What do the starters for florescent lights do?

[chaibill]

Hi
My 55g is an older tank and it has 2 24 inch hoods that lay on the top of the tank not on the lip that is a small bit down from the top, there is no center bar. Anyway the lights use starters (don't know if the newer lights that you may have use them too) but the one on the left of the tank when looking at it from the front doesn't light up all the time if i play with the starter a bit it will turn on and stay on with out the starter in the socket and i can put the starter in, replace the clear plastic protector and put the hood back on the tank. If i turn the light off it will not turn back on.
so is it the bulb, hood or starter:look:
the starter looks new not yellowed

 

[J double R]

the starter provides an extra charge via capacitance which is needed to get the bulb going.. after its going, you dont need it. kinda like an electric ignition.. whereas newer electronic ballasts do not require that extra 'umph' to get the bulbs going.

i say its the starter. if you can get the light to turn on by fiddling with the starter but it normally wont; try replacing the starter.. theyre normally no more than 35-50 cents at a hardware joint.

 

[Rbishop]

Replace the starter as a first step.