Fluorescent lights not lighting

So I have 4 troffers with 4' bulbs in each. They all worked for several years. I turned the light switch on and one troffer came on with all 4 bulbs and the other 3 nothing.

Ok so I went out and bout new bulbs. Flipped the switch, nothing. Later that day, flipped the switch and here they are. Flipped it again later in the day, nothing.

I finally noticed that the bulbs in the other 3 troffers were dimly light. I opened the lens and touch a bulb and they all came on, but only on the light. The other two were still off.

I went back to the switch and flipped it off, waited for a few seconds and flipped it back on and nothing.

Lights were still dimly light. I took a tester I have and placed it by the lamp holders and it light up and beeped. So there seems to be power there. If I move the lamp again and it lights.

These are T8 bulbs and there is no noise from the ballasts.

How could three fixtures do this at the exact same time?

Any help appreciated in figuring this out.

Thanks

 

Check the ground connection to the lights. Many of these fixtures require the case to be properly grounded to ignite the lights.

 

Do some googling on this site regarding florescent lights.

Do not waste a singe cent on replacing bulbs or ballasts, just convert them over to LED an never again worry about that ancient technology called fluorescent!

 

I no longer waste any time or money on repairing fluorescent lights. Disconnecting the ballast and installing LED bulbs is too quick and easy a solution to ignore.

 

Thank you. Great idea I thought about it and will get it done.