Annual Lighting Phenomena.

[derekpara]

When the temperature drops at this time of year a strange thing happens in my unheated garage !
When I switch on the flourescent lights nothing happens for at least 30 seconds, after which there is a similar period of hesitant flickering before the tube fully ignites. The same thing happens to another tube on a different circuit. I have changed the starters but to no avail. This phenomena occurs every year without fail. I can live with this, of course, but would like to know why it occurs n Any ideas ?

Cheers.

D

[alavahalf]

.. It's not your starters.. this could be your answer.
When turned off, the mercury in the fluorescent tube condenses on the inside surface of the tube. ... The colder the bulb is to begin with, the longer it takes for all the mercury to evaporate, and for the light to reach full brightness.

[derekpara]

A classic example of 'An Answer in a Nutshell !'
Thanks, Alava, now I know.

Cheers.

D

[alavahalf]

It was worth getting out of bed for.. That's 2 things you have learned today.

LED fittings are the way forward being number 2.. 8-)