NJwirenut : I did not switch the tubes around, I wish I did to check it though.
Walrus : I personally installed a proper sign ballast and new tubes. The previous maintenance guy had installed regular HO ballast.
Andy : I thought this too, don't the tubes generally get brighter as they run longer? I didn't have the time to stick around. Just long enough to see the sign fully lit, and the tubes and ballast were in my truck for several days in subzero temps. Curiously the socket on this lamp had the one side of the contact slightly indented but still made contact. I was wondering if maybe full contact was not made? The voltage concept is interesting too, the sign is approx 60' from the building and run with #14 wire. Could voltage drop be the problem? Mind you the other 3 lamps lit fully.
