Change Fluorescent Bulbs

• 1). Switch the power off to the fixture at the main breaker panel. It is not sufficient to simply turn off the light switch.
  
  
• 2). Pull one side of the light fixture's plastic light cover horizontally about ½ inch from the base to disconnect the cover, then drop it down to release the opposite side from the base flanges. Some models of fluorescent light fixture have plastic covers in a metal frame held in place by thumb tabs and are removed by turning the tabs to free the cover frame.
  
  
• 3). Rotate the light bulb ¼ turn to free the end pins from the porcelain sockets to remove it. Use caution when handling fluorescent bulbs, as they are fragile and contain a poisonous gas.
  
  
• 4). Install the new light bulb by holding it so that the two end pins are vertical and slipping the pins into the porcelain end sockets. Rotate the bulb ¼ turn to lock the end pins into the sockets.
  
  
• 5). Turn the power back on at the main breaker panel.
  
  

Change the Ballast

• 1). Switch the power off to the fixture at the main breaker panel.
  
  
• 2). Remove the light cover and fluorescent bulbs by following steps 2 and 3 in Section 1.
  
  
• 3). Remove the metal wiring cover between the light bulbs to expose the ballast by pushing from the one side to move the edge of the cover from beneath metal tabs in the base.
  
  
• 4). Disconnect the ballast wires from the bulb socket wires by removing the wire nuts or cutting the wires with a wire cutter.
  
  
• 5). Remove the screws securing the ballast cover to the fixture to detach the ballast, using a screwdriver.
  
  
• 6). Secure the new ballast with the base screws removed from the old ballast in Step 5.
  
  
• 7). Connect the ballast wires to the socket wires and secure the connections with wire nuts, matching wire colors. Wrapping the wires and wire nuts with electrical tape helps prevent the connections from coming loose.
  
  
• 8). Reinstall the metal wiring and ballast cover by reversing the procedure in Step 3, taking care not to pinch or damage any of the wiring as the cover is replaced.
  
  
• 9). Repeat Step 4 in Section 1 to install the light bulbs.
  
  
• 10
  
  Replace the light cover by reversing the procedure in Step 2.
  
  
• 11
  
  Turn the power back on at the main breaker panel.