Galley Fluorescent Light

[gator67]

We have a 4-foot, two-bulb, 110 volt fluorescent fixture on the ceiling over the sink. The ballast would get hot and the lights would go out. When the ballast cooled, it worked again. We replaced the old fixture (a "Universal") with a different, supposedly, superior, brand. (I can't remember the name and I don't want to unscrew the cover from the ceiling to find it). We put in the same bulbs we had in the old fixture, and it now appears that the bulbs are not as bright as they were before... both my wife and I noticed the difference. Is it possible that something in the new fixture is causing a loss of brightness?

[gator67]

We have a 4-foot, two-bulb, 110 volt fluorescent fixture on the ceiling over the sink. The ballast would get hot and the lights would go out. When the ballast cooled, it worked again. We replaced the old fixture (a "Universal") with a different, supposedly, superior, brand. (I can't remember the name and I don't want to unscrew the cover from the ceiling to find it). We put in the same bulbs we had in the old fixture, and it now appears that the bulbs are not as bright as they were before... both my wife and I noticed the difference. Is it possible that something in the new fixture is causing a loss of brightness?

[BOB E]

Most new fluorescent fixtures come with electronic ballasts, older ones had magnetic ballasts. The new ones generally draw less current and some require "electronic" fluorescent tubes. I'm not sure what the difference is, in the tubes however, you might look into this.

[Gary RVRoamer]

Your old tubes were probably type F40T8. The bulb type is printed right on the tube, near the end. Unless your new fixture calls for something different (unlikely if the F40T8's fit), then the light output should be the same. However, differences in the diffuser (the crinkly translucent shield that covers the light) can make the light appear brighter or dimmer by diffusing the light differently.

I don't believe there is any such thing as an "electronic fluorescent tube", but if there is it will have a different type designation than F40T8. Flourescent designations are standardized, so all bulbs of the same type are interchangeable (though not necesarily of the same quality or life span). Use whatever type of tube your fixture calls for.

There is however a type F32T8 which is a 32 watt version of the F40 that is supposed to save energy and deliver essentially the same amount of light.