Flickering lights

[lawdawg18]

Just finished a DYI tank Stand and Canopy. In the canopy I placed two shoplights with 4 48inch 40 Watt T12 Flo lights. When I turn the lights on in the morning they are all shining very bright, but when I get home from work usually one set if not both sets of lights are flickering and not very bright at all. I can open the canopy and twist on the tubes and they will brighten back up. Any suggestions on how to keep them bright all the time? The lights and tube are only a week or so old. They are regular type shoplights from Home Depot.

[OrionGirl]

Not sure, but you may want to check that humidity is not condensing in the end caps, resulting in shorts and poor contact. You may want to install the water tight end caps to prevent this, as it not only shortens the life of the bulbs, but poses a fire hazard as well.

[Dabbler II]

You may have some bad bulbs or balasts. Try some new bulbs that you know work properly and see if it happens again.