Has anyone else had this happen?

My 36" 2x96W PC fixture is a Jebo Odyssea brand. Well, I noticed today that the blue bulb had gone out. So after they shut off for the night and cooled down, I was about to take the bulb out (I already have a new one on the way). And for whatever reason, I clicked the lights back on, and the blue actinic came on a little, but only at the 2 ends. So I kept turning the lights on and off and each time the actinic bulb came on more and more...........what the hell? Is it shot? I wont really know until tomorrow when they come on again, but does this happen from time to time? It seems to still be working, but maybe not? I'm confused. My other single strip 96W PC has NEVER done this.....your thoughts?

 

It is a fluorescent fixture. It works by running a high voltage through the gas in the bulb, ( oversimplified ) Yes I have seen this before. Change the bulb out and if it works you're good to go. If it continues to do this with the new bulb then the ballast is going bad or you may have a loose connection on one of the pins.
Remember, Always unplug the fixture before working on it.

Jim

 

Ok a couple days ago my replacement bulb arrived and so far it is doing fine. However after reading some threads on here about cheap light fixtures I wonder if I should be worried. This is what I bought

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=7749276960&rd=1&sspagename=STRK:MEWN:IT&rd=1

Thats in addition to the single PC strip I already had. What worries me about the new fixture is it humms when the lights are on, and it gets pretty loud sometimes. Is that the fans? It sounds like its coming from the middle of the fixture. Has anyone had a bad experience with this fixture? Or know someone who has? So far with the new bulbs I haven't had any problems.....but the humming is what worries me.

 

The humming is probably coming from the ballast. Unfortunately there is nothing that I know of that you can do to fix it. It may have come loose from its mounting inside the fixture. If the noise was coming from the fans it would be obvious, ie.. out of balance or bearing failure. So, unless you are prepared to dissassemble your fixture, I would try and live with it.
Noise to you could mean, "I can't hear it." to me or it could mean, "Darn, that's the loudest fixture I've ever heard."
Happy to make things clear as mud.

Jim