Florescents ballast issue... Solved

[angryninjas]

Hey guys, I recently bought an Empire King machine, and the top cabinet lights worked fine.  Yesterday, I turned it on, and neither florescent tube in the top cabinet lit up.  This model has two of them, mounted vertically.  So I took the glass off, and both ends of each tube glow, but the tubes don't fire up... Strange that they are both doing it.  Another funny thing is if I slightly twist either of the bulbs in their socket, the one I twist will fire up... But if I turn the machine off, wait a few seconds, then turn it in again... Same thing.  It requires another twist to fire up again.  Both bulbs behave the same way.  Any idea what would cause this?  Is it a power supply issue or something?

I was just trying to think of anything that may have changed and just remembered that it started happening when I plugged it into a surge protector with one other machine, instead of directly into the wall.  Would the use of a power strip reduce the voltage any and cause the florescent tube to not fire but run the rest of the machine like normal?  I'm not home right now or I would simply unplug the power strip and plug it in directly to see what happens. 

Here is a pic of the inside of the top cabinet.  Notice both ends of both tubes glowing

[rickhunter]

Just replace the ballast, they are not that expensive for these lamps.

[angryninjas]

Yeah but if it was the ballast, they wouldn't both go out at the same time, right?  Or maybe they are both connected to the same ballast... I'll have to take a look when I get home.  I'll let you know what I find.

[CVslots]

Then start throwing parts at it, I'd be starting with a power supply. Doesn't make much sense maybe, as I start with the problem, and work back up the line, but others don't. Both methods work, one just takes longer....some times you get lucky and it's on the problem end, other times its at the root.

[blueridgeslots]

Since this is on a S+ platform try looking for the Starter or Starters, probably near the Ballast if not around the housing somewhere, twist and remove the Starter when powered up with ends lit and see if the tubes light, if so there is your problem

[knagl]

Since this is on a S+ platform try looking for the Starter or Starters

 

Since it's both bulbs, the starter was my first guess.  It's a little thing the size of a C-cell battery that twists into place.  They're super high voltage when they're doing their starting duties, so I'd avoid tinkering with them too much.  If you have another S+ in the house, try swapping the starters (with the power off, of course) to see if the problem follows the starter.  If it does, there's your answer.

[rickhunter]

For some reason I thought the S+ had self-starting ballasts  .  I just looked at mine and the starter is right there under the ballast, but his being a bonus top machine, the story might be different.

[angryninjas]

Since this is on a S+ platform try looking for the Starter or Starters

 

Since it's both bulbs, the starter was my first guess.  It's a little thing the size of a C-cell battery that twists into place.  They're super high voltage when they're doing their starting duties, so I'd avoid tinkering with them too much.  If you have another S+ in the house, try swapping the starters (with the power off, of course) to see if the problem follows the starter.  If it does, there's your answer.

That solved it, thanks so much guys!  Replaced the starter, both tubes fired right up