Check the lamp for black rings near the socket ends. If it has black rings the gases are cabonizing and lamp is essentially burning out. I would check for this first. Next thing I would check is the sockets, be carefull here, make sure elctricity is off because the ballast boosts the voltage. Look to make sure the socket hasn't been broken due to improper lamp changing. I'm not sure what kind of florescent fixture you have and where it is, if it's in a non heated area it could be you need a high output fixture which has a ballast suitable for cold areas and would eliminate the delayed start. Also, at times depending on the fixture, it can be cost effective to just replace the whole fixture rather than replacing a ballast.
[This message has been edited by Wirenuttt (edited 11-27-2002).]
