I wanted to use an oldish fluorescent tube lamp and find there is no power, I replaced the tube, also the stater, also the fuse in the plug and still no power. I have a multimeter but don't know how to use it ( 87 yr old widow), any advice?
Lighting – No power in a fluorescent tube lamp
lighting
Related Solutions
It sounds like you may need to replace the ballast. They do age and eventually do need to be replaced, though not nearly as frequently as the tubes themselves.
There are LED tubes marketed as physical replacements for fluorescent tubes. (I was recently pricing ones in the T8 size). However, the ones I have seen require rewiring the fixture.
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Best Answer
There is one part you haven't tried, and that is the "ballast". Fluorescent lights aren't like incandescent lights, they can't be connected directly to mains power. They need a device to limit how much electric current they draw, and that device is the ballast.
Ballast failures on older lamps are very common. If you want to replace the ballast, you can get a modern electronic one that will perform much better. However the wiring will be different, so you may need to rearrange some wires. Follow the instructions of the ballast faithfully, don't wire it wrong simply because the ballast is already wired a particular way.
Another option is to convert to LED lighting. In this case the ballast is removed entirely and mains power is sent direct to the LED light (through the switch). They make LED light "tubes" that take mains voltage and fit where the tubes go. Beware of "plug-and-play" LEDs that require a working ballast to be there.