The Ballasts are Bad

Old ballasts (top) are 5 pounds,
the new ones about 1.5.

We have overhead fluorescent tubes in the kitchen, bathrooms, family room and garage. Not only has disposing of them been a hassle because of the mercury, but now many of the ballasts in our 30-year-old house are going bad.

Replacing a ballast involves

turning off the power

removing the fluorescent tubes

removing the fixture cover (carefully!)

clipping the seven wires to the old ballast

Fixture with ballasts removed

removing the screws attaching the old ballast (again carefully!)

attaching the new ballast to the fixture

stripping the seven wires on the fixture and connecting them to the new ballast

replacing the fixture cover

replacing the fluorescent tubes

The new electronic ballasts cost $17 to $19 and are much lighter and thinner than the old magnetic ballasts. Fortunately, standard lengths haven't changed, so the old screws are in the correct location for attaching the new ballasts.

I'm not the handiest of men, so it takes me about two hours to replace each ballast. Four down, six to go, and let's hope that the other 12 keep working for a while.

By the way, the amateur handyman is cautioned to be careful lest too much force cause the fixture to tumble from the ceiling plaster (right).

Do as I say, dear reader, not as I do. © 2013 Stephen Yuen