Thread: Making Fluorescent light flicker?

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I just found this forum, and VERY glad I did. It's given me such great ideas! And now I have a question. Does anyone know how to make a fluorescent light bulb flicker. Like in a horror movie, when the overhead lights in the office are flickering. I thought I could just twist the bulb a bit so its connection at either end was loose, but it seems that it's either on or off. I don't get the constant flicker. Any thoughts?

You could probably achieve that effect by using the wrong ballast/bulb combo. If its a really old fixture you could also try the wrong starter. The problem I see is that replacement ballasts cost almost as much complete fixtures (in some cases more.)

Is this what you are looking for?

Backyard Imagineering - Tunnel Lamps

I couldn't think of any specific movie references, besides the beginning of Akira
YouTube - AKIRA 1 of 12 Updated to 6 parts.
at around 1:40 into it, the sign bulb flickers. That's the type of effect I want. It sounds like maybe the ballast suggestion is the best way to go, but I was hoping there was a no-budget way of doing it.

Easy to do with incandesent lights. Do you need to use fluorescent?

yeah, I want the specific look that flos give, plus the flicker. It helps give a sense of uneasiness.

You could try getting a florescent light starter, a cheap extension chord, and an in line 5 amp fuse. Strip the chord, add the fuse to the pos side of the chord, solder the other end of the fuse wire to one side of the starter, then solder the ground of the extension chord to the other side.

It’s a cheap and easy flicker box design. Having the starter in the power line should charge up then send to the florescent light. With the florescent light having a starter should give your light the constant flicker you’re looking for.

I know it works for incandescent lights, but haven’t tested it on a florescent light.

This is the solution I'm trying. I have to go get a 5 amp fuse still. How do you know which end is the pos? I'm following this tutorial
U-Build-It

Its A/C (alternating current) there is no positive or negative. The fuse can go on either side of the cord and is just to keep you from burning down your garage/haunt in case something goes wrong.

The fluorescent starters, do they produce random flashes, or fairly well timed ones?