We have 2 circular florescent ceiling light fixtures on a single switch. Last night neither bulb would come on. But this morning they are working fine.
I had checked the circuit breaker, that was OK (other lights attached to that circuit breaker were working).
We have noticed that we are not getting very long out of the bulbs recently, having to change them withing 12 months of replacement.
Each fixture has one bulb.
Note I am in Ireland: 230vac & 50hz
Also, I don't know if this has anything to do with it, but it seems that 'quality' of electricity in our area is poor. Occasionally a circuit-breaker in the house will trip, and exactly simultaneously one of the neighbors' intruder alarms will fire (as they do when power is interrupted) or the power in the neigbourhood will vanish for a second, resetting clocks and computers.
Best Answer
Change the ballast
Especially if it hums or buzzes. Old magnetic ballasts (heavy, transformer in them) are notorious for failing in a way which burns up bulbs prematurely. They also flicker and are cranky in the cold. A worn tube will be finicky about starting; what's happening is the voltage required to strike the tube increases as the tube ages, until the ballast can no longer strike the tube.
Also consider North American suppliers for the ballast, most ballasts these days are multi-voltage 100-240V and 50/60Hz, just make sure of that.
I don't know if the T8 type bulbs exist in your country, but now is a good time to think about switching from T12 to them. T8 has the same socket as T12 so you do not need to alter the fixture (outside of changing the ballast, which you are probably doing anyway). The ballast must match the bulb type, so select a T8 ballast. The T12s are obsolete.