Baked starter anyone?

F2 starters are easily found at Home Depot Classic

It's a starter, FS-2 in a 20" strip.  The ballast is a small metal "box' with wires coming out o it that go to the switch, end caps, starter, and plug.  You can find starters at hardwares (small ones are better then the big box stores for stocking them) for under a buck each.  It's a good idea to change the starters when ever you change the light bulb in a fixture.  (and look for the metal housing starters instead of the plastic ones)

Jeff

all the time.  Isnt that a ballast?  Cheap as dirt - $1 or $2 at the hardware store.

So i turned on the lights this morning (only one switch, got them all wired to two 6 way switches) and one of the 10 gal strips didnt work. I messed around with it and turned it on and off and i gave up. i came back and took it down and messed with the light then messed with the starter or whatever that cylinder thing is (does it matter?). thats when i heard it crack. turns out the heat from the light had baked the starter and dry rotted it. the casing completely crumbled and fell apart. has this happened to anyone before?

Klassic