame. The best strategy is to take all old ballasts to your nearest hazardous waste disposal site or to consult local authorities for instructions on how to dispose of them. Cut out the Red, Blue and yellow wires near each ballast. Pull the arms of the clips away from the ceiling and gently lower the side of the fixture cover. Remove the ballast cover from the fluorescent fixture. Cut the hot and neutral wires. Of course, you can always replace your entire fluorescent fixture with an … Toll-free: (800) 848-4307, Privacy Policy. Pull the metal cover down and remove it, … Disconnect all of the ballast wires by removing the wire connectors and separating the wires, or, if necessary, cutting the wires close to the ballast using a wire cutter. Unwire the hot wire, then the ground wire. Photo 1: Remove the bulbs and fluorescent light fixture cover. All the clips that held them in broke. Reinstall the wiring cover plate, the light bulbs, and the fixture lens. In addition to the source wires, there may be four or more wires connecting the ballast to the fixture's bulb sockets. On newer fixtures or those that have been updated, the ballasts are electronic and are more energy-efficient and quieter than older-style magnetic ballasts. These are the power source wires. Support the ballast with one hand (to prevent it from falling) and remove its mounting nut(s) or bolt(s) with a nut driver or socket wrench. If your fixture uses circular fluorescent bulbs, a plug … Turn off the electricity to the lights at the breaker box. Use the screwdriver and remove the protective cover that conceals the ballast. Replace the ballast, then replace the metal cover. If they are loose or broken, they should be tightened or replaced. Remove the fixture cover, and unscrew the bulb. If the fixture has a cord and plug, simply unplug it to disconnect from power. Remove the fluorescent tube(s) and carefully set aside. Removing ballast cover on fluorescent fixture [ 3 Answers ] I cannot find a way to remove the ballast cover on one of my fluorescent light fixtures. You should never work on any wiring or internal … It is typically covered in … Standard fluorescent lighting fixtures are more energy-efficient than incandescent light fixtures, and the bulbs generally last considerably longer, but occasionally a special transformer inside the fixture, called a ballast, may need replacing. By using The Spruce, you accept our, Replacing a Toggle Light Switch With a Rocker Style Switch, How to Fix a Hot or Buzzing Dimmer Switch, How to Wire and Install Single-Pole Switches, 9 Reasons Why Light Bulbs Burn Out Too Quickly, How to Install an Electronic Dimmer Switch, How to Replace a Bulb Socket in a Light Fixture, How to Replace a Standard 120-Volt Outlet Receptacle, How to Install an Electrical Junction Box, How to Replace a Wall-Mounted Light Fixture (Sconce), How to Make Pigtail Electrical Wire Connections, How to Replace a 3-Prong Electric Dryer Cord With a 4-Prong Cord, How to Repair a Wall-Mounted Electric Heater. Many fluorescent fixtures have more than one tube in order to provide more light. It is typically covered in … Gently pull down on one end, so the contacts slide out of the socket and remove the bulb from the fixture. Replace the ballast, then replace the metal cover. Hold the upper lip of an acrylic cap on one side of the accessory with your fingers. Choose an electronic ballast, if available. In the light fixture, you will see a metal cover protruding into the light area. Unplug the fixture or turn off the power at the main panel. This is the ballast cover. These types of covers do not require full removal to access the light tubes or ballasts (the device that maintains electrical current in the fixture). But older fluorescent fixtures use magnetic ballasts, and these can go bad. Shut off all power. Get daily tips and tricks for making your best home. Flip the light switch to turn off power to the fixture. Handle these carefully because they are fragile. 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