Kitchen strip light(?) has blown - what to do?!

[swiperfox]

The light in the kitchen has gone and i cant see a bloody thing!! Its one of those long tube ones. Do they come in different sizes? are they expensive?

Think they come in different lengths and you need to check the pin fitting at each end to ensure the replacement matches. The tubes themselves aren't that dear iirc. Also you may find it isn't the tube itself but a little fitting called a starter.

The tube should have a number printed on it, normally near one end. If not then you need to measure it - or better still take it to the shop with you

If it has been flickering at all especially when switching on, then it is likely to be the starter. If it went with a single 'pop' then it will be the bulb.

If it failed "immediately" it's probably the tube which has failed.
If it has been flickering at startup for some time, it's probably the "starter" which has failed.
Assuming it's the tube.....
Take it down - take care not to break it - the inside of the glass has a toxic coating (yes, honestly).
Measure the overall length and the width of the glass part.
Read the print at one of the ends - it will state the wattage.
Memorise the look of the end connectors.
Buy an exact replacement and fit it. I believe that the old one is supposed to be disposed of at a specialist centre (council waste depot). I'm not sure everyone does this.

Hmmm..... it'll be the 'starter' then as it's flickering. Are these bog standard? expensive?

I think there are a couple of different sizes but both dirt cheap. Probably about £1 or so. Try Maplins or somewhere similar.

Maplins .

Tubes are on there as well.

Thank you!

Have no means of getting anywhere so going to walk to the village hardware shop and pray that they do them!!

ok have got a new starter. Just put it in and the light is still flickering although its staying on slightly longer than it did before - what did i do wrong?

Is the print on the side of the replacement identical to the original? If not, is the replacement definitely the right specification for the light?
Was there ever a time when the light worked properly?

sounds daft but are u a council tennant or is it ur own home

if u are a council tennant u just need to phone them out as its them that replace it at no cost to urself

We're in a rented house so it's up to us to fix it - unfortunately!!

I got a starter from the litlle hardware shop in the village - the guy there said that they are all just bog standard so i wouldnt need a specific one........i'll just go see what it says on it!!

oh - the light has worked fine all the time we've been here which is 2 and a half years. DP reckons its the bulb

ok - old one is single 200-240v 4-65w
new one is 200-250v 4-65w

If you use the Maplins link which SaintGeorge put on here earlier, you'll see that (from that shop's supplier) there are two sizes.
The critical factor is the wattage of the bulb.

Sorry - X post

That's an exact replacement.
What's the wattage shown on the tube?

i cant see its too dark lol

hold on i'll get a ladder.......

36W/35

is that the right thing?

Yes - the starter is matched to that wattage.
I don't think it's a faulty tube - IME the tube either works perfectly or not at all. (Check with the retailer at the hardware shop.)
If it is still flickering (and assuming the new starter is OK) I think it's a poor connection somewhere - at the tube ends or at the contacts for the starter.
You could apply finger pressure on the starter to see if the problem goes away. (That would show if the contacts are unclean/unsound.)
You could remove the tube and clean the contacts on it (remember that if the tube breaks, the inside has a toxic coating - use gloves).
As I said - ask the retailer - I don't think it could be a faulty tube.
DON'T POKE ABOUT INSIDE THE UNIT ITSELF - even when it's switched off at the wall, there is still power going to the unit - IT'S LIVE.