Light question

[MadReefer]

I purchased 4 new bulbs from a vendor here in Sep 2009. Two months later one bulb died; I contacted the vendor who gave me the manufacturer email and number. They replaced the bulb with no problems. I noticed today that another bulb is now out which is why I think the bubble algae is starting up heavy. My question is how can I determine if its the fixture or the bulbs? It is a 36" Tek T5 4 bulb with individual reflectors.

 

[The_Codfather]

I purchased 4 new bulbs from a vendor here in Sep 2009. Two months later one bulb died; I contacted the vendor who gave me the manufacturer email and number. They replaced the bulb with no problems. I noticed today that another bulb is now out which is why I think the bubble algae is starting up heavy. My question is how can I determine if its the fixture or the bulbs? It is a 36" Tek T5 4 bulb with individual reflectors.

Hope this helps...http://www.ehow.com/how_4843370_test-ballasts-fluorescent-light-fixtures.html

 

[MadReefer]

Thanks for the link. I will give that a shot.

 

[MadReefer]

I took the fixture down and checked the ballasts and no leakage, nice and clean. I then remembered I had some old bulbs and tried them and they fired right up. I will eventually check the ballasts as the link states and will check the bulbs in another fixture, probably stop at a LFS.

 

[MadReefer]

Noticed two lights out tonight now and both controlled by the same switch. When I try to turn it off and on I hear a buzz and nothing happens. Maybe the switch is bad?

 

[The_Codfather]

Could be.. but a tester would really help you pin point the prob