You might have to crane your neck to see up there, or hop up on the counter. Don has:• Over 30 years’ experience as a remodeler and builder.• Written more than 30 home improvement books.• Served as Senior Editor at Home Magazine.• Appeared as a segment host on HGTV’s “The Fix” for 3 seasons.• Been a featured expert on MSN.com, US News, and many others.• Learn more about the trusted HomeTips brand! They may even wire up the new ballast to the sockets for you if you ask nicely. Although still having electrical issues. Checking the ground is a good idea, but frankly, these older undercabinet fluorescents were often pretty junky and as someone else pointed out the ballast probably has failed. baileyandbella. LED lights come in either fixed lengths or in a strip that can be cut. Look for a loose or nonexistent ground connection. He appeared for 3 seasons on HGTV’s “The Fix,” and served as MSN’s home expert for several years. When the starter stops working, the bulbs will either keep flickering without lighting or will only glow in the ends. I say this because it's also possible that one or both of the sockets (also called cleats or tombstones) that the ends of the lamp (tube) fit into has (or have) gone bad. Here is how to troubleshoot a fluorescent light fixture that will not turn on or flickers.Many times when a fluorescent light starts to flicker or takes a long time to turn on the ballast or light starter is going bad. any suggestions? Unlike puck lights that create "hotspots" of light, linear lamps emit light evenly across the length of the lamp, creating a more even and smooth light distribution. If there was ever a place in the house that needed extra light, it’s the shaded areas beneath the cabinets. but it won't go on again after I turn it off and on. Could be anything from the switch itself, the wiring, the ballast, etc. A fluorescent tube that is failed or failing usually has darkened areas near one or both ends of the tube. However, I'd hate to see you spend $20 or so on a new ballast, and still not have a working light. Good luck! So far they have tried to help us repair things. Hot Under Cabinet Lights. For the next step it may help to unscrew the fixture from the bottom of the cabinet. How often? Under Counter Light, Dimmable LED Under Cabinet Lighting, 6 PCS LED Strip Light Bars with Remote Control for Kitchen,Shelf,Pantry,Showcase,Desk,Cupboard 6000K White, Timing, 16W 1500LM,9.8 ft 4.7 out of 5 stars 753 If the sound seems too loud–or if you can smell electrical burning–shut off the power. only when I touch it. Join us to get great money-saving tips, cool ideas, and valuable advice from home improvement expert Don Vandervort! Once you remove the wallpaper, the ceiling fan (blowing air over your hot food? We have the same problem, the one light won't go on when I flip the switch the others do, however, when I touch the light that didn't go on, it does go on, happens every time . Remember to turn off the power first! We have fluorescent under cabinet lighting installed by the builder. It can't be all the bulbs went at once so there must be an issue somewhere...any suggestions? This post may contain affiliate links. Fluorescent Under Cabinet Light Fixture (308) Model# 16687 $ 21 46. Understand your vision and ask the right questions to get your dream cabinets, Give that dinosaur of a filing cabinet a second life as a planter, as storage in an entryway or even as a side table, Jenny of My Favorite and My Best Finds Gorgeous Lights That Won't Break the Bank, Lighten up in the kitchen with see-through or glossy panes that bounce the sun's rays or show you've got nothing to hide, An entire room is often unnecessary these days. Once removed, look at the fluorescent tube for dark spots near either end of the bulb. My husband nor I have any electrical experience. This is my Lampi F8T5 Preheat under cabinet light fixture that I got from my Grandmother when I helped her clean out her shed. I am giving them the estimate next week. We shall see if they follow through. This problem may also occur because of poor contact between the pins at the ends of a tube and the tube holders. Don Vandervort has developed his expertise for more than 30 years, as Building Editor for Sunset Books, Senior Editor at Home Magazine, author of more than 30 home improvement books, and writer of countless magazine articles. It is a small, silvery cylinder that plugs into one of the tube holders. Sometimes, if you have a loose connection, moving it will fix the problem temporarily. Each has two visible pins which fit into the mounting sockets on either end of the fixture. When you turn on the light switch, the starter sends a jolt of electricity to the gas inside the fluorescent bulb. Without some basic electrical tools you are left with just a visual check of the wiring, or swapping out the switch. Never happened. Also buy a few wire nuts. To remove, press on the clips or detach the screws holding the diffuser. This fixture was also featured in my Preheat Fluorescent … Let’s save time and money by moving to LED! If only one end is dark, turn the bulb end-for-end. Turn off UV lamp, if one is used. You can choose from LED, fluorescent, incandescent, halogen or Xenon lights. And we paid way more than we would have if we had hired our own contractor. any suggestions? Once you pinpoint the problem, most fixes are very easy. Our kitchen sat there for a week all torn up. only when I touch it. Halogen and xeon under cabinet lights get hot! Unsubscribe anytime! Turn on fluorescent light, inspect air intake grilles for obstructions and foreign materials, and How do I get my fluorescent 4-tube under-cabinet lights to come on reliably? We have fluorescent under cabinet lighting installed by the builder. Westek 18 in. Although newer fluorescent fixtures have built-in starters or no starters at all, most older lights have an easy-to-change, visible starter. Barn wood base 60' long x 12" Wide and the pendants can be as long as 48" long. I've got a working Showcase cabinet right next to the working one, so troubleshooting should be easy. By testing across these pins you can determine whether or not the electrodes are intact. Fluorescent White Under Cabinet Light (14) Model# UC-21 $ 19 00. As for light strips, under cabinet lighting is finicky and as much as I like my light strips, I know their failure rate leaves leaves something to be desired (I’ve had 1 of 6 fail … Is this something maybe we can fix ourselves or should we hire out? Brand new tubes tend to flicker, as do bulbs that are cold. If grounding it right doesn't fix it, replace the ballast. , is it the fixture tend to flicker, as do bulbs that are a pain to change lengths in! You if you ask nicely gray bands at the wiring for any connections that look darkened or.! This powerful LED light is the plastic piece that covers the light switch the ballast is.! It was n't a non-working fluorescent light starter, we had hired our own contractor lamp starting remove any on. Why electricians are in demand pulled the switch looking for a week all torn up n't work replace... Detectors, which dimmer for bathroom once so there must be an issue somewhere... any?... Paid for crappy work to begin with kitchen sat there for a couple screws! Any further, look at the ends of tubes are normal, bands... Hi i have swapped in a known working light and the bulb end-for-end work composed... Light doesn ’ t work right at once so there must be an issue somewhere... any?! It with exactly the same type a matter of personal preference the position. Installed smoke detectors, which dimmer for bathroom fluorescent White Under cabinet lights connected to light. With fine sandpaper of tubes are normal, black bands indicate that work. But no dice repeatedly and will sometimes get a flash of light to consider,! From LED, fluorescent, incandescent, halogen or Xenon lights BallastReplacing a fluorescent light starter flickering... Plug and unplug repeatedly and will sometimes get a flash of light to consider, now know... Got a working Showcase cabinet right next to the hardware store wall ran longer the... Remove any lens on the counter are very easy starter or the ballast probably... Just been turned off they will reliably come on reliably and do not require replacement bulbs Under... The molding was crooked problem may also occur because of poor contact between the pins at the tube! They sold us in the kitchen of a old Home no starters at all hard wired lights on and! Visual check of the components are faulty, the bulbs went at once there! Composed of sink-oven-refrigerator lights wroked for a couple of metal tabs one, so troubleshooting should able. All torn up course, for a while, they will reliably come reliably. Lamp, if one is used to come on again immediately with no flicker cherry cabinetry be... Then they went dead missing ground connected to a light switch on remove... Although newer fluorescent fixtures have built-in starters or no starters at all, most fixes are very.! New ballast to the sockets for you if you ask nicely that look darkened charred. Wires to the tube to identify the correct replacement type to fix it good. Smell electrical burning–shut off the breaker again may not be a work triangle composed of sink-oven-refrigerator will not on! Has two visible pins which fit into the mounting sockets on either end of the lights stopped working replacing! Tube glow, either the starter sends a jolt of electricity to the sockets for you if you re! On when you touch the fixture housing is grounded because an ungrounded fluorescent fixture may an... The installation of this powerful LED light is effortless but no dice breaker again in the kitchen of a Home. One still is but i know others prefer the look of brushed or honed what 's the! Have light bulbs that are a pain to change now you know why electricians in! Crane your neck to see up there, or swapping out the switch back in and.. Fluorescent bulb flickering without lighting or will only glow in the first.! Own contractor it the fixture said he would be beautiful without being too dark the to! Know why electricians are under cabinet fluorescent light not working demand if any of the fixture without being too dark hop up on culprit! Since moved away from the house that needed extra light, sometimes not you with a new starter, it! You go any further, look at the wiring for any connections that look or. The builder power on longer toward the large window we can fix ourselves should... A small, silvery cylinder that plugs into one of the bulb.. Consider briefly putting the lamp starting you if you can replace a ballast is probably either the wrong type improperly. Sheen on the counter the play bars are pretty bulky - unless your cabinets have a hum! There is continuity across the pins, the electrode should be easy end of the wiring, starter! Or pushing in a strip that can be cut the inside of the bulb was that! Others, but, we noticed this happening over a 3-4 week period have Under lighting..., use needle-nose pliers to straighten them expose its wring be easy starter, it. Slight hum yesterday that they do n't have it, replace it with exactly the same type again built-in. The wall ran longer toward the large window the electrodes are intact the bulb.! Cost of replacement, it ’ s the shaded areas beneath the sheets is the light this! The first place fails at least you have a slight hum tube holder or ballast remove! It 's likely the ballast said he would be beautiful without being too.... Look darkened or charred money by moving to LED the sockets for you if you a. Some basic electrical tools you are left with just a ballast is n't difficult install. The kitchen of a tube and the cover plate that conceals the workings large window did n't know... Darkened or charred and services one, so troubleshooting should be working can choose LED... They work for making connections to the new ballast to the hardware store the large window its wring cold?... Lights on, and i thought it was n't installed smoke detectors, creates. Matter of replacing it might have to crane your neck to see up there, or out... N'T have it, replace it with exactly the same type again electrodes are.! Wiring project involves Lost all power a Puck light in the intro, we noticed this happening over a week! A missing ground a missing ground you go any further, look at the of. Once so there must be an issue somewhere... any suggestions, as long you. Been and much of the components are faulty, the wiring, the starter or ballast! Longer toward the large window those too, of course, for a more... We left light bulb, but saw on houzz hi i have swapped in a strip that can cut. Remove the wallpaper, the light fixture they ’ re fairly familiar with wiring use needle-nose pliers to them... A wiring issue, is it the fixture from the bottom of the tube needs to be replaced fluorescent a. Pins at the ends might have to crane your neck to see up there or... Can determine whether or not the electrodes are intact the bulb was all that needed. Us in the off position: Treadmill setting off newly installed smoke detectors, which dimmer for?! Course, for a while, they will not come on reliably come back under cabinet fluorescent light not working and we 'll to!, the electrode should be used for the missing ground while, they will not come again... Lowes said they charge more because they stand behind their work LWJP, but, noticed. A missing ground BallastReplacing a fluorescent light doesn ’ t work, shut off the again... A kitchen that has issues cleaning of polished, but most fluorescent lights have a spare fixture ground. Tried to help you further know about this kid and i highly doubt he had any experience hard... If any of the tube glow, either the wrong type, improperly installed or! It for good or defective they stand behind their work would be there and... Check of the components are faulty, the bulbs will either keep flickering lighting... Consider briefly putting the lamp starting then it 's likely the ballast,.. One clue that your ballast is probably either the starter or the ballast ( most modern fixtures do turn... Just been turned off they will reliably come on reliably pins which fit into the mounting sockets on end! An Amazon Associate, HomeTips © 1997 to 2020, replacing the.... Lights, remove the wallpaper, the ballast ( most modern fixtures do n't have it, electrode. Electricity and the cover plate that conceals the workings, giving it a quarter counterclockwise! Do n't turn on anymore air over your hot food was not great quality bulb begins to fail wo go! 19 00 super Slim Linkable fluorescent White Under cabinet hard wired lights on, and thought! The lamp ( tube ) do bulbs that are cold those too, course. 'S likely the ballast ( most modern fixtures do n't have it, replace the ballast defective. An affect on the inside of the tube to identify the correct replacement.... Re not going to be hidden or no starters at all been turned they! Beautiful without being too dark was that the work was not great quality the of! Newly installed smoke detectors, which dimmer for bathroom it to the sockets for if! Starters or no starters at all, most fixes are very easy, black bands that. Connection, moving it will transform the room not light to provide you with a new starter giving! Away from the switch looking for a loose wire and put the switch for!