-t, have you tried the tube that's working in the place of one of the tubes that's not coming on? That will tell you if it's the ballast (or starter). Also, have you considered using fewer bulbs to reduce the brightness?

I'd replace all of them, because the older one will give less light than the new ones.

Went to the hardware store twice (of course I did), and started hanging stuff on the walls. Is a poster of this too creepy to hang in the guest bedroom?

Of course that was not even on my to-do list.

Well, how much is it to fix the soffit, for instance? I think Mr. Flea's probably got the right of it by countering, but get some estimates on the immediate repairs first.

I have not tried moving the tube that still lights, yet, Ginger. I'm a little afraid that if I move it it will stop working and the new tubes won't work, but I'll try it in a minute.

I've been getting by with just the one tube for months, maybe over a year, and it's fine brightness-wise but when it does eventually go out I'll have to deal with a totally dark kitchen. It's got small windows facing north and east, both under overhangs, so the natural light is not great. Maybe it's time to start thinking about revamping my lighting in there.

ETA: Not too creepy, Jesse. Unless it glows in the dark.

Huh. So, both the tubes in the other ballast lit up, but when I remove one they both go out. Didn't know that happened. Tried putting one old one and one new one in each ballast and that seems to get all four lighting up. So I'm going with that.

I don't understand it, but if it works, okay.

Fluorescent tubes are freaky. Maybe it takes two tubes to complete the circuit?

flea, I don't know why there aren't more homicides related to home buying. I have bought three houses and loathed the owners of each with the heat of 10,000 suns.

Maybe. I'm guessing that the smaller tubes don't draw enough juice to pass some safety threshold unless they are paired with a larger one.

Maybe I will get rid of the whole fixture before they all burn out again. Aside from not getting how it works, I just don't like it. I'd rather have more ceiling space to hang pots from. Under cabinet lighting. Something not this.

So I'm going to need to replace my bed before too long. It's old and too big. How does one effectively test beds? Sure, you can lay down on one and decide if it's comfy, but comfy for five minutes doesn't mean you're not going to be in agony after 8 hours lying, laying, sleeping on it.

And I was looking at sizes. A full size isn't really that much narrower than a queen, which I currently have. I wish there was a size between full and twin. "Grown up who doesn't want to relive their childhood bedroom but doesn't want to have to roll to reach both sides of the bed."

Fluorescent tubes are freaky. Maybe it takes two tubes to complete the circuit?

That's often the case. And at work we have fixtures of four tubes--there has to be at least one tune tube on each side for them to work.

Yeah, counter if you still think it's a good deal, but I sympathize. I kind of hate the people who bought our WA house.