Materials you'll need:

• Fluorescent fixtures
• Replacement parts and tubes
• Dimmer switch
• Sandpaper
• Light globes

When planning lighting for your home you have a choice of two basic lighting styles - globes and “strip lighting” or fluorescent tubes. Most homes need more than one kind of lighting for different rooms and activities.

Fluorescent fixtures.
At each end of the familiar fluorescent tube is a filament, which glows, red-hot during the starting operation. Each filament gives off a powerful electrical discharge of electrons. The discharge and the filament heat combine to strike an electrical arc through the length of the tube. The tube is coated with chemical compounds called phosphors. They are activated by the radiation generated within the tube and give off an intense light.

Fluorescent lights are more economical and longer lasting than filament globes. A tube which consumes only 30 watts of power gives off as much light as a 100-watt globe. They also last from 10 to 20 times longer.

Fluorescent tubes contain a component called ballast, a sort of transformer that converts house current into a current of its own that produces light. Life and output ratings of these lights are based on their use with ballast, which provide the proper voltages and currents. The type of ballast is your guide to purchasing the right replacement components, so the light works efficiently. Always check the legend on the ballast to be sure the parts are the right ones for your fixture.

Trouble shooting.
If the light fixture fails to work, check that the house power is on and the fuse has not blown and that the tube is properly inserted in its holder. If you have another tube the same size, try it in the holder the tube may have burned out. If the tube is still good, cheek the starter if your fixture has one - it may need replacing. If the tube is at fault ensure it is replaced with another of the right size and type

Flickering - new tubes often flicker at first so try turning it off then turning back on The problem may be caused by a faulty starter or corroded pins at the ends of the tube. If they are corroded, sand them lightly If pins are bent, straighten them gently with pliers. A fluorescent tube sometimes flickers if the room temperature is too cool (under 18.3 deg. C)

Uneven lighting - if the tube lights only at the ends or if the ends are discoloured, cheek the starter and the room temperatures, as above. You can also try reversing the tube end over end and switching it on again. If simple measures fail, have an expert cheek the wiring inside the fixture.

Light globes.
Also called incandescent or filament lighting, these are the oldest and best-known sources of electric light. Today, there are many variations on the simple "light bulb”. For example, some globes for outdoor use are tinted amber or yellow. These lights are useful around a pool or barbecue where white lights would attract annoying insects. For reading, there are globes for use in table lamps. These have the glaring filament shielded by a silvered bowl so they direct non-glare light onto your reading. A variety of moods can also be achieved by having an ordinary light switch replaced with a "dimmer switch". This lets you dial different levels of lighting intensity, from very low to full bright.

Filament lights come in different finishes including clear, for enclosed fittings, pearl for ordinary fittings and silica coated for diffused light, where the globe will show.

The filament or coil inside the globe gives off the light Common wattage's used in homes are 60, 100 and 150 watts Never put a higher wattage of globe into a fixture than the recommended wattage as too powerful a globe can damage the shade or fitting by overheating. Filament lights normally have a life of about 1,000 hours, and special long-life types are available, although they cost a little more to operate. Remember that the globe itself only represents about 10% of the operating cost. The electricity used accounts for the other 90%. You can economize by using the lowest wattage bulbs that will still give you sufficient light, and to switch lights off when rooms are not in use.