Hi Shirni, sounds like the starter needs to be replaced. This is only a few bucks at the local hardware store.

Hi Wick and thanks for the reply! What does the starter look like? I took apart the light and found a black box with a lot of wires. It was labeled a ballast. Is this the piece you are referring to?

Thanks!

Hi Shirni, no the ballast is a totally different item, if it were the cause of the problem you'd definitely know by the smell. The starter (if it has one) is a small round cylinder (normally silver in color) approximately ¾ inch wide and 1 inch tall, it is secured in place by two prongs (which you won't see until it's removed) and you simply twist counter-clockwise to remove. Some newer flourescent lights may not have one, it could be incorporated in the ballast, although I'm not sure.

If you can post back up with the make/model/etc. of your light I might be able to find more info to help out.

[This message has been edited by Wick (edited April 18, 2000).]

New lights don't have starters any more. It is most likely the ballast. The humming is coming from the ballast. They make a couple different types. The cheaper the light, the cheaper the ballast. Shop type lights are notorious for not lasting. Anymore you have a choice of three problems, bulbs, ballast, and occasionally the plastic sockets that the bulbs fit into will break. Good luck.