sharn Posted February 24, 2007 Report Share Posted February 24, 2007 just wondering if anyone knows what to do with the Aqua One AL-30D (3 foot double fluro tube) when one of the tubes just doesnt turn on anymore? ive got the round starters in my larger 4 foot lights but im not sure what to do about the Aqua One ones. its definatly not the tube either, it was recently replaced and the actual unit has been making a slight buzzing noise when that side of the unit is turned on (and it flickered too for a bit before turning on which im told is the starter motor?). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fishboi Posted February 24, 2007 Report Share Posted February 24, 2007 unscrew the sides and u'll see the starters, its the side further away from the switches. hope that makes sense Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
davidb Posted February 24, 2007 Report Share Posted February 24, 2007 yep I did the same thing on tuesday. you just have to replace the starter for the bulb that isn't working... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sharn Posted February 24, 2007 Author Report Share Posted February 24, 2007 you guys are legends i shall get onto that tomorrow Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DiverJohn Posted February 24, 2007 Report Share Posted February 24, 2007 For an extra $2 you should ALWAYS replace starters with tubes, ages ago when i offered tubes for sale, they where included. I am not 100% sure on if your Aqua one is the same as mine, but you may like to check the connections of ALL the wireing into the components. I was having drama's with 1 tube in my AO 2x3ft unit, after trying EVERYTHING and almost replacing the ballast I touched a wire into one of the ballasts and it fell out in my hand!!! So I undid the screw then pushed the wire back in and hey presto! The ballast stopped buzzing, light lit... and stayed lit, all good!!! And I am sure it doesnt need to be said but... disconnect it from the mains!! HTH Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
richms Posted February 27, 2007 Report Share Posted February 27, 2007 Its not critical to replace a starter if it is still starting quickly, the problems happen when they dont open within a second of turn on, the tube ends start to blacken. Since aquariums dont start too often, the starters should last for a good few tube changes, whereas ones in offices which are off and on all the time will usually fail at about the same time as the tubes. If the starters dead, and you left a tube in and the ends were glowing, then the tube is probarbly stuffed anyway, so you may want to replace it too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sharronpaul Posted February 27, 2007 Report Share Posted February 27, 2007 All good advice. But it has to be said (as I'm a safety and compliance officer at work) unplug the thing first! If you'd rather not do it, Sharn, I could change them for you. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
davidb Posted February 27, 2007 Report Share Posted February 27, 2007 hehe sharron! why do you ruin all the fun (Visions of starwars/ darth maul/ light sabre battles etc) :lol: :lol: :lol: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sharronpaul Posted February 27, 2007 Report Share Posted February 27, 2007 I did that once, a long long time ago, (in a galaxy far far away!) with a 5' light fitting... was great until I dropped it on the table in my old man's workshop, and got glass down my gumboot, which embedded itself in my foot :oops: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tsarmina Posted February 27, 2007 Report Share Posted February 27, 2007 if a light keeps turning on and off, is that a starter problem??? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sharn Posted February 27, 2007 Author Report Share Posted February 27, 2007 id say so tsar- if my experience is anything to go on. i fixed mine, i just stole the starter out of my 4 footer and popped it in and away it goes. now i just gotta get a starter for my 4 footer :lol: does it matter the one in the bung light said 4-65W and the one i put in said 4-85W? probably shoulda asked this before hand just incase :lol: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Discusguru Posted February 27, 2007 Report Share Posted February 27, 2007 It doesn't matter, as long as it's not over 85watts you should be fine. ron Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
richms Posted February 27, 2007 Report Share Posted February 27, 2007 Once its started you can pull the starter out, and you can put the stuffed one in so that it starts and pull it out once it has struck and it should stay on. The starter will be closing again once the light is running. That can happen if the tube is near stuffed however since the voltage across it goes up as wattage decreses. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sharn Posted February 28, 2007 Author Report Share Posted February 28, 2007 discusguru- the fluros are only 30W each so it doesnt sound like im going to be creating electrical fires :lol: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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