strange light problem

[star882]

Once I tried to turn on a florescent lamp in the dark.
At first I thought, "The light is broken."
However, when I turn on another light, the first one turns on.
The first light remains on when the second light is turned off.
How do I solve the problem?

 

[Kirk]

star882,
I've heard of neon lamps (the little pilot light kind) doing this; never heard of a fluorescent doing this. Neon bulb manufacturers put in some chemical to help the bulb "light off" in the dark; I wonder if fluorescents normally have some, too, and yours is missing it?
Kirk

 

[hank]

Is the second lamp physically close to the first one? Or are they both in the same grounded system?

Fluorescents need some ground fairly near the outside of the tube (unless you're in such a charged atmosphere that your hair's standing up) in order to light up. I'd guess you might look at whether the first (problem) lamp is in a reflector that is properly grounded -- and that whatever little extra kick that the environment gets when you power up the second lamp is enough to make the difference in starting the first one.

Or check generally for corrosion/impaired connections.

 

[lux0]

Fluorescent lamps have heaters in them, which start the ionization process, perhaps the heaters don't work, or the starter is not working in this case. The other light will help ionize the mercury vapour, allowing the lamp to light.